Grapes in NFT

[Chandara Khan]

Hello dear!

I'm really interested in planting grapes in aquaponic. Well, I have a question to everyone. My question is that "can I grow grapes in NFT system?"  Have you known any links that can show me the growing of grapes in aquaponic especialy in NFT? I hope to hear your answer soon.If you can, please email me through [e-mail]
Thanks in advance.

[TCLynx]

NFT is generally more appropriate to small and short term crops.  Grapes being a perennial, large and long term crops would make it more problematic in NFT.  I would recommend growing grapes in media beds instead of NFT.

 

I know of some people who have planted grapes in their Aquaponics system in flood and drain media beds in Australia.

[Chandara Khan]

oh really! thank so much for your information. It is really useful to me. But have you ever seen anyone planting this kind of crop in NFT? What are the exact problem? Any links? Thanks.

[TCLynx]

No, never seen anyone plant grapes in NFT channels.

 

NFT is usually pipes or channels where the plants are in small net pots sitting in holes in the top of the channel where the plant roots are allowed to hang down into a thin film of nutrient running along the bottom of the channel.  Even with small fast plants, the channels can still get clogged up with plant roots that block the flow or cause the troughs to over flow.  This isn't that big a deal with stuff like basil or lettuce that can be easily root pruned or harvested when the problem shows up.

 

However, trying to control a grape vine in such a situation would probably prove problematic since trying to pull the root mass out of the NFT would probably set the plant back so far that one would never get any production from the vines just for keeping the system flowing.  The problem really has to do with the size of the root mass.  The only perennial I know of that gets grown regularly in NFT is strawberries and they usually get replaced yearly in commercial production so it isn't like their roots have as much chance to completely block up the channels.

 

Is there some particular reason you are so set on the NFT?  Remember that before Aquaponic water can be sent to NFT pipes it needs to be filtered.

[Chandara Khan]

 I see. Well, I'm a beginner in NFT and I even don't know much about grapes. But now after reading your comments yeah, I feel that they really brighten me up. Of course, you can say that again. Aquaponic water should be filtered before it flows into the troughs. Now, I'm using clarifier and biofiler to perform this function. Thanks for your comments

TCLynx said:

No, never seen anyone plant grapes in NFT channels.

 

NFT is usually pipes or channels where the plants are in small net pots sitting in holes in the top of the channel where the plant roots are allowed to hang down into a thin film of nutrient running along the bottom of the channel.  Even with small fast plants, the channels can still get clogged up with plant roots that block the flow or cause the troughs to over flow.  This isn't that big a deal with stuff like basil or lettuce that can be easily root pruned or harvested when the problem shows up.

 

However, trying to control a grape vine in such a situation would probably prove problematic since trying to pull the root mass out of the NFT would probably set the plant back so far that one would never get any production from the vines just for keeping the system flowing.  The problem really has to do with the size of the root mass.  The only perennial I know of that gets grown regularly in NFT is strawberries and they usually get replaced yearly in commercial production so it isn't like their roots have as much chance to completely block up the channels.

 

Is there some particular reason you are so set on the NFT?  Remember that before Aquaponic water can be sent to NFT pipes it needs to be filtered.

[TCLynx]

I use Gravel beds to filter my water before sending it to NFT, DWC or raft beds and towers.  The hand thing about Flood and drain gravel beds is they provide a wonderful place to grow plants right in your solids and bio filtration.  Grapes could be grown just fine in a big gravel bed.  I've even grown bananas and papayas in gravel beds but the bananas got so big that they cracked the tank!

[Sahib Punjabi]

Hello Chandra,

 

I suggest that you check out the discussions on :"Wick Beds". I am planning to grow Muscadine Grapes (Central Florida), and will be doing so in such beds (possibly in Dutch Buckets).

 

Good luck :-)

[Ryan Chatterson]

Ive seen Epcot grow them in long deep gutters filled with perlite

[Rick Op]

I have a grape vine in my 24" deep gravel flood&drain bed. It is doing better than an identical vine I planted in the ground and tried to figure out how much/little water to give it and how often/seldom.

Here's a link to it growing new leaves a few weeks after planting in the brand-new bed. First picture.

[Chandara Khan]

Hello! Sahib

Thank you so much for your suggestion. I'll check it out!
Sahib Punjabi said:

Hello Chandra,

 

I suggest that you check out the discussions on :"Wick Beds". I am planning to grow Muscadine Grapes (Central Florida), and will be doing so in such beds (possibly in Dutch Buckets).

 

Good luck :-)

[Chandara Khan]

Hello Ryan!

Thanks for your information!
Ryan said:

Ive seen Epcot grow them in long deep gutters filled with perlite

[Chandara Khan]

Hi Rick

Thank so much for your information and link. Could you tell me how long it take to bear you fruit?
Rick Op said:

I have a grape vine in my 24" deep gravel flood&drain bed. It is doing better than an identical vine I planted in the ground and tried to figure out how much/little water to give it and how often/seldom.

Here's a link to it growing new leaves a few weeks after planting in the brand-new bed. First pictu

[Richard Wyman]

I know that in the Napa Valley wine region of California the reason for the great wine grapes is that there is very little to no rain during the summer. The less rain the grapes get the sweeter the fruit. In an AP system the constant water wouldn't allow the sugars to develop as well.