It’s always good practice to sanitize pots and containers before re-using them – especially if you are growing more of the same plant families. Plant pathogens and opportunists can accumulate in the root debris and soil particles during a growing season and your new seedlings don’t need the extra challenge.

The mineral deposits that build up on both clay and plastic pots are prime locations for micro-organisms to hang out and avoid contact with disinfectant solutions. After you clean out the old soil, scrub with a stiff brush or steel wool to remove mineral deposits or scrape them away with a knife.

We would recommend disinfecting the pots by soaking in a household bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution, then rinsing thoroughly in clean water. In a greenhouse setting, a wider range of special-purpose reagents is used for disinfecting plant containers and surfaces.

Proper cleaning and disinfecting of pots requires just a minimum amount of effort, but it can pave the way to a successful vegetable crop.