What did you do in your garden today?

[LaurenRitz]

Trimmed back the last squash plant in the hope of getting some viable seeds. Wandered aimlessly and dreamed about next spring. Dug up a dry garden tomato that was starting to fruit and stuck it in the greenhouse.

I have transitioned back to hydroponics for the winter. Salad garden is growing, but slowly. I thought the hundreds of baby fish in the tanks would provide sufficient nutrients, but apparently not.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I have transitioned back to hydroponics for the winter. Salad garden is growing, but slowly. I thought the hundreds of baby fish in the tanks woukd provide sufficient nutrients, but apparently not.

Would love to see pics of your hydroponic set up.

 

[LaurenRitz]

ROFL. First, my system is a heart-attack inducing excuse for a freakout from both aquaponics and hydroponics purists. Both scream that 1) I'm doing it all wrong, 2) that it's neither hydroponics or aquaponics, and 3) that it will never work. So I call it hydroponics, blah, blah, blah...

My system is four linked ibc totes. A pump takes water from the lowest tank to the highest, everything else is gravity feed.

At the moment I have only minnows, since I do absolutely nothng with the system except add water and food. No temperature control, so most "food" fish are out. Mollies loved it but died at 55 degrees.

The minnows find it perfectly congenial and breed like crazy.

The duckweed is an additional protein source for my chickens, as are any extra minnows. There is no duckweed in the higher tanks because the fish eat it too fast for a population to get established.

The two additional tanks visible in the back are water catchment for the system.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Thanks so much! I like it. I set up a tiny aquaponic experiment last year and know that in theory it can work. I took it down because I needed to move it. It wasn't big enough to be more than an experiment, but I learned a lot and had great fun with it. I'd like to expand to a bigger system 'someday.'

 

[frustratedearthmother]

May or may not have wasted some seeds and some time today. I planted one of the raised beds in sugar snap peas. Even if they don't mature enough to produce a crop the plants will still be good for the soil. I'm working on preparing another bed for carrots. I fluffed the soil in there today and watered it pretty well. The crumbles are breaking down into really nice soil that should be just right for carrots. Hopefully I can get that bed planted tomorrow.

 

[Mini Horses]

Seeds. I'm addicted And seed porn isn't even out yet. Like every Fall/Winter, I promise myself to do better -- plant as many of these possessed packages of seed as you can!! Really??? Like I'd need an acre just for beans. Corn (s) yes, every color & kind. I love the thought of growing them

I need help. Is there a seed anon group

 

[akroberts]

Seeds. I'm addicted And seed porn isn't even out yet. Like every Fall/Winter, I promise myself to do better -- plant as many of these possessed packages of seed as you can!! Really??? Like I'd need an acre just for beans. Corn (s) yes, every color & kind. I love the thought of growing them

I need help. Is there a seed anon group

I'm right there with you. I have so many seeds that I need about 3 acres of land to get my seeds all planted.

 

[Mini Horses]

So glad I'm not alone!

 

[flowerbug]

ROFL. First, my system is a heart-attack inducing excuse for a freakout from both aquaponics and hydroponics purists. Both scream that 1) I'm doing it all wrong, 2) that it's neither hydroponics or aquaponics, and 3) that it will never work. So I call it hydroponics, blah, blah, blah...

the few nutrients the fish are providing will be quickly absorbed by all those plants. no harm in any of what i see there, it looks fine for an impromptu system and as long as you are happy with it that's all that matters.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Uh...do I actually have to recognize it as a problem in order to join? I coukd really mess up other people's recovery...