Hello If you changed your current way of growing to make things easier I think a drip system would be best. I like the ebb & flo and I have had great success with many plants. I know that bigger roots make better yeilds and you can have better root systems with the drip. I never like to waste money buying new things. I use whatever is free except lines, pumps, fittings, etc. I noticed that you will have a bunch of five gallon buckets left when you switch to Hydro. Why not use the buckets you already have. You would have to make sure the buckets drain into a reservior with a pump if you want to recycle your nutrient solution. If you drain to waste then ignore the last sentance and the next one. To recycle let the solution collect in one reservoir and get pumped through drippers which go into the buckets to feed them again. You will need a submersible pump and a reservior and also irrigation lines and all the required parts for irrigation lines(post pump filter,drip heads, drip stakes, pressure reulators). The materials needed for drip is pretty cheap(Look around on the net for the best price and better quality) If your window is not too low you could build a small table with a slight slope with trim peices as a "wall" on three sides with a vinyl sheet attached on top(4'x8' available at hardware stores). The side that is sloping down without trim is the drain side. Put your reservior under the drain end(try not to let light in the reservior because algea grows in light). Your reservior would have a pump which pumps solution in the buckets. The buckets drain to the reservior and this repeats. If your mix is course then you must drip constantly. If it retains more water put a timer which takes them through the wet and dry cycle. The best mix I recommend is some kiln cooked clay balls (rocks) which are sold in hydro stores (I can't say the brand name). And also some Coco fiber, you mix the rocks and fiber with more rock than coco in the mix. I think this mix drains very well and the coco holds some moisture in the mix. If the right proportions are used in the mix you can set your pump low to drip constantly. Talk about a huge root system your tomato plants would be very healthy. This mix uses some coco which is more similar to soil and in my opinion that makes it easier to grow. I hope this info helps at all and I will be happy to answer any questions for you. Amar

OK, good ! There is a small community outside Myrtle Beach called Wampee. In Wampee there is a store called Vereens Turf products. They carry Southern Ag and were kind enough to order the hydro fertilizer for me. It is 5-11-26 Special Hydroponic with minor elements. There is a formula on the bag that tells you how much calcium nitrate, epsom salts, etc. to add. It costs around $35.00 for a 25 # bag. That will go a looong way in a small system but it beats the cost of liquids in a hydro store. I think there is a hydro store in Conway where you can find other goodies. Dave

I bought the channels, lids and endcaps from growers supply (4, 8 footers) . The setup is in my little greenhouse and uses natual light only. Of course here in SouthEastern Pennsylvania I am fighting the cold already. When I walked the dog last night it was "pumkin cold" but my wife said it was over 100 degrees in my greenhouse today. I was married on Oct 8th and I'd swear it was nearly 80 that day...we shall see. If you look at my link (above) You will see what I bought and how I set it all up. I think lettuce just loves the 50-70 degree range. My tomatoes and cucumbers are enjoying the warmth of he days. Now will I get fruit? I dunno but it sure is fun trying. Will There be time for a second crop? I kinda doubt it but my investment is quite small. It's too much fun to stick my head in the greenhouse and be amazed at the growth. Colleagues in the office are shocked at the rate of change. I have had great success in my mini green houses with lettuce. This hydroponic setup opens a whole new set of possibilities.

Looking good. Totally up to you, but if it's not too much trouble you might want to consider switching places with plants 3 and 4 (from left to right). That way the shorter plant has easier access to the light. But with the support twine that might be more trouble than it's worth.