Hydroponic Greenhouse Update

I am pleased with my little hydroponic greenhouse!  I've replanted Dragon Tongue beans again that are up, am growing Malibar Spinach for the first time, squash breeding is going well, cherry tomatoes are trying to grow again, tomato breeding is coming along, and I've centralized the flow to waste nutrient tank!  I hope you enjoy the update.

Greenhouse Giveaway: Part 5

Only 3 weeks left to enter the giveaway!  Lots of folks from all over the country represented.  In this iteration of the build, I frame in the front door.  For all considering a greenhouse entry, you don't have to take any portion of the internal hydroponic stuff or you could take parts of it like the buckets for example.  No sweat ok.  I've gotten lots of feedback where folks don't feel they can enter because someone else less fortunate deserves it more than they, but listen, that's not what this one is about.  It's more about getting the word out and doing some good.  But, if you still feel that way, maybe you know someone that could use one more than you and there's nothing wrong with nominating them!  I'll need their name, city, and state instead of yours however and please let them know the rules so that all is well if they win!

Corn Pollination Failure

Lots going on here with the hydroponic corn grow.  First, corn tassels were premature and didn't provide full pollination when silks emerged.  This often occurs when plants are stressed or other environmental issues. Second, to combat that, I did some research on how to save pollen and apply later.  Fail.  Third, I show how to cut silks to improve pollination by hand pollinating the corn.  This would be very effective if pollen was used right away (according to the experts).  Overall, this was a failure, but I've learned some things and I will give container corn another shot.  I am determined.

Hydroponic Flow to Waste System

Flow to waste is also known as drain to waste in the hydroponic world.  I implemented this method right after starting the no-weed garden a few months back.  It was to provide a little bit of hydroponic nutrient to the outside containers.  What I learned was that it was so much easier and very consistent.  In my research, I found out that this methodology already existed as a form of Drip Hydroponic Systems only there's no recirculating nutrient.  Now, they way I'm doing it is still yet a bit different.  Here's how it works:

1.  House water fills up to 250 gallons of storage barrels two times a day via a timed Orbit watering valve.  That water off-gasses the chlorine and gravity feeds a "Distribution" barrel via a float valve.

2.  A nutrient tank is mixed with 50 gallons of super-concentrated nutrients.  A timer sends a small amount of that to add to the distribution tank after every watering of the greenhouse.  So after, every watering cycle, water from the storage barrels and concentrated nutrient fill in the distribution barrel at the same time and is mixed with a double-bubbler (fish air pump with 2 air stones).

3.  Any excess drainage from all the containers in the greenhouse flows back to a "waste" tank where it is re-used for the outside containers.  Ideally, you want to minimize excess drainage.  The waste tank also is fed from the storage barrels with regular water to ensure the pump never runs dry and that the outside containers always get watered.

4.  Everything is timed for 2 times a day and can be changed from 1 to as many timings per day as desired.  The simplest version of flow to waste is add nutrient-water to a container and let the drainage drain anywhere else but back into the container.  That is the concept.  No re-circulation.  Check out the video for the advantages and disadvantages and how I use this method.

Replanting Part of the Potato Tower

The red potatoes I used from the store didn't grow.  May have had an inhibitor on them or it could have been anything really.  My potatoes that I harvested and replanted immediately did, however, all sprout and start growing.  So, in this video, I replant parts of the tower and discuss where I'm going with it all from this point.

Greenhouse Giveaway: Part 4

On to part 4 folks.  First thing I do is brace the greenhouse.  Stability is key to support against the wind and loads such as snow or ice.  It's a good idea to vent your greenhouse and this shows the framing of a window installed in the back of the greenhouse, how it's supported, and the dimensions I've chosen.  You gotta let that heat accumulation out!  We're getting closer to the drawing with only 6 weeks to go!

Greenhouse Update: Not Much Production

This is the routine, yet slightly overdue, greenhouse update.  July and August are the worst times for me as a gardener.  It is too hot for any kind of production.  Plants seem to fight for life and that's about it.