Hydroponics

pauldreed

zanzibar wrote: »

We have been growing hydroponically for several years with great success and last year we started an aquaponic unit with trout.
We would recommend anyone to have a go - its well worth it.
See http://www.herbsfromwales.co.uk
This year we are running courses for those interested in setting up a hydroponic unit and will be also doing an introduction to aquaponics!

The flavour of the produce cannot be beaten !
We were still picking salads and herbs at Christmas time.

Are your greenhouses heated, and which herbs especially flourish when grown using hydroponics?

zanzibar_2

Our greenhouses and polytunnels are not heated.
If the weather forecast is for particularly freezing weather we cover the plants with a tent of bubble wrap overnight to protect the more tender plants.

Herbs that do well in hydroponics are french tarragon, oregano,basil, thyme, rosemary, lemon grass,parsley flat and curly, coriander etc.

Chives, mint and lemon balm tend to block our system so are grown in containers of perlite and drip fed.

Angelina-M

Some nice pictures on there, thanks for sharing with us.

Interesting that you are getting good results with rosemary. I've grown lavender cuttings in perlite and they've grown fast and strongly before I planted them in the ground, however I may try a rosemary cutting now and keep it in perlite after seeing your success.

I've got an indoor light system and im thinking of setting my tomatoes off now to get a head start.

Carrot boxes are great, I stand them on tables so don't have any problems with low flying carrot fly!

pauldreed

Angelina-M wrote: »

...I've got an indoor light system and im thinking of setting my tomatoes off now to get a head start.

What is your indoor light system? is it home made or a professional system?
I was balancing either raising seedlings indoors using the heat of the home and timed electric lighting, against an electric propogator in the greenhouse which uses daylight but heated electrically.
What type of lamps do you need?

Angelina-M

pauldreed wrote: »

What is your indoor light system? is it home made or a professional system?
I was balancing either raising seedlings indoors using the heat of the home and timed electric lighting, against an electric propogator in the greenhouse which uses daylight but heated electrically.
What type of lamps do you need?

Its a proper growing light. I bought it at a police auction so you can imagine what it 'shone' on in its previous light Its massive though and I don't use it often.

You will need MH (metal halide) bulbs for starting and growing, but then changing to HPS (High Pressure Sodium) for flower/fruit growth. MH has more blue light which is like the sun in the early part of the year and the HPS is yellower and encourages fruiting like our sun in high season. However you can get bulbs that do both nowadays.

I've also got a couple of aerogardens and I was thinking of using those to grow the toms until its safe to put them in the greenhouse.

Emielou

I hope no-one minds me posting this. I have also grown hydroponically for years and now work for Greenhouse Sensation, who make hydroponic systems for home use, we have just launched a solar-powered version (Solargrow), so it is even more purse-friendly.

Typical yields are 3x greater than soil-grown plants with one 55cm long Solargrow producing 25kgs toms or 80 sweet peppers.

Hydroponically-grown veg often tastes better because the plants are healthier. If anyone wants more info visit https://www.greenhousesensation.co.uk, Greenhouse Sensation also conduct talks for gardening societies and education groups, our greenhouse is also open to visitors.

alanobrien

Emielou wrote: »

I hope no-one minds me posting this. I have also grown hydroponically for years and now work for Greenhouse Sensation, who make hydroponic systems for home use, we have just launched a solar-powered version (Solargrow), so it is even more purse-friendly..

That's a very well designed site, with some good information.
That said, sorry but i think anyone would have to be slightly potty to rely on solar power to water their plants in the UK especially by last summers standard

Emielou

alanobrien wrote: »

That's a very well designed site, with some good information.
That said, sorry but i think anyone would have to be slightly potty to rely on solar power to water their plants in the UK especially by last summers standard

That's what I thought when the R&D team started working on it - 3 years ago. We've been growing using this method continually since then though and getting yields 3x bigger than in soil. The solar panel is hugely efficient and our plants are even been watered 2x per 30mins in this weather- I'm going to shut up before I start sounding like a salesperson (I'm not) - but it does work and piccies will be posted on the website soon.

On a less good note my Dragon Tree has died because I am saving money by not heating the hallway and the tree doesn't like the cold - embarrassing!

pauldreed

Well it's almost seed sowing time!
Does anyone start their seeds off in Rockwool? if so what nutrient have you used to feed them in early growth, a special plant-start nutrient or just a weak CF of normal grow nutrient?

I was going to use Jiffy pellets, but everyone keeps telling me that they are problematic, and I should use Rockwool instead...

alanobrien

pauldreed wrote: »

Well it's almost seed sowing time!
Does anyone start their seeds off in Rockwool? if so what nutrient have you used to feed them in early growth, a special plant-start nutrient or just a weak CF of normal grow nutrient?

I was going to use Jiffy pellets, but everyone keeps telling me that they are problematic, and I should use Rockwool instead...

Yes, i have some chillies and nasturtions on the go in rockwool. The seed was simply placed on the top of the rockwool in a plastic container to which i added water and put in a heated prop. I wont start feeding just yet but when i do i will use a weak seaweed solution.