A polycarbonate greenhouse is durable, but it also needs annual cleaning and disinfection. In this step-by-step guide, we will explain how to properly prepare your greenhouse for the new season.
Table of Contents
General Tips
To get a rich, above all, a healthy harvest, we must take care of the space in which our crop grows. In the summer and autumn, we occasionally enrich the soil with fertilizers, supplement it with new soil, and plant other crops in between.
In the winter and early spring, we must also take care of the plants. The evaporating moisture with fertilizer particles can settle on the greenhouse walls.
Polycarbonate is a material that does not require or is not recommended to be cleaned with chemical detergents. This process should be done only once every few years.
Preparation Work
When cleaning the greenhouse, first collect the crop and remove all plant residues. If you didn't clean the greenhouse in the autumn, wait until early spring. In the winter, leave the greenhouse door open for a few weeks to allow low temperatures to help freeze the eggs and larvae of pests.
Before starting the cleaning and disinfection, remove all plant residues, leaves, and stems from the surface, as well as roots, rot, and damaged vegetables. Also, remove all weeds.
The greenhouse is a closed space, and in conditions of favorable microclimate, high temperature, and humidity, the larvae and eggs of various pests multiply perfectly.
Disinfection of Walls and Structure
It is necessary to disinfect the entire greenhouse. Wash the interior of the greenhouse with mild soap or foam gel. Note that abrasives can damage polycarbonate, making it less transparent and allowing less light to pass through.
- Wash the interior with mild soap or foam gel
- Rinse the soapy surfaces with clean water
- If the plants were infested, add an antiseptic (fungicide, copper chloride) to the water
- Let it dry completely
Gas Disinfection (Advanced)
Another method of disinfection is gas treatment. Close the doors and ventilation windows tightly, plug all gaps, wear a respirator, place a tray with sulfur in the middle of the greenhouse, and ignite it.
Perform gas disinfection only with a respirator and thoroughly ventilate after the procedure. Do not perform in closed environments without ventilation.
Soil Work
We start with disinfecting the soil. Renew the soil in the beds by at least half the depth of the shovel and add wood ash. This will aerate the soil, and pests do not like ash.
If the old soil is heavily infested with pests or diseased, sprinkle it with chlorinated lime. This soil can be used for planting, but only after the chlorinated lime has completely decomposed.
Preparations containing copper, iron vitriol, copper chloride, or ordinary peracetic acid are excellent antiseptics. Wooden shelves and racks should also be limed (chlorinated lime).
When is the Right Time?
TIP: It is essential to choose the right time for treating the greenhouse and equipment. This is best done in the autumn after harvesting. If we disinfect in mid or late spring, the microclimate will not be able to recover in time for the season.
Do You Need Spare Parts?
Gaskets, screws, ventilation windows, and all equipment for greenhouses in one place.
Equipment and Greenhouses