PlanterTomato Vegetable Gardening

Improvements To My Autopot Hydroponic System

If you currently own, or are considering buying, an Autopot Hydroponic system, here are some enhancements you may want to consider.

Regular readers know that I like the Autopot system because of it's simplicity -- no pumps, no electricity needed etc.  (See my original posting on the system: Autopots Reviewed)  While the basic system works well, there are some things that can be done to improve it.  Here are my recommendations:

Enhancement #1: Use 1/2 Inch Tubing & A Filter To Prevent Clogging

My Autopot system came equipped with 1/4" tubing which is used to connect the Smart Valves to the nutrient tank.  In practice, I find that sediment from the nutrient solution and debris that occasionally fall into the tank can clog this narrow 1/4 inch tubing. 

To address this problem, I decided to replace as much of the narrow tubing as possible with wider, 1/2 inch tubing.  To accomplish this, I ran a main line made from 1/2 inch tubing from the nutrient tank to the end of the area where my Autopots are placed.  I then used barbed connectors to run smaller 1/4 inch tubing from the main line to the individual Smart Valves (Smart Valves require a 1/4 inch connection). 

You can find the 1/2 inch plastic tubing, barbed connectors, and a hole punch at any store that sells drip irrigation equipment.  There you'll also find a filter mechanism that can be opened and cleaned and the bulkhead fitting you'll need to connect your nutrient tank to the 1/2 inch tubing.

 
 

Enhancement #2: Adding A Mixing Tank To Make Refilling Nutrient Solution Easier

Most hydroponic nutrient solutions have two or more liquid components.  For example, the brand I use has a component called "Micro," "Grow" and "Bloom."  Depending on what type of plant you are growing and it's stage of development, you need combine specific amounts of at least two of these components with water to make a complete food for your plants.

Nutrient solution manufacturers instruct you to first fill your tank with water, add the first component, mix, and then add the additional components.  They do not want you to mix the components together before adding them to the water because these components can "lock up," or interact in a way that prevents the plants from absorbing the nutrients. Manufacturers also suggest a specific order in which you are to mix the components (Water, component A, component B etc.)

To properly mix your nutrient solution, you could wait till your tank is completely empty.  That way you can follow the recommended mixing procedure.  However, this is not easy to do in practice.  For example, I often find myself in a position where my nutrient tank is 1/4 full in the morning and I know from experience that it will run dry during the course of the day when I am not at home.  This summer, I addressed this problem by using a separate mixing tank and then transferring the completed solution to my nutrient tank by hand using a bucket.  This worked, but was really time consuming and very inconvenient.

To better address this problem, I decided to fully integrate a mixing tank into my hydroponic system.  This would allow me to mix nutrient solution in the mixing tank and then transfer it to the nutrient tank using gravity to draw the water from one tank to the other through the same 1/2 inch tubing that I used to create a main line for my hydroponic system.  This eliminated the need to transfer nutrient solution from one thank to another using a bucket.

In my case, I decided to use one mixing tank to feed two nutrient tanks (One nutrient tank has a hydroponic mixture suitable for fruiting plants such as tomatoes and pepper.  The other tank has a hydroponic solution suitable for vegetative plants such as lettuce, chard and kale.)  The mixing tank, which sits above both nutrient tanks, has a T connector and valves fitted to it.  Depending on which nutrient tank I want to fill, I open or close the valves, and nutrient solution will flow into either the tank for vegetative plants or to the tank for fruiting vegetables.

To create the mixing tank, you'll need the following materials:

• 1/2 inch plastic irrigation tubing
• Two 1/2 inch valves
• One 1/2 inch "T" connector
• One Rubbermaid Roughneck brand storage container (used as a mixing tank)
• One bulkhead fitting
  

A PDF of this diagram is attached below and can be downloaded.

Download Autopot Diagram

Fiddler on the Roof: An Experiment In Roof Top Container Gardening (Part 2)

In my last post, I discussed why I decided to experiment with hydroponic gardening on my roof.  In this one, I'll address some of the challenges and benefits I've noticed in the weeks since I began this project.

Challenges:

1. Access - my roof was never build to accommodate a garden and lacks convenient access. (You know, a set of stairs that leads to the roof.) My work-around is to use a painters step ladder; it does the trick, but is far less safe than a built-in set of stairs.  Initially, I thought that trips to the roof would be relatively infrequent, but in practice, I need to check the hydroponic tanks, help trellis the plants etc. and I find myself on the roof every day.  If this experiment proves productive, I will need think about adding an external set of stairs.
2. Water & Nutrient Solution - To get water to the roof, I carry a hose with me when I go up he ladder.  A tad inconvenient since I use the same hose to water other parts of my normal garden. There's a better solution which I will implement in the next few weeks; specifically, I'll add a splitter to the spigot and run a second hose to the roof which can stay up there permanently.  In addition, the hydroponic nutrient solution I use comes in gallon sized containers.  These are too heavy to bring up and down the ladder continuously, so I pre-measure the solutions and carry them up in small plastic bottles.
3. Trellising - The challenge with trellising is that normally you drive stakes into the ground to support the trellis.  This is not an option on the roof for obvious reasons.  To address this logistical issue, I built stands out of 2x4 pressure treated lumber and attached garden stakes to the stands.  Building the stands and carrying them to the roof was a pain in the rump.  Thank goodness it's a one time investment.  

Benefits of Roof Gardening:

1. An Open Frontier - I have plenty of space on the roof which has allowed me to add 20 squash, melon, and cucumber plants that I never would have had space for in my traditional garden. This has allowed me to grow some wonderful veggies: Blue Hubbard, Black Futsu, Galeux D'eysines, and Waltham Butternut squashes, Delikatese, Hmong Red and Beit Alpha cucumbers and Charentais and Ali Baba melons.  Many of these have already fruited and are on their way towards producing.  Moreover, if I decided to expand, I have plenty of room,  I could easily double or triple the containers with no problem.
2. Pests Be Gone - we'll see what happens as the summer progresses, but so far, no nasties on my plants.
3. You Are My Sunshine - Plenty of sunshine on the roof with no trees or other obstructions to cast shadows.  Additionally, the white roofing material reflects the sunlight back towards the plants.  I believe this is resulting in faster growth.

So far, I've been pretty happy with the way this experiment is working out.  Once the harvest is in, I'll do a final post to let you know if this mad experiment was worth the effort.

Fiddler on the Roof: An Experiment In Roof Top Container Gardening (Part 1)

The musical comedy, Fiddler on the Roof, was one of the most successful plays on Broadway; opening in 1964 it ran for over 3,000 performances. 

The play takes place in a small village in Russia in 1905 and tells the story of a man's efforts to keep his family and traditions intact as outside forces begin to change their traditional way of life.  The plays title comes from from a symbolic character in the play, the fiddler on the roof, who represents the precarious and fragile nature of life in the village.

I think a lot about the fiddler these days because I too have been trying to play a tune without breaking my neck.  Here's why...

Earlier this year, I decided to experiment with gardening hydroponically on the roof of my house.  The impetus for this was the desire to grow more veggies in the the space I have available in my suburban back yard. By moving some of the crops onto the roof, I was able to add sweet corn to my regular garden.

The sad truth is that housing space is limited in our area and most lots are 5,000 to 7,000 square feet.  In my case, about 1/3 of of our lot is the house itself, then there is the lawn for the kids, a patio, and shaded areas where things can't be grown.  The area available for growing in full sun is just about 250 square feet including the greenhouse. 

However, our ranch-style home has a flat roof andit  is in full sun.  The roof area is 7 times larger than my current garden.  With that much additional space, I decided to test the practicality of growing veggies on the roof.  The limiting factors are -- no easy access to the roof (need to use a ladder), no spigot on the roof from which to draw water, weight restrictions (probably not practical to do raised beds on the roof since they were not designed to hold additional weight).

Since squash, watermelon and cucumbers need lots of space to grow.  I decided they would be my candidate plants for this experiment.  Since bringing soil and compost to the roof on an on going basis seemed impractical, I decided to grow the plants using Auto Pot hydroponic containers.  This is the same system that I've described in a prior posting and is unique in that it does not require pumps or electricity to run -- perfect for a roof top garden.

I'll describe the challenges of implementing this system on the roof in my next posting and provide a final analysis in a few months after I harvest.

Bertie Wooster's Watercress Sandwiches

Watercress & Watercress Sandwiches.

I like watercress, but I have to admit that whenever I eat it it, I can't help but think of Bertie Wooster,  the affable and eccentric twit featured in a series of stories by author P.G. Wodehouse. 

As you may already know, Wooster is a caricature of the idle rich British aristocrat who spends his days getting into trouble, avoiding his overbearing aunt Agatha, and eating finger sandwiches  served to him at tea time by his loyal butler, Jeeves.

So what's the association between Bertie Wooster and watercress?  Well, it's those darned finger sandwiches which Wooster was always eating -- these are often made with watercress as a key ingredient.  Now I just can't think of tea sandwiches without thinking of Wooster and watercress.

Sadly this connection is an unfortunate one for me since it paints watercress with a patina of snobbish foppery that it frankly does not deserve. Watercress is a nutrient dense veggie which adds a peppery flavor to soups, salads and, of course, finger sandwiches. 

It's a semi-aquatic member of the Brassica family with dark green leaves and a fast growth habit.  It's not hard to grow and is one of the things you can harvest early in the year.

How To Grow Watercress

Watercress generally makes its home adjacent to streams, but you don't need to live near water to grow it.  I grew my watercress this year using Autopot hydroponic containers which work brilliantly for this water-loving veggie.  However, you can easily grow watercress  in traditional containers if you keep the soil wet enough.

According to eHow.com, one trick is to plant your watercress in a traditional pot but then place that pot into another container that is filled with water, thereby creating a miniature island in a pond. 

To plant watercress, directly sow your seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch in the early spring.  Place your container in an area where it is in partial shade.  Watercress germinates in 3-15 days, and you can begin to harvest in about 60 days.  It does best when the air temperature is 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit, so plant based on your local conditions.  

Benefits of Watercress

Watercress is a super food -- high in Vitamins A and C and iron.  In fact, it has more vitamin C than oranges and more calcium than milk.  As an herbal remedy, watercress is thought to cleanse the blood and also to prevent scurvy (makes sense given that it's high in vitamin C)

Watercress Sandwiches for Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is an English tradition of a bygone era; it's a light meal enjoyed between 3:00-5:00 pm where, small crustless sandwiches made of smoked salmon, cucumber, watercress and other goodies are served along with scones and tea. 

If you want to have the full English tea experience, you can still sometimes find it offered in some hotels in the UK and Canada.  But if you'd like to just try it at home, it's easy to pull together and many of these sandwiches are a good showcase for you watercress.

If you would like to try making finger sandwiches, here are links to a few sandwich recipes that use watercress as a key ingredient:

• Cucumber, Watercress, Salmon Sandwich
• Watercress Sandwich with Chili Lime Butter
• Goat Cheese & Watercress Sandwich

Now all you need is a Jeeves to serve them.

 

An Interesting Aquaponic Garden

Want to grow vegetables and raise fish at the same time?  Inka Biospheric Systems thinks they have the answer.

Last week, I attended the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show.  One of the most interesting exhibits I saw, was an self-contained aquaponic system from Inka Biosperic Systems.  For those of you who have not heard of this, aquaponics is the cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating system.  For example, keeping bass, talapia or crayfish using the same water used for lettuces, or other veggies.

The interesting thing about Inka's solution is that it is completely self contained.  Solar panels and wind turbines supply the energy needed to drive the water pumps which keep the vegetables hydrated. So no external power is required. 

The veggies are grown on a vertical surface and water is supplied to them from the fish tank.  No nutrients are added to the system to feed these plants; the fish supply the nutrients, if you know what I mean. 

I wasn't able to get pricing information at the show, but I remain very intrigued by aquaponics and will continue to watch as the industry evolves.  

AutoPots Reviewed. Hydroponic Container Gardening for Small and Not Small Gardens

Last year, I began experimenting with a hydroponics system for growing vegetables and I've been very happy with the results.  This review covers key features and benefits of the AutoPot system.  AutoPots will work for both indoor and outdoor gardening in pots.  If you have an interest in growing vegetables in containers, this may be the product for you.

How It Works

The heart of the AutoPot system is the  3" x 4" plastic "Smart Valve" which regulates the amount of water and nutrients supplied to your plants.  The Smart Valve sits in a saucer and the pot containing the plant is placed in the same saucer.  Water and nutrients stored in a reservoir (large plastic tank) flow to the Smart Valve via plastic tubing and the Smart Valve feeds water into the saucer.  Water and nutrients are then pulled into the pots via capillary action where the roots of your plants can absorb them. 

What's cool about the Smart Valve is that it uses a unique air pressure system to control the amount of water/nutrient mixture dispensed into the saucer.  As the plant uses this mixture, the level in the saucer drops, causing the air pressure within the valve to change.  The Smart Valve responds to the change in pressure by releasing more water/nutrient into the saucer until an equilibrium is met and then the flow stops.  The Smart Valve keeps the water level constant and responds to the unique needs of each plant; Watermelon and squash that demand lots of water get more water, and lettuces that need less get less.  Yeh, very clever! (see below videos)

 

 

Advantages Over Other Hydroponics Systems

• Ease of Use -- All you need to do is to keep the reservoir filled with water and nutrients.  The Smart Valve fills the saucer based on the plants needs.  If you typically have a problem with over or under watering, this product will suit you well.
• Simple To Maintain -- Oh, so elegantly simple!  Other hydroponics systems are designed to recirculate water and nutrients to the roots of your plants.  As the plant uses nutrient, the concentration of nutrients in the water changes.  So recirculating systems need to have nutrient levels monitored and adjusted.  With AutoPots, there is no recirculation.  Once you mix the nutrients into the water you don't need to think twice about it.
• No Complicated Set Up -- You don't need pumps to run the system.  Just raise AutoPots about a foot above the ground and gravity pulls water to the Smart Valve.  That means you can put your Smart Pots anywhere because you are not dependent on being near an electrical outlet.

Last year, I successfully grew tomatoes, watermelon, winter and summer squash, salad greens, pepper and other vegetables.  I was also able to grow beets in AutoPots, but I think root vegetables like beets and carrots grow better in traditional soil beds. 

For enhancements to this system, see my posting:  Improvements to Auto Pot Hydroponic systems.