Caring for a polycarbonate greenhouse after harvesting in autumn

There's nothing tastier or healthier than fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden. Hobby gardeners often use greenhouses to get the earliest harvests. While plants in the open ground are just beginning to gain strength, greenhouses are already ready to harvest a full crop of various crops.

 

Nowadays, many gardeners use polycarbonate greenhouses. They're both convenient and simple. However, one shouldn't forget about maintaining these "helpers." These structures are typically treated in the fall.

 

Greenhouse maintenance is a mandatory procedure, as the quality and quantity of the future harvest often depend on it. These "helpers" are often collapsible, so many gardeners simply dismantle the structure for the winter. However, this isn't always possible, as if the structure is built on a foundation, it often cannot be dismantled.

 

Before beginning any greenhouse maintenance, it's usually important to remove all unnecessary elements. For example, poles, ropes, and auxiliary arches used to support various crops should be removed. All old vegetation on the ground surface should also be removed. Afterward, it's important to pay attention to the seams and joints of the greenhouse structure, even if it's new.

 

It's not uncommon for growing plants to grow into even the smallest joints, which can go unnoticed during harvesting. Residual debris from these growths can lead to the development of harmful microbes and parasites. Experienced specialists recommend cleaning greenhouse joints with a regular household vacuum cleaner, which allows for the complete removal of all remaining vegetation.

Sometimes gardeners notice rot, which promotes the growth of pathogenic microbes, which can have a detrimental effect on future harvests. Experienced gardeners use sulfur checkers to prevent such problems. To use this solution, first seal all cracks tightly and prepare a metal sheet.

 

Once everything is ready, the glow plug is lit, placed in the center of the structure on a metal sheet, and the greenhouse is exited. It smolders for about an hour, releasing sulfur gas into the air. This gas, in turn, kills not only mold and fungi, but also many garden pests and parasites. After this procedure, do not enter the greenhouse for several days, as the accumulated gas continues to be fully active.

 

Some gardeners use other chemical treatment aids, such as a spray bottle with a pre-mixed solution against pathogens and various pests. However, it's important to ensure you have protective equipment first, including respirators and extra clothing to protect your skin, as these chemical "helpers" are typically highly toxic to humans.

 

Greenhouse maintenance after the fall harvest involves not only treating the structure itself but also the soil within. After all, it's the soil that's most susceptible to disease and the proliferation of pests and parasites, which can not only damage the harvest but also destroy it.

Proper soil preparation will not only increase the yield of various crops but also ensure their quality. Properly applied fertilizers will have a beneficial effect on greenhouse plants. However, it's important to remember that using compost or humus, for example, can harbor various larvae that can survive the winter in greenhouse conditions, only to damage plants or even ripened fruit later when the weather warms.

 

Experienced gardeners, if they use compost, make sure it's thoroughly rotted to avoid this situation. It's also important to protect the soil from freezing. This can be done with hay or special materials readily available at specialty stores. Many gardeners also use regular snow as a covering material, which not only protects the soil but also provides additional moisture.

 

The most important task when treating both the greenhouse structure and the soil is to ensure complete protection from spores, rot, and pests. Only then can next year's vegetation be protected. After all, if this work is not carried out, the owners will be disappointed with both the quality and quantity of the expected harvest.

 

About how to create DIY greenhouse Read here.