How to start salad crops? - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T13:57:20Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/how-to-start-salad-crops?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A424772&groupId=4778851%3AGroup%3A28135&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI'm using rock wool cubes. An…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-02-13:4778851:Comment:4380812013-02-13T14:47:56.486ZVerna Grosshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VernaGross
I'm using rock wool cubes. Anyone have opinion on it
I'm using rock wool cubes. Anyone have opinion on it I'll have to give it a try.tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-01-07:4778851:Comment:4274522013-01-07T04:18:29.495ZCameron Smithhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CameronSmith
I'll have to give it a try.
I'll have to give it a try. Why not? Rapid rooter starte…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-01-06:4778851:Comment:4275472013-01-06T03:31:00.345ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Why not? Rapid rooter starter plugs are just mainly peat stuck together with some polymer. You can pull them out with the plants later just like you would with peat pellets.</p>
<p>Why not? Rapid rooter starter plugs are just mainly peat stuck together with some polymer. You can pull them out with the plants later just like you would with peat pellets.</p> That doesn't sound like somet…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-01-04:4778851:Comment:4270642013-01-04T04:49:55.157ZCameron Smithhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CameronSmith
That doesn't sound like something i can use in my gravel grow bed...?
That doesn't sound like something i can use in my gravel grow bed...? I put seeds in rapid rooter s…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-01-02:4778851:Comment:4267342013-01-02T03:12:53.315ZDavid Schwinghamerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/DavidSchwinghamer
<p>I put seeds in rapid rooter starter plugs in my raft bed and forget about them, great success.</p>
<p>I put seeds in rapid rooter starter plugs in my raft bed and forget about them, great success.</p> I went out to ck on the woods…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-12-29:4778851:Comment:4260322012-12-29T15:15:50.085ZJim Fiskhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JimFisk
<p>I went out to ck on the woodstove the other night and there was one of my night crawlers sitting right on top of the gb "night crawling" You don't see much of them otherwise.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Cameron Smith said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-to-start-salad-crops?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A425780&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment425780"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Does anyone…</p>
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<p>I went out to ck on the woodstove the other night and there was one of my night crawlers sitting right on top of the gb "night crawling" You don't see much of them otherwise.<br/> <br/> <cite>Cameron Smith said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-to-start-salad-crops?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A425780&xg_source=msg_com_gr_forum#4778851Comment425780"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Does anyone else use worms in their system? I put some in my system when I put the fish in. I have no idea how they're doing down there. I would think the worm action would take care of any "muddying" caused by peat or worm castings. I guess the worm castings themselves would build up over time, but isn't that what the bacteria do partly--liquefy those solids so they can be passed through the system? </p>
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</blockquote> Yep, definitely use worms her…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-12-29:4778851:Comment:4260242012-12-29T14:11:24.528ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Yep, definitely use worms here.</p>
<p>Now worms don't actually eat the solids directly themselves. Worms come along with a whole host of beneficial bacteria that cause dead things to rot and the worms slurp up the bacterial slime and poop out nice little plant food packets we call worm castings. Things like coir and peat don't break down quickly and they retain lots of moisture which makes them good for amending sandy or clay soils but not necessarily good to have too much of it in an…</p>
<p>Yep, definitely use worms here.</p>
<p>Now worms don't actually eat the solids directly themselves. Worms come along with a whole host of beneficial bacteria that cause dead things to rot and the worms slurp up the bacterial slime and poop out nice little plant food packets we call worm castings. Things like coir and peat don't break down quickly and they retain lots of moisture which makes them good for amending sandy or clay soils but not necessarily good to have too much of it in an aquaponic grow bed. Peat and coir are often used as worm bedding but it isn't worm food, there really isn't much food value in it for them.</p>
<p>What you want the worms to be eating is the decomposing fish food, poo and old plant roots left in a grow bed.</p> Does anyone else use worms in…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-12-29:4778851:Comment:4257802012-12-29T03:27:37.317ZCameron Smithhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CameronSmith
<p>Does anyone else use worms in their system? I put some in my system when I put the fish in. I have no idea how they're doing down there. I would think the worm action would take care of any "muddying" caused by peat or worm castings. I guess the worm castings themselves would build up over time, but isn't that what the bacteria do partly--liquefy those solids so they can be passed through the system? </p>
<p>Does anyone else use worms in their system? I put some in my system when I put the fish in. I have no idea how they're doing down there. I would think the worm action would take care of any "muddying" caused by peat or worm castings. I guess the worm castings themselves would build up over time, but isn't that what the bacteria do partly--liquefy those solids so they can be passed through the system? </p> I've done soil blocks. Mine…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-12-28:4778851:Comment:4256692012-12-28T13:18:24.751ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>I've done soil blocks. Mine I usually make out of my spent peat pellets (pealed apart) worm castings and some coir. I wouldn't want to put huge amounts of soil blocks into a small system though since they could rather muddy up the media over time.</p>
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<p>And I see aquarium pH down there, read the ingredients on it. Many aquarium pH products are not all that compatible with plants and growing food and some may cause a build up in sodium or other salts in the…</p>
<p>I've done soil blocks. Mine I usually make out of my spent peat pellets (pealed apart) worm castings and some coir. I wouldn't want to put huge amounts of soil blocks into a small system though since they could rather muddy up the media over time.</p>
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<p>And I see aquarium pH down there, read the ingredients on it. Many aquarium pH products are not all that compatible with plants and growing food and some may cause a build up in sodium or other salts in the system.</p>
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<p>Now that you have bacteria living in your system, you should avoid using any sort of acid directly in your system. Adjust the pH of your top up water and let it stabilize before adding it to your system. Perhaps adjust your top up water down to a pH of 6 and let it mix and stabilize for a day or two and test again to make sure it is stable before adding it into your system. This is by far the safer and gentler way to adjust pH down in a system. </p>
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<p></p> Thanks, Sheri. Today I tested…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-12-28:4778851:Comment:4257282012-12-28T05:51:05.741ZCameron Smithhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/CameronSmith
<p>Thanks, Sheri. Today I tested for the first time in five days, and my water is finally completely cycled! It's true that a watched pot never boils, I guess. I had been testing every other day for the past couple weeks. Sheri, I've started a new discussion about another problem I'm having if you'd be kind enough to read that thread and respond. Thanks for your encouragement and support!…</p>
<p>Thanks, Sheri. Today I tested for the first time in five days, and my water is finally completely cycled! It's true that a watched pot never boils, I guess. I had been testing every other day for the past couple weeks. Sheri, I've started a new discussion about another problem I'm having if you'd be kind enough to read that thread and respond. Thanks for your encouragement and support!<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656370297?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656370297?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><br/> <cite>Sheri Schmeckpeper said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/how-to-start-salad-crops?groupUrl=aquaponicsforbeginners&commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A425726&groupId=4778851%3AGroup%3A28135#4778851Comment425130"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>TCLynx explained the seed timed system vs F&D thing very well.</p>
<p>Your bed should be dry on the top to prevent algae growth, which can literally suffocate your bed and everything in it. I sprinkle, then wiggle the top layer to get the seed down a bit, but not too much.</p>
<p>Jim, that's a very creative system for seeding!</p>
<p>Cameron, small is a good way to start. It allows you to go through the learning curve without a big expense. When you move to larger systems, you'll find they are more stable and the problems occur less often. Keep that in mind during the frustrating times.<img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Smile.gif"/></p>
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