Aquaponics

[knjinnm]

Anyone planting beets? Steamed beet greens are delicious.

 

[RichnSteph]

I have had collards and broccoli that have been doing well and they have been in some hot temps...upper eighties and lower nineties. They have been in the ground since mid August. I also have some chard in containers and they seem to be doing well also.

I would really like to find a way to post some pictures because I am really proud of them....for a change....the ones in pig dirt and being watered from the pond.

I planted Sun King broccoli and it always does well for me. I got the seeds at Home Depot.

Your comments about the pig soil got us to thinking about how to up our yield a bit and we've found a place that has soil from mushroom farming that we can get by the trailer load. Next spring we're doing some in-ground planting in the mushroom soil in the hope of getting some serious produce out of it.

 

[RichnSteph]

Anyone planting beets? Steamed beet greens are delicious.

Hmmm.... I'll look into getting some seeds and try it. I've never eaten beet greens.

 

[knjinnm]

Hmmm.... I'll look into getting some seeds and try it. I've never eaten beet greens.

I think you would enjoy the flavor; try http://www.johnnyseeds.com/c-726-beet-greens.aspx#

 

[RichnSteph]

I think you would enjoy the flavor; try http://www.johnnyseeds.com/c-726-beet-greens.aspx#

Thanks! I mentioned this to my wife last night and we're going to grab some seeds and plant them in place of the last two tomato plants that are out there.


On a side note I pulled an additional 20 fry tilapia out of the pond last night. This is the third time we've had fry in there since the fish were put in several months ago. The little ones are now safe in a brooder pen inside the house aquarium.

 

[politicalcenter]

Your comments about the pig soil got us to thinking about how to up our yield a bit and we've found a place that has soil from mushroom farming that we can get by the trailer load. Next spring we're doing some in-ground planting in the mushroom soil in the hope of getting some serious produce out of it.

It should work out very well for you...I think you have stumbled on a gold mine.

I would build raised beds and water with pond water. You will find that manure breaks up clay very well.

 

[RichnSteph]

It should work out very well for you...I think you have stumbled on a gold mine.

I would build raised beds and water with pond water. You will find that manure breaks up clay very well.

Oh raised beds for sure! Our regular soil is all sand so any nutrients that get in there are quickly washed away. I'm thinking beds that are 2' deep with some sort of cloth on the bottom to keep the water from just running though the mushroom soil and taking any beneficial nutrients with it into the sand.

 

[politicalcenter]

Oh raised beds for sure! Our regular soil is all sand so any nutrients that get in there are quickly washed away. I'm thinking beds that are 2' deep with some sort of cloth on the bottom to keep the water from just running though the mushroom soil and taking any beneficial nutrients with it into the sand.

I wouldn't use any kind of cloth at all because water will get through it anyway and the plant roots will grow into it and you will end up with a tangled mess when you try to pull the plants up.

Why not just cover the bottom with pine straw or leaves with a little lime mixed in? Then put the cow dirt over the top. Worms will turn it for you.

My daughter has a cell phone and if I can talk her into it i am going to try to post some pictures. One of my beds is sand and peat moss on top of ground so hard you can't drive a fence post in it. I just hit it with some miracle grow and pond water now and then.


By the way....I have been running my filter on the main pond and I can finally see bottom. A guy came by and wanted to give me a four foot alligator.

My wife wouldn't let me keep it.

 

[RichnSteph]

I wouldn't use any kind of cloth at all because water will get through it anyway and the plant roots will grow into it and you will end up with a tangled mess when you try to pull the plants up.

Why not just cover the bottom with pine straw or leaves with a little lime mixed in? Then put the cow dirt over the top. Worms will turn it for you.

My daughter has a cell phone and if I can talk her into it i am going to try to post some pictures. One of my beds is sand and peat moss on top of ground so hard you can't drive a fence post in it. I just hit it with some miracle grow and pond water now and then.


By the way....I have been running my filter on the main pond and I can finally see bottom. A guy came by and wanted to give me a four foot alligator.

My wife wouldn't let me keep it.

Well I've got plenty of leaves laying around that I can stuff into the bottom of the beds. Thanks!

A 4' alligator?? I'd have said yes and then eaten it!

 

[politicalcenter]

Well I've got plenty of leaves laying around that I can stuff into the bottom of the beds. Thanks!

A 4' alligator?? I'd have said yes and then eaten it!

He said he bought it on E-bay it was supposed to be a dwarf caiman, but he wasn't sure.

I just thought it would be neat to have.