My favorite tomato can now live forever.
Every time it gets to that stage where it is dying back I
simply cut 3 or 4 six inch green tips off the plant and stick them back into
the aquaponic system. By the time the first plant is done the
cuttings are up and going.
This method works much quicker than growing from seed
and is very easy. Put each cutting in a net pot and have it stick out the bottom about 2 inches.
Put some of planting medium ( wet coconut husk and vermiculite)
in the net pot and around the cutting. Place the whole thing back into the aquaponic system.
Enjoy tomatoes year round .
Monday, June 25, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Strange Things
Strange things seem to come up in my aquaponics system when I
stop paying attention for a few days. the latest 'stranger ' to appear
is a Mamaki plant. There is a Mamaki bush about 4 feet from the
system so I am sure that is the mother of this plant.
The interesting thing is that no seedlings have ever come up under the mother plant.
Also , all the cuttings I have tried to root failed.
But fate or a bird or an insect carried a seed to the system and it
is growing like gangbusters without any human intervention.
For those of you who do not live in Hawaii , I need to explain that
Mamaki is an endangered Hawaiian medicinal plant that is used by the Hawaiians.
stop paying attention for a few days. the latest 'stranger ' to appear
is a Mamaki plant. There is a Mamaki bush about 4 feet from the
system so I am sure that is the mother of this plant.
The interesting thing is that no seedlings have ever come up under the mother plant.
Also , all the cuttings I have tried to root failed.
But fate or a bird or an insect carried a seed to the system and it
is growing like gangbusters without any human intervention.
For those of you who do not live in Hawaii , I need to explain that
Mamaki is an endangered Hawaiian medicinal plant that is used by the Hawaiians.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Where to Get Seeds
I often get asked " where do you get your seeds ?" and the
answer is " here and there".
Right now I am seeing a decline in seed germination regardless
of where I obtain the seeds. Local seeds from store racks
seem to be among the worst.
My favorite seed supplier is Baker Creek , but even their seeds
have lost the high percentage of germination rate they had in the past.
Perhaps we should all attempt to save our own seeds and see what the germination rate looks like.
In aquaponic systems it is best to have your seeds started
in a holding table area away from your main system.
That way you only put sprouted plants into your system.
I can have over 300 plants growing at one time in my
system so my sprouting table usually has about 200
net pots with seeds waiting to sprout and grow roots out
the bottom. You really need those roots showing before you
put the new plant into the system.
answer is " here and there".
Right now I am seeing a decline in seed germination regardless
of where I obtain the seeds. Local seeds from store racks
seem to be among the worst.
My favorite seed supplier is Baker Creek , but even their seeds
have lost the high percentage of germination rate they had in the past.
Perhaps we should all attempt to save our own seeds and see what the germination rate looks like.
In aquaponic systems it is best to have your seeds started
in a holding table area away from your main system.
That way you only put sprouted plants into your system.
I can have over 300 plants growing at one time in my
system so my sprouting table usually has about 200
net pots with seeds waiting to sprout and grow roots out
the bottom. You really need those roots showing before you
put the new plant into the system.
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