In the winter I garden indoors. I actually like it much better than outdoors, simply for convenience. I've got most things germinating, but still have a ways to go.
I germinate most of my seeds this way for hydroponics.
My RDWC empty. Tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon and peppers are going in here.
So far I've got:
Radishes
Crimson Giant
Cherry Belle
Lettuce
Tom Thumb
Italian Romaine
Peppers
Grand Bell
Anaheim
Jalapeno
Cayenne
Tomatoes
Heirloom Italian Roma
Heirloom Cherry (Sweetie)
Cucumber
Green Beans
Watermelon
Cilantro
Parsley
Oregano
Dill
Basil
Radicchio
Wow, now that I type it out, that's a lot. I'll post updates here regularly, I can't wait until everything starts to take off!
Thanks for looking!
I am using a coco/perlite mixture as well as RDWC. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and watermelon are going in the RDWC.Big Perm's Perpetual Indoor Garden
Last edited by Big Perm on Wed Nov 14, 2018 2:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
Day 3
Crimson Giant Radishes are off to an early lead. Everything else is starting to pop up. The first inch or so of coco dries out quick, so until the roots get established I have to keep the young ones damp. Since it is coco, and there is nothing in the substrate, I now have total control of feeding. Because of that I want to start giving them a little bit to eat. I mixed up a mild solution (1/3 strength) of the Week 1 feeding schedule. Always add Pro-TeKt to water first. It does not mix if put into a solution after other nutrients. I then set ph to 6.0. I'll have to give a misting once a day until the roots can develop a little deeper.
All in all looking pretty good for 3 days.
Everything else is still germinating. The romas popped!
Crimson Giant Radishes are off to an early lead. Everything else is starting to pop up. The first inch or so of coco dries out quick, so until the roots get established I have to keep the young ones damp. Since it is coco, and there is nothing in the substrate, I now have total control of feeding. Because of that I want to start giving them a little bit to eat. I mixed up a mild solution (1/3 strength) of the Week 1 feeding schedule. Always add Pro-TeKt to water first. It does not mix if put into a solution after other nutrients. I then set ph to 6.0. I'll have to give a misting once a day until the roots can develop a little deeper.
All in all looking pretty good for 3 days.
Everything else is still germinating. The romas popped!
Day 6
It's time to transplant the tomatoes. Finally, the fun gets to start!
I used coco to sprout them. After the tap root is about 1" long I'transplant them. When the plants get established, this hydroton is small, but at this stage, they are boulders. The small roots need to be touching the hydroton or they will dry out. I sort them out and try to just use the small ones for this part. These are 2" netpots.
I mixed up a week 1 solution at 150ppm pH 6.0 and soaked the hydroton for a few hours so that they can absorb the solution.
I then sat the plant in the hydroton and filled in around it. I put the net pots in a tray and filled it up about 1" with the week 1 solution.
The hydroton will wick this water up and feed the plants, so all I have to do is keep water in the tray. They aren't drinking much right now, so I shouldn't have to do anything to them for a few days.
The roots aren't in the water, they are above it. They are feeding though capillary action from the hydroton.
This is a stage. the next stage is when the roots start to show. I will then move them to 6" net pots. That will be their last pot, and after some growth they will go into the RDWC.
So now we just watch for roots.
Everything else is coming on strong.
Still feeding week 1 at 1/3 strength.
It's time to transplant the tomatoes. Finally, the fun gets to start!
I used coco to sprout them. After the tap root is about 1" long I'transplant them. When the plants get established, this hydroton is small, but at this stage, they are boulders. The small roots need to be touching the hydroton or they will dry out. I sort them out and try to just use the small ones for this part. These are 2" netpots.
I mixed up a week 1 solution at 150ppm pH 6.0 and soaked the hydroton for a few hours so that they can absorb the solution.
I then sat the plant in the hydroton and filled in around it. I put the net pots in a tray and filled it up about 1" with the week 1 solution.
The hydroton will wick this water up and feed the plants, so all I have to do is keep water in the tray. They aren't drinking much right now, so I shouldn't have to do anything to them for a few days.
The roots aren't in the water, they are above it. They are feeding though capillary action from the hydroton.
This is a stage. the next stage is when the roots start to show. I will then move them to 6" net pots. That will be their last pot, and after some growth they will go into the RDWC.
So now we just watch for roots.
Everything else is coming on strong.
Still feeding week 1 at 1/3 strength.