First of four new systems

[GpsFrontier]

I just finished the first of four new systems. This one is a drip system with 4 Broccoli plants. I got everything I needed from Lowe's hardware and Walmart, except the pump (I already had) and the growing medium.

5 gallon buckets $2.34 ea x4 $10
through holes (bulkhead fittings) $1.97 x4 $8
spray paint, 2 black and 2 white $.99 ea $4
1/2in vinyl tuning $9
one size larger than the 1/2in vinyl tuning, 2ft $2
storage container for reservoir from Walmart $3.50
furnace heater filter, to keep the growing medium from going down the through holes and clogging $2
Total $38.50

I will be changing the rings of clear tubing to black tubing shortly. I just used the clear for now because I will be building 3 more hydroponic systems and was not sure if I had enough black tubing for the others, so that is just temporary. It took a little thinking and adjusting to get them all to drain back to the reservoir properly but I finally figured it out. Two problems with that were the angle of the tubing needed to be a genital sloop back to the reservoir. The other was by just placing the ends of the tubing into the nutrient solution some how caused air pockets in the lines, that caused it to stop flowing. I used some tubing connectors I had leftover to connect the ends to P.V.C. tubing then down into the top of the reservoir.

I will be growing a total of 7 plants in 4 different systems:

Broccoli
Tomatoes
Butter lettuce
Spinach
Peas
Snow peas
Green beans

[GGM]

nice and it has given me some ideas. A bit off topic but can peas and other legumes be grown hydroponically? I am sure in science class many moons ago we were taught that legumes get their nitogen source from a symbiotic relationship with bacteria?

[GpsFrontier]

Originally Posted by GGM

nice and it has given me some ideas. A bit off topic but can peas and other legumes be grown hydroponically? I am sure in science class many moons ago we were taught that legumes get their nitogen source from a symbiotic relationship with bacteria?

I don't know of anything that can't be grown hydroponically (I am not an expert though). Even trees are grown hydroponically. As far as the nitrogen it is in the hydroponic nutrients already, and in a form that plants can drink up. I will be growing green beans, peas and sugar snap peas hydroponically as soon as the seeds sprout.

[GpsFrontier]

it has given me some ideas

Great, that is why I posted it. I am no expert but I do know how to experiment with things. I just hope to help others with their projects.

[GpsFrontier]

Just thought I would post an update. The broccoli plants are doing great. They are 3 weeks old at this point and growing rapidly. I would have taken pictures earlier but the backyard was a mess because I have been working on the other systems.

[GpsFrontier]

Well it's been about a month and half now sense I started the broccoli plants, so I thought I would post an update. I noticed broccoli flowers coming up about 3 days ago on one of them so I checked and all of them have them coming up. I look forward to making my signature broccoli cheese soup with the first heads.

[kbhale]

Thanks for the pix. I have a plastic table waiting for something similar to your design this spring. I like the idea of not bending over to care for the plants. I think, squash, melons and Zucchini.

[GpsFrontier]

My First Broccoli Head

Well I just harvested the first broccoli head yesterday
My mom was anxious to have some so my broccoli cheese soup will need to wait.

About a 2 or 3 weeks ago I made a mistake that caused many of the leaves on the broccoli plant to be damaged then turn brown and die. We were in the middle of a cold snap and my mom had me convinced that it would begin to frost that night. I knew they were calling for cold nights and that the few days before that were getting down to 36 degrees, I have 2 digital thermometers that record the lows and highs for me. I really didn't think it would get any colder than 35 or 36, and of coarse it didn't but I decided to cover the broccoli plants and use a small hand held travel hair dryer to warm them up with anyway.

I made a holder to hold the hair dryer so I wouldn't need to stand there holding it, then set it under the plants. I think everything was fine until I turned it to HI. The next day I noticed that many of the leaves were wilting and pail in color. Especially the leaves that were the closest to where the hair dryer was aimed. Then they slowly turned brown and I cut them off as they did. All the broccoli heads were fine because they were at the top of the plants and blocked by the leaves. But all the plants except one had major damage. I expected there growth would slow down for a while as a result, but the plants are still doing well considering. All the Broccoli heads are noticeably bigger. The biggest plant (one I harvested the head from) even has 3 side shouts with other heads growing.

Broccoli plants are cold weather plants and as long as the nutrient temp does not become to cold they seem to grow fine here in the winter. I have a waterproof heating pad that I got at the salvation army for $1 submerged in the nutrient solution, keeping the nutrients from getting too cold at night. It seems to be working fine but I will probably get an adjustable fish tank heater in the future as funds are available.

[andreamore]

Seeing that broccoli gave me the inspiration that I needed to put my idea into motion. I wish I had the room and a space outdoors.

[TTRgreen2010]

I like the "ring" of water hose around the plant. I assume there are multiple pinholes around the circumference to water evenly on all sides. All in all a very nice looking system and I look forward to future updates!

I am using 1/4" soaker tube connected to the "T" connector inside each grow bag in my system.