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.