Anyone doing hydroponics?


 
Rich G

Rich G

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I ended up with a "countertop" system via Xmas, and I think it could be kind of a fun way to not only start my garden from seeds, but also to be able to grow some herbs and other plants year round. I am using a 12-pod IDOO system, which I currently have loaded up with four types of peppers, some herbs, and an heirloom tomato. My plan is to transplant most/all of that to soil for outdoor planting once we get past our frost date, but for now, I'm enjoying what really seems like a 5th grade science experiment as I watch my seeds germinate! Anyone else using one of these "countertop" systems (or other hydroponics?)

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We used one of the Aero-Gro systems for a few years but it's sitting in a closet somewhere now. We've been limiting what we grow and trying to get the most out of our relatively short growing season. We generally don't plant much until mid-May due to the danger of frost. Also, we found the small plants we started were taking too long to develop once they went into the ground, so now we just get tomatos, peppers and some other plants that bear throughout the season from the nursery. Many other plants develop just as fast if you plant seed in the ground once it warms, especially squashes, melons, cukes, peas, beans and root crops.

I'm sure they can be beneficial in some climates, but we really didn't find it to be worthwhile here.
 
Just for fun, thought I'd throw an update in here! This system is still working very well for me, and one of the main reasons I think I will keep using it is that it gives me great flexibility on the varieties (especially peppers) I can grow. The local nurseries are pretty limited on what young plants they have in inventory, but planting my own, I can do whatever I want! :)

I have transplanted the first round of seedlings into 16 oz plastic cups, and I reseeded the IDOO with more peppers, tomatoes and herbs. So far, so good.....we'll see what the weather has to say about when they can all migrate outside to containers! :)

Current IDOO selection:

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Back/L2R: Choc Hab (still waiting), Bubblegum, Poblano, KBX (tomato)
Mid/L2R: Guajillo, BBG, Mucho Nacho, Purple Thunder (still waiting)
Front/L2R: Pasilla, Anaheim, Basil, Basil

......and here are the transplants (I got a cheap set of clip on LED lights for these):

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Back/L2R: Parsley, Cilantro, Anaheim
Front/L2R: Poblano, Mucho Nacho, Thyme, KBX (tomato)

Anyway, having fun with it, and will hopefully get some nice harvests to use on the grill! :)

Rich
 
Bruno said:
I can swear I smoked mucho nacho and purple thunder when I was a younger man. Or did I smoke purple thunder and eat mucho nachos???
Click to expand...
None of those kinds of "herbs", Bruno! The Much Nacho is a Jalapeno variety, and the Purple Thunder is a Ghost Pepper/Scotch Bonnet hybrid that I got from a friend. :)

R
 
It's a jungle!!! :)

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I'm going to move about half a dozen of these guys into my double solo cups so I have a bit more space for what's left to get the light they need! Amazing how much faster these grow in the hydroponic setup than they do in dirt!

@Darryl - swazies, just a shout out to you since I know you've got your Aerogarden going..... My basil are the two pods in the front right, and once I clear out a few of these plants, I'll get some more herbs going (have cilantro, parsley and thyme already going, but need some more....sage, dill, etc.)
 
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Rich G said:
It's a jungle!!! :)

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I'm going to move about half a dozen of these guys into my double solo cups so I have a bit more space for what's left to get the light they need! Amazing how much faster these grow in the hydroponic setup than they do in dirt!

@Darryl - swazies, just a shout out to you since I know you've got your Aerogarden going..... My basil are the two pods in the front right, and once I clear out a few of these plants, I'll get some more herbs going (have cilantro, parsley and thyme already going, but need some more....sage, dill, etc.)
Click to expand...
I took pics of baby plants about 9 days ago when I made my thread.....you should see them now.
I have to change my general diet because these things are going crazy.
I will try to update with pics when I get home tonight.....the dill got so big it just fell over......I use a straw for support but it's not a solid option.

Also my basil too........grows like they have been slipped some steroids.
Crazy.
I will try to update it tonight for you if I can remember.
 
I was quite infatuated with hydroponics in the early 2000s. I also did no till, raised bed, composting, Earthboxes, tomato buckets. Then Katrina came along and took my greenhouse to the Land of Oz. I've been pondering getting back to it recently. Need to refurb my old hybrid NFT set up I built back then.
 

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Doug D said:
I was quite infatuated with hydroponics in the early 2000s. I also did no till, raised bed, composting, Earthboxes, tomato buckets. Then Katrina came along and took my greenhouse to the Land of Oz. I've been pondering getting back to it recently. Need to refurb my old hybrid NFT set up I built back then.
Click to expand...
Cool setup, Doug! I like these plug 'em in and go units like the one I'm using. Space efficient, and I'm too lazy to build something! :)

I got the first set of my plants out into my containers, have 8 more that are in Solo cups that I'm hardening off for plant out next weekend, and still a few more in the IDOO hydroponic getting bigger......

Guajillo and Anaheim:

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Mucho Nacho and Poblano x2:

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Mucho Nacho:

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Anaheim and Bubblegum:

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I read an article years ago about an Earthtainer and by the end of the weekend had one built.
Check it out. I had Black Krim tomatoes 8' tall. This is the first edition that I built, there are some upgrades in the newer editions.

 
So.....two months later......

Guajillo
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Chilaca (Pasilla when dried)
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Anaheim
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Jalapeno (Mucho Nacho)
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Poblano
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San Marzano
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Round 2 of plants started in the hydroponic system, and about ready for outdoor planting (2x basil, Lemon Starrburst, Mattapeno, Golden Ghostly Jalapeno, Sugar Rush Peach.....and, in the back my lemon "tree")

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