Disinfection of soil

Years ago I used to use jayes fluid, but I'm not sure the new stuff would do the job.
I think unless you rotate what you grow each year you will eventually either have to replace the soil or start growing in pots.

 

You could refresh it next year with some good compost /manure etc, but after 2 -3 years would say you are better replacing it by diging out at least 30cm, which could be a big job.

Despite the appeal of a soil border, think we would keep things in pots/tubs etc as you have more control over things.

Think things like Jeyes fluid are from yesteryear eg pre 60s, when most folk could not afford or find bagged compost.
Our old Dad used to soak piles of garden soil under plastic sheets with JF and sent us as kids to the local woods/fields to collect leaf mold and cow pats !

 

Do you have any existing pests/diseases? Most potential problems need living tissue to persist. If you believe in soil fungi and soil organisms, then any chemical treatment would be counter productive. Sterilisation by heat would require maintaining a steady temperature of 65 deg C of the entire soil mass for at least 20 minutes. Where would you find sterile 'soil' to exchange with?
My approach would be to remove all living plants once they have finished, together with any remaining fruits etc. Allow the bed to remain clear. Clean glass surfaces with Jeyes, the new 'Original'formula does still kill algae, moss etc.
As you have plenty of room (!), plant next years crop in a different area, effectively rotating.

 

I grow tomatoes in the soil the 5th (?) year in a row. Didn't change soil, and harvested less with every year. Last authmn I sowed phacelia and dug it green into soil. In February I added loads of compost from my composter. I planted tomatoes again, and got a decent amount. Tomatoes are winning now, we can't eat them all fresh. To be honest I added a bit of trichoderma under the roots when planting each tomato.
After I pull plants out I wash glass from inside with a clean water, and sow phacelia again.
Forgot to say, I have to remove a few cm of soil this time, so that when I top up fresh compost early spring again, it doexn't pile up too high.

 

I have beds in my GH with tomatoes and cucumbers in . I fill mine up with home made compost and with a bit of manure if I have some , I do the toms etc with feed during the season . I then remove a bit of old compost mainly for covering dahlias and storing other various plants . I re top it up again in spring with a heavy mulch of home made compost /manure and do the same over winter . Spring comes I remove all the compost to the soil layer and start the routine again with a fresh top of compost , I've probably been doing this for going on 10 years .

I don't compost the tomato plants though at the end of the year. I don't have any problems with yield .

 

I use Jeyes to wash the glass but no longer sterilize the soil anymore, sure I read somewhere it's not good for us.
I just rotate my crops on a three year cycle, so far my crops are good after 7 seasons.

 

I have soil beds in my greenhouse, this will be 9th summer, and haven’t ever disinfected or replaced the soil. I have added a mulch of home-made compost for the last 2 years and have added composted manure in the past.

I’ve never thought of using green manures in the greenhouse, not sure why so will do that this year.

 

I would love to be able to say my middle greenhouse, @JWK , maybe one day in my wished for walled garden …

Just tomatoes and cucumbers, occasionally aubergines but find the latter very fickle.

Our crops did tail off after 3 years or so, that’s when I started adding composted manure. The last 3 years, we haven’t bought any compost/manure etc as I’m trying to minimise plastic use and bought in products, so started using our own compost as a mulch instead. So far has worked well, it’s weedy but they are my weeds so very familiar and easy to spot or transplant (I have lots of loved self seeders such as violas).