6/7/2016 UPDATE

I took these photos this evening.

I picked two bowlfuls of watercress on Sunday. It is growing faster than we can eat.

The samphire has grown but no where near harvesting.

The broad beans have finally finished. Close to four carrier bags of shell on beans.

The runner beans are progressing well.

The tubes are a combination of calendula ( good companion planting for tomatoes) Tumbling tom (cherry toms) and Courgettes.

WATER SOURCES

I have been having a bit of a rethink.

I am lucky in that I have three sources of water. Tap, rainwater and my well.

I did a full water test on the well water. All good

The problem was sheer laziness. Moving all the stuff in the kitchen

Getting out the sump pump running the hose etc. Was a PITA.

The little box allows me to manually pump the water I require.

I did have to renew the leather gaskets.

Don’t you just love U tube!

I chose to go with the box rather than a straight tube for a visual check on water quality/debris.

Update

Tubes

Runner beans

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.