Thursday, January 11, 2018

Initial stab at hydroponic gardening

The prospect of home grown, pesticide free produce has resulted in a hydroponic adventure.

Progress report thus far:
I found several appropriate glass items at Goodwill and some gravy jars that I had saved for fabric dyeing. Amazon has loads appropriate equipment.  Ebay has homegrown organic seeds.

There are numerous online resources.  Here is the beginning set:
https://ueat.utoronto.ca/mason-jar-hydroponics/
Old alabama gardener: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcHRh9GRc-M
MIgardener: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwfzlPIvGeU
 
It seems the kratky method is the way to go.

Here is a pic of 2 Rosalita tomato seeds soaking (3 to 24 hrs recommended).

These seedlings pictured below were germinated in rock wool or a sterile mix of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.  I much prefer the rock wool as there is less chance of damaging the seedling with it.
The "old alabama gardener" on you tube recommends covering the jars in aluminum foil to keep out the light; for the next batch I will paint the jars black with spray chalk-board paint.
Lettuce, kale, chard, french breakfast radishes and a large cherry tomato.

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