Comment

Comment by TCLynx on October 31, 2011 at 6:13pm

Greens and snow peas are probably a good choice for a first year winter unless you know your greenhouse will stay really warm.  Kale and other greens in that group actually really do well in the cold as does broccoli if it gets enough sun.

Comment by Eric Warwick on October 31, 2011 at 5:57pm

Also, there's a  Northwest aquapons group here, you should join.

Comment by Eric Warwick on October 31, 2011 at 5:56pm

I'm located in Western Washington. If you want to heat the tank, we have tilapia, then you  could grow warmer crops. I think that any cold weather crop is fine.

Comment by Linda Logan on October 31, 2011 at 5:50pm

Eric,

Where are you located?  I'm in Oregon and with Winter coming I'm wondering if I should just stick with greens.  This is also my first system.

Comment by Eric Warwick on October 31, 2011 at 5:30pm

TCLynx: I have beans growing in my aquaponic system, which is in a greenhouse. So, no extra care is needed.

Comment by TCLynx on October 31, 2011 at 5:13pm

Ah, yes, different subject.

Tomatoes, if they are all tied to the same trellis structure, then bang or tap on that daily to help vibrate the plants enough to get pollination to happen.  Or you could do the Q tip or paint brush method.

 

I don't know about peppers much, perhaps similar to tomatoes but maybe some one with more experience in them will chime in.

 

I'm not sure but I think peas and beans may be self fertile without much extra help.

 

Cucumbers, squash and their kind you pluck off a male flower, pull off the petals and kiss it to each of the female flowers.  Or get the kinds that don't require pollination to produce fruit but that kinda stops you from saving seeds because they are probably all hybreds.

Comment by Linda Logan on October 31, 2011 at 4:53pm

When I said plant fertilization I meant pollination.  Thanks for your thoughtful reply.  Would you give me your experience on pollination?  I'm thinking about tomatoes, peppers, pea etc.

Comment by TCLynx on October 31, 2011 at 4:04pm

Generally the primary means of fertilizing aquaponically grown plants is by feeding the fish.  The fish eat and produce the waste that is then converted by the bio-filter into plant usable nutrients.  That is the beauty of aquaponics, you get rid of the problem of disposing of the nutrient heavy fish waste water by using it in a bio-ponic fashion as your fertilizer source for the plants and you get rid of the problem of having to dump your hydroponic nutrient and replace it with more expensive hydroponic nutrient fertilizers.

 

In Aquaponics though sometimes deficiencies are seen and these are often dealt with by adjusting pH and sometimes adding chelated iron or seaweed extract or other fish safe items.

Comment by Linda Logan on October 31, 2011 at 3:50pm

What kind of coral did you put in your system and was it a chunk, or small pieces?

Comment by Linda Logan on October 31, 2011 at 3:47pm

I'm wondering about plant fertilization in a aquaponic greenhouse situation.  I have a veggie garden outside but want to do some heat loving plants (as well as greens) inside with the aquaponic set up.  Any experience or advise?

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