Greenhouse fumigation

Discussion in 'Greenhouse Growing' started by nearlygreenfingered, Jun 8, 2011.

  1. nearlygreenfingered

    nearlygreenfingered Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi,

    I was hoping for some advise on fumigating a greenhouse. I have a house full of tomato and cucumber plants and also some now unwelcome bugs and fly of different varieties. It seems sensible to deal with them in one fell swoop with a fumigator such as pest stop fumite permethryn insect killer. Does anyone have any experience of using this and whether it is harmful to the plants, fruit and humans alike.

    Many thanks in anticipation.
     
    nearlygreenfingered, Jun 8, 2011
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  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi NGF, well, I didn't fumigate my Greenhouse this year but sprayed it, inside and out, with Jeyes Fluid.

    [BDon't[/B] fumigate while your plants are inside as you will not do them any good to say the least. You would have to remove all your plants from the Greenhouse to somewhere suitable
    if you did decide to fumigate, and then leave it unoccupied for at least 24 hours.

    Why not use a fruit/vegetable safe insecticide spray instead??:D
     
    ARMANDII, Jun 8, 2011
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  3. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I only spray vegetable crops if the crop would be lost without spraying (e.g. Potatoes and Blight). Whilst I'm not a strict-organisist I aim to not have to ingest any chemicals sprayed onto the veg that I grow
     
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      Kristen, Jun 8, 2011
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    • Fidgetsmum

      Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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      Only once, and then only 'in the deep midwinter', I've used a sulphur candle - this was primarily in a greenhouse which hadn't been used for a couple of years and I wanted to totally eradicate anything which might have been lurking. Certainly, as has already been said, don't fumigate without removing everything from the greenhouse first and leave it at least 24 hours before you put anything back.

      If you've got a particularly nasty infestation of 'bugs', you can easily get sprays (some labelled 'organic') which are suitable for edible crops - always read the label which will tell you which crops they can be used on since not all the sprays are suitable for every edible crop. As for the flies - well, it might not be the prettiest thing in the world, but I hang a good, old-fashioned fly paper in my greenhouse.

      I don't use my greenhouse for much during the winter months, so right at the end of winter I tend to just give it a good clean with a disinfectant such as Jeyes Fluid, which I spray into all the nooks and crannies.
       
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        Fidgetsmum, Jun 9, 2011
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      • nearlygreenfingered

        nearlygreenfingered Apprentice Gardener

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        Thanks,

        I have heard of the Jeyes fluid thing before but didn't do it so a bit late now as tomatoes are in full growth. I might fumigate in the winter, then Jeyes it. Thanks for the tips.
         
        nearlygreenfingered, Jun 14, 2011
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      • nearlygreenfingered

        nearlygreenfingered Apprentice Gardener

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        Thanks for the tip - do you have any idea on the best spray to use? I have tried sprays before but never found an all encompassing one that deals with everything.
         
        nearlygreenfingered, Jun 14, 2011
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        That's a question that could cause some division, if I recommend one somebody else is bound to recommend another. There are also people with concerns about spraying, like Kristen who is a well seasoned and experienced gardener, who would suggest that you not to spray.

        I f you decided to use a fruit/vegetable safe spray I would pop into your local nursery and have a chat with the staff to get their opinion as that "face to face" conversation will give you more knowledge , and more confidence, if you decide to buy.

        Regarding sprays, there was a very interesting piece on CNN about supermarket fruit and veg stating that although all commercially sold fruit/veg is washed for 10 seconds before sale there was still traces of the farmers chemicals on them. Notice I said "on" not "in" but to my mind any growing plant will absorb chemicals sprayed on it.

        My point is that the use of a fruit/veg safe spray was a suggestion and not a recommendation. So take in the info and what ever your brains digests and then concludes is going to be up to you.:D
         
        ARMANDII, Jun 14, 2011
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      • Loofah

        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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        If you wanted to blast the flying bugs now then for a short term measure you can spray a dose of household fly killer in and close the door. Then do it properly over winter as suggested.
         
        Loofah, Jun 16, 2011
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      • dawn64

        dawn64 Gardener

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        a couple of years ago we were inundated with the flies off the horse muck in the pollytunnel,
        we had plants in there and did not want to use chemicals so we set fire to a load of paper in the middle of the floor, and the smoke seemed to drive the flies out of the door

        dawn
         
        dawn64, Aug 13, 2011
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