Jeyes Fluid to sterilise soil

by Barry Gray

Has anybody used Jeyes Fluid to sterilise soil. We have a bad case of wilt in the garden & the glasshouse.

Comments for
Jeyes Fluid to sterilise soil

Jan 31, 2011

E. Community Gardens, Bir. UK
by: Senior Poppa

We use Jeyes Fluid every year here. We buy it up large and distribute it out to the plots and owners. As far as a fungicide goes, we think it's the safest of all, whilst still able to do the job.
Jeyes fluid is used here to get rid of any green algae growing on glasshouses and cold frames also. Any slimy places or unwanted moss, tools and pots disinfecting will be sterilised and dried up with a solution of a good tablespoon of Jeyes to a watering can of water (roughly 2 gals).

I understand the basis of Jeyes fluid is derived from what is called, Tar acids or Tar oil. It's been refined from natural tar or oil from the ground. It's not pure organic gardening, but although it will kill overwintering slugs, pupae, bugs and many fungal spores, it's not considered a dangerous chemical, nor will it affect beneficial life in soil long term or pollute waterways, as long as weak solutions are used. Our great-great grandparents used it!

Now here are some of the other gardeners uses and there are lots more. Brassica club root and root fly. Onion fly, mildew, whitefly. Diluted by half again it is good for seedlings to stop "damping off."
Pop

Jun 12, 2011

RE: Jeyes Fluid
by: Anonymous

We have been unable to buy Jeyes fluid - We have tried all over the Wellington area.

Jun 12, 2011

Jeyes fluid for garden
by: Megan

Jeyes fluid is not made in NZ now I gather, but there is a company that imports it from UK:
www.cleanerswarehouse.co.nz

The other possibilities would be Mitre 10 and Moore Wilsons - I'll check them out in the near future.

Any strong disinfectant would serve a similar purpose I guess, so whatever hospitals use might suffice, and there's always condys crystals for sterilising. Having said that, I have never used any soil sterilisation method for vegetables, I hope it's because of the idea that healthy soil equals healthy plants which build up resistance to viruses and disease.

Crop rotation is not always practical in small home gardens, but for large plots it's a good insurance against plant diseases. Also commercial gardeners, which I was once with cacti and succulents, use sterilisation methods to make sure pots and soil are disease, bug and weed free, before sending plants off for sale.

Jun 30, 2011

soil
by: Anonymous

What strength should the mix be as i have a big prob with onion fly thanks

Jul 01, 2011

Jeyes fluid soil sterilization
by: Anonymous

Why don't you follow the instructions at the top of this page and use a tablespn to a watering can of 2 gallons, that sounds mild to me. Grow you onions in a different patch if you can next year just in case.

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