Best way to clean the inside of the greenhouse?

[JustABeginner]

I bought a 6' x 4' aluminium/polycarbonate greenhouse last year. I grew mainly tomatoes in it, but also courgette and cucumbers. They got a grey mould type thing on the leaves and I threw some of the worst affected away.

The greenhouse is currently empty ready for this new year (apart from the staging) and I am concerned that the mould spores will still be lurking.

What is the best thing to use to clean the greenhouse?

Thanks

[PAULW]

Make up a solution of ***** fluid and spray the inside of the greenhouse.

[country-girl]

I bought a 6' x 4' aluminium/polycarbonate greenhouse last year. I grew mainly tomatoes in it, but also courgette and cucumbers. They got a grey mould type thing on the leaves and I threw some of the worst affected away.

The greenhouse is currently empty ready for this new year (apart from the staging) and I am concerned that the mould spores will still be lurking.

What is the best thing to use to clean the greenhouse?

Thanks

Hi,its all new to me but i have just read a thread on the vine about cleaning greenhouses this morning.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...reenhouse.html

[Capsid]

The grey mould (mildew) on courgettes is unavoidable and doesn't prevent the fruits developing. I'd grow them outside anyway. Since courgettes are prone to mildew then this may have spread to the cucumbers (which also get it anyway). Annual cleaning with ***** fluid for example is recommended.

[sarraceniac]

The recommended cleaner is ***** because it works. I use it myself but some peeps refuse to use it because it is environmentally 'unsound'. The thing to remember is that it is a poison and a herbicide. It must be used sensibly. The greenhouse must be empty of plants (except weeds which it will kill anyway). Friendly animals should be removed if possible and nothing should be put back in until, after the ***** has done its work, the green house is washed out again with loads and loads of clean water. This is most important.

[rustylady]

Hot water with added washing up liquid for starters. Applied with sponge or brush and rinsed off with clean cold water. This will remove most of the lurking algae, spider webs, stray bits of compost etc. Then give it a good airing to dry. If you feel the need you can use ***** fluid to sterilise.

[kentvegplot]

You can use Citrox, which is safe around plants and people. I've had very good results with it.

The grey mould is encouraged by cold, damp conditions. Better ventilation and a little more warmth will help a lot.

[jacob]

Last year I used hot water with a little bleach mixed. Scrubbing down, trying not to slosh it over the floor. Seemed to work well with the nasty mildew not returning until the autumn.

[Newbie]

This may be a really dim question - for which i apologise in advance .... but the inside of my greenhouse is lined with bubblewrap which i was planning on leaving on all year round (did this last year with no detrimental affects). Would i need to take this off to clean the inside of my greenhouse adequately or will just washing down the bubblewrap be sufficient to clean any nasties away? I have not cleaned it before (it is 2 years old).

[wellie]

Newbie, I take my hat off to you. I never know what question you're going to ask next, and it never disappoints me when you do either!
I can only try and answer some of your question really if I tried, and many of the other Grapevine members will have heir own thoughts on this too, obviously!!

But Trousers absolutely blitzes my greenhouses for me inside and out with a pressure hose every early spring, and it's with a solution of ***** Fluid or Armillatox and water, and I wouldn't have it any other way. He's a darling for doing it, because it's a smelly and dank job to do, but we do evict the cat first, if she's asleep in there, and it does mean that we start the season with a clean sheet, as it were.

[Jimmy]

The grey mould (mildew) on courgettes is unavoidable and doesn't prevent the fruits developing. I'd grow them outside anyway. Since courgettes are prone to mildew then this may have spread to the cucumbers (which also get it anyway). Annual cleaning with ***** fluid for example is recommended.

I have tried courgettes and cucumbers and butter nut squashes and seem to be plagued with mildew. My decision is
1) Don't bother with the squashes, I only got one of each plant and they become quite cheap in the shops.
2) Grow nice small outdoor cucumber outside under a frame.
3) Courgettes grow OK outside.

I spray with ***** Fluid but has anyone notice it's changed. Doesn't seem anywhere as near tarry as it used to be, or smell the same.

Jimmy