Hello all

8 years ago

Just ran across and started reading. Some great info here so I decided to sign up and post. Mostly grow on hydro with a mix of dutch buckets and NFT. Currently growing inside of a 10x10 greenhouse in western Palm Beach County, Fl. Mostly have tomatoes and some lettuce with a mix of basil, pak choi and a few others mixed in. Getting ready to transition into a much bigger greenhouse 40x12 hopefully before spring.

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chuckwagon009

8 years ago

If you would like you can start an idea book which links from your profile but it is kinda a PITA. I just start a thread and add all the info on it. Master blend is a great beginner fert and has some good results for a lot of ppl, jacks and peters are pretty much the same.

Gh maxi series are just a step up and are what my lettuce and choy have been thriving in. I am not completely sold on it for other plants because gro/bloom do not mix at all so its difficult to Achieve a desired N-P-K ratio.

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Comments (11)

mitchnc
8 years ago
That's an awesome system...I dream of a greenhouse. Btw, how long did it take to grow the human boy, and what nutrients? :)
Mark (Zone 10 Loxahatchee,Fl)
Original Author
8 years ago
took 8 years and some change not including seed starting. I picked up that greenhouse for 50 bucks and modified it to be 3 foot taller. I have outgrown it though. Gonna either put it up for sale or give it to a buddy of mine but he will outgrow it shortly so we are all looking at high tunnels.
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chuckwagon009
8 years ago
Looks like some great results mark!

You are a lucky bugger being in FL. Here in central Ohio even greenhouse has to be stopped for a few months because the cold. I plan on making a high tunnel this year to extend the season but even with lots of heaters I doubt I'll be able to keep it warm enough to get good growth.

Like Mitch asked earlier...nutrients? PH? Water temps?
mitchnc
8 years ago
I'm guessing pizza and Slim Jim's.
robert_1943
8 years ago
Your set up looks great I am using shade cloth as I am also growing outdoors in Queensland Australia which has a sub tropical climate which is about 32c now with humidity. I must do something like yours. At present I am growing outside along two walls of my house which throws off ambient heat which I try to control by using shade cloth.

The attached photo is my own improvised ebb and flow which I have been using successfully for years with tomatoes.

The other side of my house has my Kratky floating raft with lettuce and several DWC containers with asian vegetables , and silver beet.

In the far distance is my vertical system which I retrieved from under my house that I have not used for years, which I have also improvised in conjunction with my ebb and flow to flow back to the reservoir.Nothing growing at present but Bok Choy etc do very well except growing with tomatoes is the incorrect nutrient strength so maybe next crop I will figure something out.
Mark (Zone 10 Loxahatchee,Fl)
Original Author
8 years ago
Chuck while i will say it is nice right now, been in the low 50's warming to the 70's daily and I love this pattern I would be happier in Tennessee or somewhere that actually has a change in seasons. However my wife and I are both pension tied to this location for a while.

As far as my little helper, he is on a steady diet of PB&J and pickles. I would imagine his ph runs a little on the acidic side due to the pickles. Otherwise he is a great smart kid. He is my oldest and I also have a 2.5 year old boy. They are great and love to eat the veggies we grow. Making homemade pesto out of the basil I had. The only way the kids would try it was if it was from the garden. Thankfully they liked it.
chuckwagon009
8 years ago
Tennesse is a nice mix of climates...actually one of my want to live states as well.

When I commented on the nutrient/ph/temp I was talking about the garden and not your helper But glad to Hear he is getting his daily garden feeding.
Mark (Zone 10 Loxahatchee,Fl)
Original Author
8 years ago
oh sorry. Nutes are running right around 900-1000 . Ph I try to keep around 6.5 Temps have been in the low 50's here but water temp hovering around the 70ish mark. I could go out and get an actual temp if it wasn't raining. I also have some bare root strawberries to plant so I am going to be adding them to the nft.
chuckwagon009
8 years ago
Cool, what brand are you.using...

Just saving some time from future comments. A lot of newbies tend to visit and a complete system rundown usually saves a ton of posts in the future. Also gives others something to compare their nutes/system to.
Mark (Zone 10 Loxahatchee,Fl)
Original Author
8 years ago
using general hydroponics right now switched from master blend 20-18-38 to the maxi grow and maxi bloom. After looking I understand now why the lettuce and herbs didn't care for the higher K numbers and why the tomatoes are now roughly 8.5 feet tall. I will get my pictures lined up and get a complete system setup post done. Is there a particular place where they belong or a place I can post for future like a link in a signature line or on my profile?