What to do
It's important to keep your greenhouse clean and tidy to prevent pests and diseases spreading rapidly in the humid and heated conditions. Below are some general maintenance tips.
- Put canes around plants that need support; such as cordon tomatoes and melons, and tie in emerging shoots.
- Prick out, pot on and pinch out plants as needed. Summer pruning and fruit thinning may be required with some plants, such as grape vines.
- Water regularly, making sure that the composts and soils don't dry out.
- Weed around plants and in the beds.
- Make sure that plants are fed as required.
- Put up shade nets in early summer to protect plants from scorching by direct overhead sunlight. Shading washes can also be sprayed onto the outside of the greenhouse and washed off in autumn.
- Avoid watering plants in the middle of the day during summer as this can scorch the leaves.
- Some plants prefer high humidity, so splash the floor with water (called 'damping down') each day in the summer or use a hand-held mist sprayer.
- Look out for pests and diseases and treat appropriately. Common pests in warm, humid conditions include aphids, red spider mite and mealy bug. Diseases include mildew and botrytis.
