next crop

[daveb]

Started seedlings for next re-plant of one of the hydroponic beds, sat down Friday evening about 6 and planted 26 new pots,some has sprouted as of yesterday Sunday, so snapped a couple photos.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Looks awesome! Make sure the light is right on them so they don't grow leggy! (I just made that mistake myself... I forgot to move my seedlings and kept them in the shade)

 

[Poppy]

Looks awesome! Make sure the light is right on them so they don't grow leggy! (I just made that mistake myself... I forgot to move my seedlings and kept them in the shade)

How do you know what is the correct distance for the leggyness? I have that sometimes, didn’t know how to correct it?

 

[daveb]

first few days I leave them in window, and after about 1/2 tall I move them under LED grow lights about 2 inches above the plant each grow light is slightly different , 4500 to 6500 Kelvin light depends on the intensity of the light 2 to 4 inches above plants so it still has air flow. blue light encourages leaf and root growth in plants at all stages it helps them to fill out more . red light penetrates deeper into foliage and triggers plants to set bloom to make fruits the some go as low as 2700K but average 3000 to 4500 will trigger plants to bloom.

also if you use an apple iphone the front camera is good as a light meter go to apps and find an app named Photone then you need pure white piece of 20lb paper cut a piece to cover the front camera it acts as a filter . there are various sites that give suggested light about for seedlings , and i am not at spot where i have my ledgers and notes handy. i will look up numbers later but i think off top of head lettuce is 13 to 15 par day . and as they get bigger 17 . par is a measurement of light energy plants can use this is where a light meter comes in handy that registers plants spectrum.
sadly most grow lights do not tell you the real par in light plants use they give it in full spectrum we see which includes light plants do not use adequately i could give you some raw formulas for the lights you have.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I feel like daveb's answer covers it.

For me, it's all trial and error. If I notice a hint of leggyness; give them more light.
Are the leaves wilting? They are probably getting burnt and need a little less light and/or more water.

My personal growth with gardening is enjoying the trial and error. I don't expect my plants to do the best, or be the best. They are my learning plants, with aim that future plants will improve more and more. Heck, as many members here know, I love experimenting. Putting plants in odd locations, doing test batches, seeing what happens.... it's great fun! Going in open-minded, knowing that you might kill the plant, all for the sake of learning helps a lot! I have killed numerous plants, but in saying that my existing plants thrive all the better. I have plants that refuse to die nowadays, even on neglect, as I know what they need in my situations. The death of a plant is seen as a learning curve - and so much fun!
Do keep in mind, you should keep some plants that do get your attention and love. Losing all your plants is no fun, you need something to turn back to so that you feel like it was all worth it. For me those are usually green beans and tomato plants. They thrive here and I've had loads of success with those. I also enjoy making cuttings and seeing roots grow on them successfully. I'm intending on making lots of cuttings in the near future as I'm hoping to donate some small plants to a nearby community stall.

 

[daveb]

I feel like daveb's answer covers it.

For me, it's all trial and error. If I notice a hint of leggyness; give them more light.
Are the leaves wilting? They are probably getting burnt and need a little less light and/or more water.

My personal growth with gardening is enjoying the trial and error. I don't expect my plants to do the best, or be the best. They are my learning plants, with aim that future plants will improve more and more. Heck, as many members here know, I love experimenting. Putting plants in odd locations, doing test batches, seeing what happens.... it's great fun! Going in open-minded, knowing that you might kill the plant, all for the sake of learning helps a lot! I have killed numerous plants, but in saying that my existing plants thrive all the better. I have plants that refuse to die nowadays, even on neglect, as I know what they need in my situations. The death of a plant is seen as a learning curve - and so much fun!
Do keep in mind, you should keep some plants that do get your attention and love. Losing all your plants is no fun, you need something to turn back to so that you feel like it was all worth it. For me those are usually green beans and tomato plants. They thrive here and I've had loads of success with those. I also enjoy making cuttings and seeing roots grow on them successfully. I'm intending on making lots of cuttings in the near future as I'm hoping to donate some small plants to a nearby community stall.

And to be honest some lights it is hit or miss and yes same as lights can be too far away they can also be too close. the mylar inclosure the other day first thing i noticed they can use more light you can see they are slightly leggy. but look at my hydroponics i use bright white so they dont have that plurple as we call it purple red hue but still deliver the same light. and you can see some of the distances i use plus the lights i made are dimmable and selective for light spectrum, but it still is a crap shoot. i just moved my seedlings over to the lights i have today but i can see some i will need to restart the seeds did not germinate very well

 

[Poppy]

Thank you. This has been a learning experience. We do have tomatoes all grown inside this past winter, another week and we can pick them. This is a first time for us and we have had experience with different lights. One brand called “Spyder” had done very well - I can get back with the name of the one’s my husband thinks is the best as he has been the one working that part out.

Any ideas for the fungus nats? Gosh they are terrible, we are making a neem oil tea to water them with but this is going so slow. Also have used DE, again, still have the nats

 

[daveb]

forgot to post the week old pic of newest seedlings, they have a few extra in each pot i will snip out back to 2 strong seedlings before i set them in hydropnic channels. only one of two snap shots i took yesterday were clear sorry.

seeds were place in the cubes later friday 17th march ..

shoots started to show on 20th and as taken photo lat last night

 

[daveb]

Thank you. This has been a learning experience. We do have tomatoes all grown inside this past winter, another week and we can pick them. This is a first time for us and we have had experience with different lights. One brand called “Spyder” had done very well - I can get back with the name of the one’s my husband thinks is the best as he has been the one working that part out.

Any ideas for the fungus nats? Gosh they are terrible, we are making a neem oil tea to water them with but this is going so slow. Also have used DE, again, still have the nats

ok real fast, fungus gnats live of fungus - mold - algae, they can spread Pythium ( root rot fungus ) they prefer a still almost stagnant conditions. usually a result of over watering is when they are found, try letting the water saucers under the plants dry out top of soil down a fair 1 to 1 1/2 dry out go to store buy a bottle of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mix in a spray bottle 1 cup H2O2 and 3 cups water. mist sprays the tops of soil to wet it and the undersides and tops of leafs spray under the pot and in water catch trays, the soil is going to fizz like crazy as you spray, go around do this to any house plants you also have. The H2O2 water mix will kill the larvea almost instantly and help kill off the Pythium algae and fugus. DE wont slow them down its excess water on soil and fungus growth, i have heard some people use a bounce drier shet on the top of pots but never see anything about it also a bold with water ,vinegar , soap like used to lure other insects also works on the fungus gnats, there are also yellow sticky sheets on amazon peal off one side set where they light reflects on the and they will go to those, when one side full peal other side and cover the used side with it , i make own tangle foot glue and colors mylar to trap flies and stuff around on patio out side and place a sheet in fall when we close house for cooler weather.

PS forgot an Issue NEEM Oil its an over used poorly adequate spray , labs have show and proven it can cause issues in some pets including nerve disorders and also in water it affect fish also will kill worms and beneficial microbes in soil. Also be aware the H2O2 can affect any worms or microbes in the soil but it disapates unlike major chemicals or soap sprays and does not impart toxicity to plants or edible foods

SpyderFarm lights very good lights https://www.spider-farmer.com/collections/led-grow-light/ , go onto Youtube Albopepper did a good series about the spyderfarmer lights ages ago if i was to go with the spyderfarmer lights my options would be different then your i grow on a low flat and surface, and my tomatoes and pepper have a ring of light around them like a basket both light i made myself, they have numerous lights out now. i mention some LED light strips from homedepot that i also use for some areas i tested these a few years back and still grow herbs and other plants on a wall shelf using them

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Lookin' good @daveb !
Which ones are your favourite ones?

 

[daveb]

Thank you. This has been a learning experience. We do have tomatoes all grown inside this past winter, another week and we can pick them. This is a first time for us and we have had experience with different lights. One brand called “Spyder” had done very well - I can get back with the name of the one’s my husband thinks is the best as he has been the one working that part out.

Any ideas for the fungus nats? Gosh they are terrible, we are making a neem oil tea to water them with but this is going so slow. Also have used DE, again, still have the nats

BTW Poppy did you happen to see some of the tiny tim cherry tomatoes i grow in winter and in small pots on patio tables plus walk trim in summer plant only get 15 maybe a rare on 18 inches tall.
This is one small area i grow them in in corner of kitchen under a stairwell , first picture is the 4 foot long LED light i have mentioned a few times from home depot dec 31 feb 2 and feb 6 , you can see how much the leafs filled out just in those last 4 days.The last photo is a sample of the tomatoes off these and how the roots grow in hydroponic deep water culture

 

[daveb]

Lookin' good @daveb !
Which ones are your favourite ones?

from the Spyderfarmer lights i like the newest SE4500 is equal to the one i built, their is a bit prettier lol but mine is half the cost and the Par reading my home mahe and their is almost identical and mine is also dimmable lol

 

[daveb]

Moved a few of the new seedlings into the hydroponic channels just to make room to start more and start plants for neighbors... a few more to move then will lower lights back down but had to sit for a break my leg was killing me. have half dozen i had to restart that will also go in this bed 24 to bed to laft and 140 to the new grow beds in loft spare area

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Lookin' good mate!

Ouch, I hope your leg doesn't give you too much trouble.

 

[daveb]

so a few updates just snapped a couple photos so some can see and follow up on lights, as you will notice look at photos from tuesday and just a few minutes ago today on Thursday growth but look close at the leafs on a couple of the lettuce you will notice a marked leaf paling and burn from lights that are too bright, yet others love the extreme bright as you will see from leaf color and amount of growth .
Red salad bowl, ruby red , and another not pictured simpson black seed do not do well in extreme light they do better in soft light and partial shade, red romaine and parris island romaine do well either way, the butter crunch a member of the butterhead family of lettuce do well in extreme light and heat and are slower to bolt and go to seed , another butterhead family bronze maginotte is a very heat and light resistant heirloom lettuce its origins come out of Siberia

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Lookin' good!

 

[daveb]

a couple of the plants after 2 more days, you can see the red salad bowl lettuce the leafs taking on their more mature elongated appearance and the butter crunch taking the broad wide leaf, At this point i do not think the red salad bowl likes the extra warmth as the grow area is a bit warmer then usual and it does better on the cooler side of temperatures. But i may have to cut these short normally the tops of the plus when wet do take on a green hue under the light spectrum i use but will find out if it gets more i will drop system down clean and push all the liquid through a uv light

 

[Nick Freeman]

Looks amazing! Sorry for slowness getting here had to read through the whole thread, it's exciting stuff! To think that we can have year round greens and fruit that we grow ourselves. Wonderful.

I have a couple questions: You've said NTF a few times and I'm not sure what you mean by that. If you could explain I'd appreciate it.

Your using downspout pipe for your hydroponics?
Do you find that cheaper the pvc?
Or is it more for the shape?

Why hydroponics instead of potting plants in soil?
What is required for a start setup for hydroponics? I imagine there's the pipe and hoses, cups and planting medium, chemicals?, a pump and timer?

Very curious and eager to learn!
Nick.

 

[daveb]

so i was having coffee leaned over snapped a couple picks

Bronze Mignonette a very old heirloom lettuce one of the butter head family and a red salad bowl in foreground


the buttercrunch they are same color but its just the way the phone snapped the photo, behind the second one in back ground you can see one of the tiny tim tomato started




and tiny tim tomato another old heirloom i grow very sweet and juicy, an excellent tomato it grows and stays as a nice compact sold plant and is very heavy barer of consistent tomatoes hydroponic or a patio planter ( stock photo ) its a prolific heavy corp in clusters

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Oh my - they look awesome. I can't wait to see what they look like a couple weeks from now!