Sunday 25 September 2016

SEPTEMBER EVENINGS

Hi
As the September nights close in here in the UK and the temperature drops its time to look back and assess the year
It is just over two years since I first filled an IBC with water and bought my first fish.
This really has been the first year when I have began to control the system instead of reacting to events.
Fish wise its has been mixed. !4 plate sized trout in the freezer. After the cull in that tank I switched off the pumps and the air and left it for two days.
When I went to drain and clean it one trout was flapping at the bottom.
24*C plus No air he is some tough ********
He now swims in the main tank. The only fish I have at the moment.
The Carp came and went. I had an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Veg wise it has been a phenomenal year.
The early broad beans in the main IBC GB were brilliant.The Spinach alongside them has provide us with constant addition to salads etc.
I replaced the broad beans with Main crop Tomatoes. The crop is good but the perspex roof is about 1 mtre above the GB Not enough height. I could easily get these tomatoes to grow to two mtrs with double the crop. re think for next year.
My four 110mm tubes have been outstanding. More cherry tomatoes than we can eat. ( Tumbling Tom Yellow/Red) I planted marigolds to deter bugs. I probably planted too many. OK we were not troubled by bugs but too many holes for marigolds. Constant fresh flower! Happy wife!
The Courgettes were a disappointment. Loads of flowers but NO fruit. I tried hand pollination with no success.
I have a 60 Ltr pot filled with Clay media. I planted three runner bean plants in it. A great success. We have eaten fresh beans most weeks. When the crop was too prolific we trimmed and blanched and froze them. A real aquaponic success. I have watercress in a 90 ltr oblong pot. We had so much we couldn’t give it away.
The samphire has grown well but not sufficiently to crop. Not sure about this. Maybe as its a perennial needs time.
The main factor has been consistent leafy growth. I need to manipulate the Nitrate levels more for fruits.

Winter studying.