Sprinkled some seeds yesterday ...

[Bob Vento]

After all that was involved in getting our grow bed ready for cycling, level readings and then for some plants ... I sprinkled seeds yesterday. I sprinkled lettuce, dill, sweet basil, cabbage, beets and carrots.

Although our system right now is fishless, the ammonia level seems to be good for planting.

Does dosing work to keep your plants happy and healthy without fish?

I know a lot of you folks start out with seedlings, but have read others say that seeds sprinkled on the grow bed is supposed to work also. We shall see what develops.

The seeds I am using are not our Heritage seeds but some that I picked up here and there at the store as a maiden run so to speak. We are reserving our heritage seeds for a future planting both aquaponically and in our lasagna garden.

[TCLynx]

Starting seeds while you are cycling up is fine.  Whatever seeds you use are fine.  Have fun, don't get too wound up in rules.

The ammonia will provide the nitrogen for the plants as your bacteria convert it to nitrates.  However a new system may be a bit short on trace elements and phosphorus for big fruiting plants so it will take a while for the system to really be mature enough to handle those as well.  Some seaweed extract can help with trace elements and potassium during the early stages though.

Relax, have fun and just understand that this first season for the system will just be getting going and each season after the plants will do better and better.

[Bob Vento]

Today we noticed little green lettuce emerging from the rocks. I could not believe it considering I just sprinkled the seeds 2 days ago.

  SO ... today we added a sprinkling of oregano, broccoli, spinach and a different lettuce seeds.

[George]

I think you're out of season on the broccoli, spinach and lettuce but I wish you luck.  Most of our lettuce has gone to seed but we're still cutting Romaine. 

[TCLynx]

Yea, it is getting hot.  So if any of the lettuce and stuff gets big enough to eat, eat it ASAP as baby lettuce since it is likely to bolt and go bitter right away.

The basil likes the heat though.  You might also plant some hot weather crops now like beans, southern peas, cucumbers, tomato, eggplant, okra,

[Bob Vento]

TC,

What does bolt mean?

I was reading that Dill seems to be incompatible with so many vegetables does anyone know why that is? We planted some in my system in the furthest corner square and it is adjacent to my Buttercrunch Lettuce,  Black Seed Simpson Lettuce and Sweet Basil. Be interesting to see how they do. I won't be planting any more dill (wife wanted it) in our system.

[TCLynx]

Bolt means go to to flower and seed.  Lettuce usually gets bitter when it goes to flower.

[Bob Vento]

Lettuce after 4 days WOW ! You are looking at Stalite rock.