Hello my name is Patrick. This is my first time posting here so I'll be brief.
I could use some expertise from anybody who has any experience or strawberry growing. I have an idea to use the PVC tower method inside of the cabinet to grow hydroponically. I just want to do this as a test to see how well it would work before I go and spend a lot of money building a bigger cabinet or 2.
Basically do you think that this would work. Putting two PVC type towers inside of each cabinet with plants only planted on the insides facing the lights that are setup in the middle of the cabinet. My goal for now is just to grow some delicious hydroponic strawberries for me and my family and if I had success with this possibly building bigger towers to sell at local markets.
Also what grow medium do you suggest using when growing hydroponically. And also how many watts of light do you think I should need? What about nutrients? Just looking for helpful suggestions.
Thanks so much for any help it I really appreciate everything and I will be here to ask many que[/I]
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HydraBerry
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 3:03 pm
Hi, Patrick. I'm growing strawberries also, but outdoors only. We shut down our system Friday, ate the last of the strawberries yesterday, and had a killing freeze that finished them off last night. I'd like to keep some going all winter sometime, so I'm interested in how your project progresses.
I do have a recommendation on nutrients. I have been using the Strawberry Formula 8-12-32 from Hydro-Gardens.com with great success. In fact, I have used it for lettuce and tomatoes also. Sadly, the shipping cost to the eastern part of the US is quite high, so I recently switched to 5-11-26 Hydroponic Special from Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. My local farm & garden supply was able to special order it.
With both the 8-12-32 and 5-11-26, you have to add Magnesium Sulfate and Calcium Nitrate. I make three bottles of concentrate (one each for 8-12-32, MgSO4, and Ca(NO3)2) and use one teaspoon of concentrate per gallon of nutrient solution. If you can, get the greenhouse grade of Calcium Nitrate. It does not leave the oily residue when it dissolves.
I do have a recommendation on nutrients. I have been using the Strawberry Formula 8-12-32 from Hydro-Gardens.com with great success. In fact, I have used it for lettuce and tomatoes also. Sadly, the shipping cost to the eastern part of the US is quite high, so I recently switched to 5-11-26 Hydroponic Special from Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. My local farm & garden supply was able to special order it.
With both the 8-12-32 and 5-11-26, you have to add Magnesium Sulfate and Calcium Nitrate. I make three bottles of concentrate (one each for 8-12-32, MgSO4, and Ca(NO3)2) and use one teaspoon of concentrate per gallon of nutrient solution. If you can, get the greenhouse grade of Calcium Nitrate. It does not leave the oily residue when it dissolves.