Some lessons are only learned the hard way.
I planted a yellow cherry tomato in
my system . It grew over 6 feet, had a handful of tiny tomatoes, and created a root mass
that totally choked up the water flow in the system. Lesson learned ? Plant only determinate type tomatoes.
Water Cress. I planted a little sprig and it grew and grew and grew and tasted good.
But, it totally choked up the water flow in the system. Lesson learned? Control the
damned water cress . Feed it to the chickens if you can't eat it all and prune the roots.
Also just tear it all out every few months and start over with a little sprig.
Peppermint. I planted a tiny start and it tried to take over my whole system. The chickens do not like to eat it and you can only drink so much peppermint tea. Lesson learned ? Plant the mint in the ground and
keep it away from your system.
Basil. Wonderful to have an abundance of basil . It is so nice to have enough for lots of pesto.
The catch is after about 2 or 3 months in the system it grows a woody trunk almost like a tree.
When you try to take it out of the system it tears up your foam floating board that holds the plants.
Lesson learned? When that stem starts to thicken take the plant out of the system and stick it in the ground somewhere. If you water it good it will continue to grow, ….sometimes.
Marigolds. They are so pretty and they keep the bugs away but they do the same thing the basil
does if left in the system too long. Pull them out before they tear up your foam board.
They will definitely continue to grow if planted in the ground and watered.
