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Tillage in the greenhouse in autumn is an important part of the pre-winter preparation of the garden. It allows you to significantly reduce the time spent on these works in the spring, and also performs a sanitary function. Autumn soil preparation is the key to a future good harvest.
How to properly prepare the soil in the greenhouse in the fall
During the year, the soil in the greenhouse is greatly depleted. In addition, harmful substances accumulate in its upper layer, as well as pathogens of various diseases. Therefore, once every 5 years, the land in the greenhouse must be completely changed, and every year in the fall, work should be carried out to sanitize and improve the quality of the upper fertile layer.
In autumn, soil preparation for a greenhouse (or in a greenhouse) consists of several stages:
- digging;
- disinfection;
- fertilizer.
Each of these activities is an important part of the complex of ongoing work.
Do I need to dig up the ground in a greenhouse in the fall
The ideal option is the annual complete replacement of the fruit-bearing top layer 10-15 cm thick. However, not all gardeners have the opportunity to do this every autumn. Therefore, the soil in the greenhouse must be dug up, choosing from it the roots of plants and the larvae of insect pests. Since in the future the beds will be shed with boiling water or they will be frozen, digging will allow the loose earth to gain the required temperature much faster.
How to disinfect the soil in a greenhouse in autumn
Properly cultivating the land in the greenhouse in the fall and killing insect larvae and pathogens in the upper soil layer can be done in several ways:
- chemical;
- thermal;
- biological;
- cryogenic.
For the chemical method of soil disinfection in a greenhouse in autumn, various substances and their aqueous solutions are used, which kill pests. The thermal method involves repeated treatment of the beds with hot water or drying them under the sun. The biological method consists in treating the soil with special preparations that inhibit pathogenic microflora.
The cryogenic method is the simplest. With this method, the greenhouse is left open all winter. The beds not covered with snow freeze much more strongly, this kills the pests wintering in them.
How to cultivate the land in a greenhouse in autumn
To cultivate land in a greenhouse in autumn, you can use boiling water, antibacterial drugs, as well as broad-spectrum fungicides. They can be used in combination.
Soil treatment with chemicals
The chemical method is used to treat greenhouses in the fall without replacing the soil. For this, various drugs and chemicals are used. The most commonly used preparation for cultivating land in greenhouses is copper sulphate. It is quite effective against pathogens of various diseases, such as scab, rot, coccomycosis, phytophthora and others.
A solution of copper sulfate is easy to prepare yourself. This will require 100 g of the substance and 10 liters of water. With such a solution, it is necessary to process the top layer of soil, as well as the walls of the greenhouse. It is necessary to prepare a solution of copper sulfate immediately before use, since it cannot be stored. It is also not recommended to use iron utensils, since this substance can enter into chemical reactions with metals.
To enhance the disinfecting effect, many gardeners use copper sulfate mixed with quicklime (Bordeaux mixture). This is a stronger and more effective drug. It can be purchased at a specialized store in the form of a dry mix, or you can prepare a solution yourself by diluting 100 g of each of the components in 5 liters of water and then gently mixing the two liquids.
Soil heat treatment
Thermal soil treatment is carried out with the help of the sun and hot water. If by the time all work is completed the sun is still bright enough, you can open the greenhouse and dry the soil properly under its rays. If the weather is already cold, you can use hot water. She spills all the beds at least three times, and then the soil is covered with plastic wrap to better maintain the temperature.
Biopreparations for soil disinfection in the greenhouse
Biologically active compounds very effectively rid the soil of harmful microflora, while maintaining and increasing the content of beneficial microorganisms in it. You can disinfect the soil in the greenhouse in the fall with the help of such preparations:
- Baikal-M1;
- Emochki-Bokashi;
- Phytocides;
- Bactophyte;
- Phytosporin;
- Trichodermin.
An additional positive point when using them is that they effectively decompose organic residues, enriching the soil with useful substances and trace elements. Therefore, soil treatment with biological products has no side effects.
How to fertilize the soil in a greenhouse in autumn
As a rule, the composition of fertilizers to be applied to the greenhouse soil in autumn depends on the type of plants that will be grown in the greenhouse for the next year. The main components are usually rotted manure, compost, humus and wood ash.
Many gardeners after harvesting practice sowing green manure (white mustard, vetch). Such a measure improves the fertility and structure of the soil, and also eliminates harmful microflora.
How to prepare the land in a greenhouse for winter
The mandatory measures for preparing the land in the greenhouse in the fall include:
- Cleaning up plant debris.
- Replacement of the upper fruiting layer or its disinfection.
- Soil digging.
- Application of fertilizers.
Since different crops grown under cover react differently to the composition of the soil and the fertilizers used, the processing and preparation of the soil for each type of plant is made taking into account these nuances.
Soil preparation in a greenhouse for tomatoes in autumn
Tomatoes in our country are grown more often than other garden crops under the film. Soil preparation in a greenhouse in autumn for tomatoes consists in arranging multi-layered beds. To do this, the top layer of soil of about 40 cm is removed. Then lay out the following components in layers:
- Finely chopped branches.
- Sawdust.
- Mulch or compost.
- Peat or rotted manure.
- Ground land.
Such a layer cake will be an excellent basis for growing tomatoes. And branches and sawdust will serve as an additional heat-insulating layer, eliminating the freezing of seedling roots in early spring.
Soil preparation for cucumbers in autumn in a greenhouse
It is preferable to grow cucumbers in “warm” beds. In autumn, soil preparation in the greenhouse is carried out for them as follows. The topsoil is removed and mixed with humus in a ratio of 1:1. In place of future beds, the following components are laid in layers:
- Large chopped branches.
- Small branches.
- Chernozem.
- Manure (about 10 kg per 1 sq. m).
The last to be poured is the top layer of a mixture of soddy soil with humus. It is undesirable to freeze such soil, therefore it is necessary to keep such beds under the snow in winter.
How to properly prepare the soil for peppers and eggplants
Peppers and eggplants are heat-loving plants, therefore it is better to grow them in “warm” beds. Preparing the land in the greenhouse in autumn for growing them is quite simple. The top layer of soil (about 30 cm) must be removed, then a layer of plant waste (grass, fallen leaves, tops) should be laid, a small layer of rotted manure should be poured above, and then a layer of fertile species. During the winter, the biomass will gradually rot, so the temperature of the soil in the beds will always be elevated.
A few tips from professionals
Simultaneously with the disinfection of the soil in the fall, the entire structure is usually disinfected. The sulfur blocks used for this cannot be used in greenhouses with a metal frame, since the smoke from the sulfur blocks will cause severe corrosion of iron structures.
Green manure planted after harvest does not need to be removed. If they have grown high enough, they should be mowed down and left in the beds, and in the spring simply embedded in the soil while digging.
In small structures, treatment can be done with potassium permanganate. To do this, you need to prepare it with a 2% solution, which spill the dug up soil.
To make the greenhouse soil light and loose, river sand is added to it (about 1/6 part). This prevents the fertile layer from being washed out.
If you use the method of freezing the soil, then you can shower the beds with snow already at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring. Fresh melt water will have a beneficial effect.
Conclusion
Tillage in a greenhouse in autumn is a rather laborious, but necessary event that allows you to avoid many problems for the next year. It will help get rid of pests, improve the quality of the soil, increase its fertility, thereby increasing the chances of a future good harvest. Do not neglect these works. Moreover, you can choose any time for their holding, because the climate in the greenhouse does not depend on the vagaries of the weather.
