When the growing season ends, removing the tomato plants seems like a simple task: you cut the plant, collect the material and save what is useful for reusing the following year. However, it is right at this moment when you can make a common mistake with serious consequences for the garden: store the tutors without disinfecting them.

why you have to clean the tutors

Many people reuse bamboo poles, straight pruning branches or other supports year after year. This is practical, sustainable and economical. The problem appears when these tutors have been in contact with plants that have developed fungi, pests such as whiteflies, mites, diseases such as powdery mildew and other common diseases in tomato plants.

Without proper cleaning, all of those pathogens can remain active on the surface of the stake, ready to attack new plants during the following season.

A simple gesture that changes everything

According to @huertolostulipanes, who creates content on organic farming and responsible garden management, the solution is simple: Disinfect the tutors well before storing them. Although it may seem like a minor measure, this gesture can mean the difference between a healthy crop or a frustrating season.

The most accessible method is to prepare a bleach water solution. Simply wipe a cloth or brush with this mixture over the entire surface of the stake to remove any remains of fungi, insect eggs or bacteria that may have remained after months in the greenhouse or outdoors. This ensures that you don’t carry invisible problems from one season to the next.

It’s not just about the tomatoes

Although the case of tomato plants is one of the best known, the cleaning and disinfection of stakes should be applied to any type of crop that has been exposed to less than optimal conditions at the end of the cycle, such as variable humidity and temperatures, which reduces the natural resistance of the plants.

The same goes for tools like pruning shears, shovels or blades. These can also be vehicles for the transmission of plant diseases if they are not properly sanitized. A few spores or attached insects can easily move from one plant to another in a matter of seconds.

Mistakes that pay dearly

One of the most costly mistakes, especially for those who grow in small spaces, is to underestimate the power of latent pathogens.

No matter how clean a stake looks, there is no way to see with the naked eye whether it is free of fungus or insect eggs. That’s why, Relying on visual appearance is insufficient: Disinfection is a preventive measure that cannot be skipped.

Additionally, reusing stakes without cleaning them can lead to repeated infestations year after year. You may think that the plant has bad genetics or that the soil is not suitable, when in reality you are reinfecting the crop accidentally.

These types of errors also affect the performance of other nearby plants, if they share space or tools.

Practical tips for cleaning and preserving

For effective cleaning of garden stakes and tools, Follow these basic steps:

• Prepare a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach
• Wear gloves to protect you.
• Rub the entire surface of the tutor well, especially the areas in contact with the ground or leaves.
• Let dry completely before storing in a dry place.
• Save the tutors away from moisture or plant debris.

If you use pruning branches as stakes, make sure they are well cured and straight. Although their durability is less than that of bamboo, with proper care they can also serve for several seasons.

A good harvest starts with a good cleaning

Next year’s success does not depend only on the seeds or the substrate. Start with a proper cleaning when collecting and storing materials. Don’t let a bad practice today ruin your tomatoes of tomorrow.

Remember that in the garden, prevention It is as important as irrigation or light. A few minutes spent cleaning well can save you weeks of trouble down the road.

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