Cleaning pots and trays at allotment will make you look like a really particular individual. But, to the seasoned horticulturist, it’ll come across as one of those jobs that will put you in good stead.
If you haven’t already, the chances are you’ll be using pots for seeds, seedlings and plants as the weather starts to improve the temperature rises. It doesn’t matter if you use plastic pots or clay pots, over time debris can build up and that debris can harbor diseases and organisms that may cause you problems for your plants.
Before you start cleaning pots and trays, you may notice a white, powdery film build up around the rim of your pots or on the inside – this is because mineral salts build up from the soil and these salts could potentially dehydrate your plants, from the stem upwards. If you were victim to any sort of blight or fungus, washing your pots will also reduce the risks of you passing onto the next season’s crop.
Cleaning pots and trays is easy – it’s just like doing the washing up. A little bit of warm water, a stiff brush and some washing up liquid or diluted bleach will do the trick. Once they’re all clean, leave them to dry, and you’re all set for the year ahead.
Cleaning pots and trays is also practice if you inherit pots from someone else or if you collect used pots and trays from a local garden center – you never know what those pots and trays may have been used for or if they’ve accumulated hidden conditions that could thwart the growth of your plants, or worst still, kill them off slowly!
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