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Post by spuds on Apr 3, 2015 13:35:52 GMT -6
dang bro, I'm ready for a fresh salad after seeing your greenery 'Great Job Spuds Thanks! Im hoping when the weather is warmer at night my tomatoes grow as well,got a few blooms but growth is slow yet. This has HUGE potential,so exciting!!!!
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Post by w8in4dave on Apr 4, 2015 10:35:27 GMT -6
So impressed!! I'll take a salad!
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Post by spuds on Apr 4, 2015 19:37:51 GMT -6
Moved celery from bed 1 to bed 4 to give lettuce some room.Celery are from stalks from store,planted the inner core with a few stalks,so thats a winner. Bok Choy plants from grocery store,should do well,the Napa Cabbage did well.Cute little guys.
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Post by w8in4dave on Apr 5, 2015 7:09:49 GMT -6
Moved celery from bed 1 to bed 4 to give lettuce some room.Celery are from stalks from store,planted the inner core with a few stalks,so thats a winner. Bok Choy plants from grocery store,should do well,the Napa Cabbage did well.Cute little guys. I have heard about planting stuff from the grocery store but havn't done it! I was wondering if it really worked! I guess I wonder no more! Everything looks great! Nice and healthy!
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 6, 2015 6:35:34 GMT -6
dang Bro everything looks great, the celery and bok choy..did you do anything other than trim the outer leaves and re-plant
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Post by spuds on Apr 6, 2015 10:56:44 GMT -6
dang Bro everything looks great, the celery and bok choy..did you do anything other than trim the outer leaves and re-plant Yup,thats what I did,tho I started with the smallest ones they had so maybe pulled 4-6 leaves on each.I dont have receipt but doubt I paid a dollar for the three plants. The roots initially start growing from the side of the stub,then eventually grow a lot of roots from the bottom of stub.
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Post by spuds on Apr 9, 2015 10:49:09 GMT -6
Week 4 Got our first salad greens,got waaay more than the 3 of us could eat,amazing!Just trimmed outer leaves,plants still there. Im still a month ahead of others even being able to put out plants here,WOW! Bed 1 a couple of shots We were amazed at the flavor from the lettuces,none are bitter,and that one in the center with the narrow spikie leaves is downright sweet.What type is it,it was in an assortment pack. Kale dont grow as fast but boy are they healthy See? Way too much for 3,the celery isnt as large as photo portrays,they are about 1/3 size of those you buy. UncleRicky,as Snooky refers to him,came up and after a year long ordeal with his teeth got to eat his first meal with us in a year.The first salad with a vinaigrette Mrs made and Feta cheese sprinkles,and BBQ ribs,for him.Yumm!NICE visit! In bed 2 The bell peppers,tomatoes and strawberries are starting to show babies The basil growing fast,they were at gravel level,now much above,even took a few leaves off a baby today. Nothing done with 3 yet,over to bed 4. The celery are really something,theyve grown fist sized roots,I think 7 may be more than we need.Celery powder?They overwintered too,wonder if they will be perennials in here? The cilantro and dill each from bed 2 I divided into 12 plants each.That dill was from the grocery bargain bin and the roots are pretty nice,reckon all will grow,the cilantro,when divided had tiny roots,not sure they will all make it,but learned something,they plant a lot of seeds in a little pot for them,so 1 plant is actually a dozen or more.WOW!
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Post by spuds on Apr 9, 2015 12:11:50 GMT -6
An example of our growing season to give an idea how far ahead we are.These plants were wiped out by the cold last night outside.
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Post by spuds on Apr 9, 2015 12:32:43 GMT -6
Have 8 tomatoes starting to move.Bed 2,radishes on right for seeds hopefully,these may get moved around to get tomatoes on edge of bed A closeup Bed 1 toms
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Post by spuds on Apr 9, 2015 19:03:38 GMT -6
Added Purlins,not really structural but for plants to attach to,hang potted plants from. And planted a 6 pack of snow peas that each had 2 plants,so 1 dozen climbing 6 strings in bed 4 Theres also a big and small rosemary,4 of a different basil,and a good sized English thyme.A couple of the peppers are multicolored hot ones.The 1 elephant garlic I stuck in,not doing so well so that wont be done again,maybe needs bulb above water level?The Brussels Sprout is growing but not greening,something it needs isnt in the water. Edit-added 20 goldfish to tank 1,2 and 20 gf and 2 Koi to tank 3,4. 28 dollars.
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 11, 2015 5:39:51 GMT -6
Bravo Bro tky everything looks scrumptious,all is Very impressive is there a correct ratio of Fish to plant needs?? completely stupid about this...but very interested..I know that someday, my gardening abilities will need a easier way to produce our veggies
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Post by spuds on Apr 11, 2015 10:01:15 GMT -6
Thats a good question. This system can be as simple or complex as you like.You can do various testing with litmus papers and dissolved solids meters or just toss in fish and go. If I have to run it as a scientific check and go system,not for me.
The method Im following is put in fish,if plants look weak add supplemental nutrition until they look healthy and keep adding fish.One guy has his tanks stuffed with fish,no testing,and does well.
When I have lots of fish I may check ammonia,thats a fish killer,but for now,just watch and good to go,extremely simple.If ammonia gets too much you can drain and refill tanks as needed and add heavy nitrogen feeders until ammonia back to reasonable.At that point yes,fish to plant ratio has to be determined.BUT,it would be like 36 tomatoes to 6 fish of X size,whatever,that gets too regimented unless just one crop on commercial basis,not for me.
Really too,its so individualized that you just do what seems intuitive to growing plants,nothing is set in stone.Watching my bud with the hydro changing constantly as he tweaks his system in every way until he reaches HIS nirvana level,trying to get maximum nutritional value with assorted feeding sources,not just 12-12-12 fertilizer for example.....its such a cool way to grow.
And worms,gotta have worms in the Spuds plant world.I want natural,not DuPont. tky hpltr
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Post by spuds on Apr 11, 2015 10:09:08 GMT -6
When I have leaves looking shabby or too much,I clip em off and push under gravel for worms,love it,and hopefully so do they!
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 12, 2015 7:12:46 GMT -6
Bro I just re-read this whole thread again I have one comment (relevance to your set-up unknown) and one question...(since the last one was a good one ) With our 2 large un-heated greenhouses....ambient temps... An older greenhouse owner at Faibault Garden center...told Us As long as the soil is warmer, bedding plants do well at an ambient temp of 40°.. But if the soil gets cold..they are comprimised so we have a Old chicken tractor that we sit plant trays on...the outside of the frame of the chicken tractor shrouded with plastic..and some, not much supplemental heat to keep bottoms warm.. So, I'm deducing that Your plant medium is warmer than 40..and the air would be at least 40 or better so You should be fine (I know it's usually a "keep it cool" situation with a greenhouse type set-up so..now the question.. Why not Bigger..more TASTY fish? Ya know...complete the cycle
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Post by spuds on Apr 12, 2015 11:52:45 GMT -6
Thanks for the FYI on temps. The last temp check the beds and water were high 50's F. Im considering a small cover on a bed during winter to save some plants by getting it above freezing. Tasty fish? Like Talapia,trout or catfish? All doable and even done on small and commercial scale.I may work towards that goal,but for return on investment people pay waaaay too much money for KOI,so they are probably the best return on fish in my temp zone.So why Im adding koi tky hdsk You mean like this,this is silver perch,I may be too cold
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Post by spuds on Apr 12, 2015 12:09:18 GMT -6
Any advice on how to get clones to last the winter? I'd like to take,say, the 'super' tomato,then clone it and need a way to keep it going until next season.
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Post by spuds on Apr 16, 2015 18:10:09 GMT -6
Week 5 update Lots happening....1st off,tank 3/4 isnt balanced,and fish are dying,no probs in tank 1/2. Seems just putting old water from 1/2 into 3/4 wasnt enough to get microbiology right.So yesterday took gravel from bed one and transplanted some into bed 4 to get the proper microbes functioning in that bed,however have lost 1/2 the goldfish I put in. Rescued the KOI and put them in tank 1/2,hope it isnt too late.Rest of GF stayed in 3/4,if they make it,so be it,otherwise out 5 dollars so financially no loss,but need to get that bed converting the ammonia to nitrite to nitrate that the fish can deal with. Been harvesting salads in bed 1,made 6 so far,trimming the lettuce.They are booming.The kale are growing up,the tomatoes finally getting going and more flowers. The basil have doubled in size in bed 2,the thyme and rosemary looking good. Bed 4 the celery are booming,the peas have moved up 6 inches this week and look really healthy Bed 1 Lettuce Bed 2,Basil and thyme Bed 4,celery and pea's,have to have pea's,they are mandatory at our garden
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Post by spuds on Apr 19, 2015 8:33:53 GMT -6
Got another pump like the one I have,will tee it into air line next to current pump,Im pretty sure the main line can handle the double air volume.Got four air stone bubblers,2 for bed 3,and one each for each tank.They didnt have rafts,guess hardware store for something,I still will start some pots though.Got rockwool,it looks like the gravel only little soft balls,and coco coir,its shredded coconut husks,to use as media. Found a lot of seeds we harvested last year and before,bought some radish and green onion seeds. Add 110.00 dollars to costs. Should have good update pics Thursday
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Post by spuds on Apr 20, 2015 15:55:41 GMT -6
Putting together bed 3.I used the rockwool around inside pot edges,and filled the middle with coconut husk. Grow cubes,23 dollars.Add water and man does it hold water,would be prime for just sprouting seeds Coco husk brick,this was 15 dollars.You chop off a piece and add water,but its thin,so have to plug holes on containers or it will fall out The pots,have green onion and radishes.No floats available so they are sitting on a stand,about in water 3 inches. Temp should be growing those seeds great!Moist and warm.
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Post by spuds on Apr 20, 2015 16:11:31 GMT -6
Temps at 2pm,outside temp 75 Inside,door open Water Surface and subsurface temps Leaf temps
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 22, 2015 6:54:13 GMT -6
That is a pretty high ambient temp Bro...but the surface and leaf temps seem perfect.. always hard to keep a greenhouse cool...
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Post by w8in4dave on Apr 22, 2015 8:28:34 GMT -6
So impressed!! Wow!!
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Post by spuds on Apr 22, 2015 8:45:56 GMT -6
That is a pretty high ambient temp Bro...but the surface and leaf temps seem perfect.. always hard to keep a greenhouse cool... If the plants are hydrated is the high temp really a concern? They sure seem to like it.Sure would think 110-120 temps would be beating up the plants,but it isnt.And we do farm in deserts? Yup,this temp thing is making my head spin too,and there is room to lower temps yet, should I need to.I havent even put in a fan yet. Also temps really bounce around,one time its 88,then 118,then 106,then 85,back over 95...in a couple of hours.Temps are all over the place.
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Post by spuds on Apr 22, 2015 13:20:08 GMT -6
Tank 1/2,lots of happy fish,Koi are hiding.
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 23, 2015 7:53:39 GMT -6
That is a pretty high ambient temp Bro...but the surface and leaf temps seem perfect.. always hard to keep a greenhouse cool... If the plants are hydrated is the high temp really a concern? They sure seem to like it.Sure would think 110-120 temps would be beating up the plants,but it isnt.And we do farm in deserts? Yup,this temp thing is making my head spin too,and there is room to lower temps yet, should I need to.I havent even put in a fan yet. Also temps really bounce around,one time its 88,then 118,then 106,then 85,back over 95...in a couple of hours.Temps are all over the place. I would think as long as they are hydrated, they would be fine...and probably really thrive! I have never been, or gardened in a desert environment, but I did at one time live on a piece of land that was in a valley, and the soil was 78% sand...it hit 110-115° often.. Only thing I ever had a problem with was sunburned watermelons... They all look great Bro (and tasty too!)
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Post by spuds on Apr 23, 2015 11:55:40 GMT -6
Week 7 Beds 1,2,and 4 continue along.Not much excitement there,aquaponic strawberries are fantastic,growing fruits all over,the aquaponic tomatoes still smallish but also flowers really coming on...Bed 3 is this weeks story Bed 1,note the water droplets,wonder if thats pumped thru the plants or is condensate?
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Post by spuds on Apr 23, 2015 12:21:05 GMT -6
Now...on to bed 3 and some learning and reviewing. Fish excrete ammonia,then its changed into nitrites,then changed into nitrates,then plants absorb nitrates to grow. Ammonia is poison to fish,fortunately a microbe,Nitrosomonas sp,changes it into nitrites,less,but still harmful,to fish.So along comes a bacteria,Nitrobacter sp,that changes them into nitrates.What a good little bacteria that is!Now Nitrates are the plants favorite food,and the fish can also tolerate that.And so its said,when we have reached this point the tank has cycled. So,that out of the way,where are we in bed 3 and tank 3/4? You will see a lot of brown algae in deep water culture (DWC) bed 3,that is a sign of high ammonia.Remember we saw that same thing in tank 1/2 on setup.Now are we into the nitrite cycle yet,dont know,I dont test the water.We do know that it takes 6-8 weeks to fully cycle and the warmer the faster it happens. In this picture we see algae,and 10 pots,with radish,green onions in 8,and 2 in foreground with OLD carrot seeds,so they may or may not sprout. This isnt DWC,its a wicking setup.Will I wick or DWC,unsure at this point.If I wick I'll just drop water to 2 inches and place pots in bed,if DWC,I still need rafts to float on water,bed 3 is set up as a DWC bed in that regard,high water level. DWC is roots from plants straight into oxygenated water.You get a plant started,add to rafting pot,and away you go.Supposedly really fast growth.With wicking you are just keeping a pot constantly moist with fish water. Not sure where we are going,but some sort of wick setup should do for plants with really tiny seeds and it provides a good media for them.I could put the wick pots into an Ebb and Flow bed,which is beds 1,2 and 4,just add pots to a bed like them,if the wicking is too much moisture down the road. So bed 3 is where the action is at now.Wick or DWC,and need the nitrogen cycle to finish.
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Post by spuds on Apr 23, 2015 18:06:01 GMT -6
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Post by spuds on Apr 23, 2015 18:35:03 GMT -6
LOL.I keep adding the word aquaponic so I show in search engines,really want to share this stuff.
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Post by spuds on Apr 24, 2015 13:43:58 GMT -6
Thats a sandwich sized ziplock of dehydrated aquaponic celery powder,not too shabby!
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