SNAP SHOT MON 23 MAY AT 5:30

Main Grow Bed

Samphire bed

Beetroot bed

Runner Bean Pot

Post germination grow on bed

Grow tubes

grow tubes

seed germination

Watercress bed

View of the grow shelves

My Granddaughter made this

BROAD BEAN UPDATE

SAMPHIRE CUTTINGS

This is a shot of my samphire bed.

As well as to direct planting with seeds I decided to try cuttings.

I chose the market instead of Waitrose because the market samphire was loose and the other was prepackaged in nitrogen.

Sponges,45* scalpel cut, cut rooting powder. About 50% success rate.

They are in a F/D media bed.

I have just returned from a weeks  holiday and the fungal growth is from slug pellets ( Fish safe, Iron based) I scattered before leaving.

Unsure. Any advice welcome.

I presoaked the sponges in 1PPT saline and my system at the moment is running at about the same level.

NET POTS

On holiday in Spain I saw a hydroponics shop.
Four inch net pots .22E
Much cheaper than in the UK.Very light so no big problem with weight in the plane.

SHEEPDOG

The Crucian Carp are like sheep. The sole remaining Perch reminds me of a faithful sheepdog. Standing guard or herding the flock.

I have read that Carp in the presence of predators such as Perch or Pike adapt to their presence  by getting a rounder shape. This change can become genetic and passed on to subsequent generations.

Fascinating that this tiny fish could have a generational effect.

Breeding would be fun but I would need to do a lot of reading and research.

ROUND TUBE NFT

This is what has kept me busy for most of the winter.

I really tried with the 6cm square line down pipes but was unable to solve the leaks.

As you will understand with NFT, constant water flow, even one drip is a serious problem.

The 110mm pipes system presents it own challenges but end caps with a good waterproof seal are available.

I increased the hole size to 7cm.

The connecting pipes are all 21.5mm waste pipe. Including bulkhead fittings These are probably some of the cheapest fittings available in the UK.

I offset the hole I cut in the end cap allowing me to vary the depth in the tube.

The terra-cotta underground pipe system was slightly cheaper. In my opinion also more attractive but I was overruled. SWMBO.

I had intended to do a straight flow through system. That is tube one flows into tube two etc.

I had the 22mm manifold from last year and also the 10mm taps and pipe so in the end used them. More control.

There is probably a 4cm drop of the water into the tube. This adds oxygen.

The Up-flow filter was the original I made from the main system.

I replaced this with my new “U Tube” filter.

The Up-Flow filter is fed from 3500L pump in the sump. Really it is too powerful. Its what I had. Using a, ’T” I divert some of the flow via a tap back into the sump.

During the initial water integrity tests I pumped on a 15/45 timer.

This tended to overfill the bottom tube. Now I can control this via the individual taps. BUT this F&D allows me to use the bottom tube to encourage root growth from new plants.

I intend to grow cherry tomatoes, courgettes and cucumbers in this system.

The copper strips you see are snail slug deterrents.

In addition I will also be planting companion plants. In this case marigolds.

Calendula. These I understand are edible. Now I can scatter petals across a salad but does anyone have a calendula recipe?

SAMPHIRE

Continuing my interest in samphire I to day tried some cuttings.

In Marlborough we have a Saturday market. It includes probably one of the best Green grocers in the South West. Imported from Israel he told me. English production not commercially viable. I had considered buying from Waitrose but theirs, also from Israel is pre-packed. Also probably injected with Nitrogen to preserve,’freshness’

The market samphire was a bit dull but with a good salty taste.

Using a scalpel I made a diagonal cut just below a node.

Licked it and then dipped in rooting compound.

I was watching the football on TV at the time. It is possible I may have dipped then licked some of the cuttings.

I then put the cuttings into, ‘Rootit’  sponges. These I had previously soaked in warm water. Into which I had dissolved a tea spoon of sea salt.

I decided not to use my heated seed germinator.

They now sit across the kitchen from where I write this.

Under the 20Watt LED light I bought from E Bay.

Sufficient power to germinate seeds but not much else.