Don’t Let Last Year’s Pests Return: How to Prepare Your Greenhouse for a Productive Season
Description:
Before transplanting seedlings into the greenhouse, proper preparation is essential to avoid repeating last year’s diseases and pest problems. Agronomist Irina Radishevskaya shares expert advice on disinfection, soil health, and organic soil revitalization techniques to help farmers start the season strong.
Article:
Spring Readiness: Expert Tips for Greenhouse Preparation Before the Growing Season
As the new planting season approaches, greenhouse growers — whether hobbyists or professionals — are urged to prioritize proper greenhouse preparation to avoid yield losses and disease carryover. Agronomist Irina Radishevskaya, in an interview with aif.ru, laid out a step-by-step strategy that can help prevent problems before they take root.
1. Disinfection Is Non-Negotiable
According to Radishevskaya, skipping greenhouse disinfection can lead to a repeat of last year’s pest and disease outbreaks. Greenhouses provide ideal overwintering conditions for fungi, bacteria, insect eggs, and larvae.
She recommends:
- Spraying all inner surfaces — frames, plastic, or glass — with a potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) solution.
- Following this up with fumigation using tobacco smoke bombs, a traditional yet effective method to eliminate airborne pests and pathogens.
This advice is supported by agricultural extension guidelines from multiple countries. For example, the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society also advises winter disinfection of greenhouses to reduce early infestations of Botrytis cinerea (gray mold), aphids, and whiteflies.
2. Soil Health: Hydration, Fertilization, and Renewal
Next, Radishevskaya emphasizes soil preparation. Start by deeply watering the soil, which reactivates microbial life and helps dissolve any leftover nutrients. Then, enrich the soil with:
- Mineral fertilizers (tailored to crop needs),
- Compost or humus, to build organic matter,
- Ash or dolomite flour, to adjust pH and provide calcium and magnesium.
Soil restoration is vital — especially in greenhouses used for intensive cropping. According to a 2023 report by the FAO, up to 40% of greenhouse soils show signs of degradation after three continuous years of use without organic replenishment or crop rotation.
3. Green Manure Crops for Regeneration
For growers with time before transplanting, Radishevskaya suggests sowing mustard or rapeseed. These are not only fast-growing but serve as excellent green manure crops:
- Mustard suppresses nematodes and fungal diseases.
- Rapeseed improves soil structure and nitrogen content.
Green manures are a proven practice in regenerative agriculture. A study from the International Journal of Agronomy (2022) found that incorporating mustard into pre-season management can reduce Fusarium and Pythium root diseases by up to 60% in greenhouse tomatoes.
Greenhouse preparation is more than a routine task — it’s a strategic investment in the health of your crops and soil. With a combination of disinfection, soil nourishment, and green manures, growers can significantly reduce pest pressure, improve yields, and protect long-term productivity. Taking the time to prepare now can mean fewer problems — and more profits — in the months ahead.
