Hydroponics Tuesday

Eggplant Trimming
1/15/2008 7:54:44 PM

We've got a lot going on this week, but sadly, much of is isn't ready to publish just yet...

As you can see in this week's photo, we've been trimming the eggplant back quite a bit.  We're trying to give the strawberries more access to the light, and the eggplant has been a very bad neighbor.  We haven't cut back any of the fruiting blossoms; we've been cutting leaves exclusively.

Hydro-2008-01-15b.jpg

Also, we've been working on a new design for a home-made aeroponic unit.  We're partially through construction, and we hope to post further updates once it's up and running.

The new seedlings are doing well, and they will likely find homes in the new aeroponic unit shortly.  The new one is a different design, it's made from PVC fence parts (a square post jacket, meant to cover a 4x4).  We'll try to post some photos sooner than later.

Also, in response to some mail that we've received lately, here's a wide photo of our growing room.  Some people have been wondering about the lighting setup, so here's a good photo of our MegaGarden (with 125W fluorescent light) and our TurboGarden (with 400W HPS light):

Hydro-2008-01-15c.jpg

As always, here's the overview photo of the week:

Hydro-2008-01-15a.jpg

PlantTypeStatus
#01Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly.  We've recently removed a runner, and are attempting to get it to grow roots.
#02Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly.
#03Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly.  
#04Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly. 
#05Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly.
#06Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly. 
#07Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly. 
#08Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesSmall fruit and flowers are appearing regularly.
#09Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesThis fellow has had a hard life under the canopy of the eggplant. It's not strong, but it's surviving.
#12Bambino Baby EggplantLots of flowers and fruit. We're regularly getting fruit and frequently trimming back the leaves in order to give the strawberries more light.
#18Black Beauty Eggplant
Small sproutling.  No secondary leaves yet.  Living in the MegaGarden.  About 2 inches tall.
#19Black Beauty EggplantSmall sproutling.  No secondary leaves yet.  Living in the MegaGarden.  About 1.25 inches tall.
#20Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesRecently emerged as seedling.  Happily living in the MegaGarden.
#21Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesRecently emerged as seedling.  Happily living in the MegaGarden.
#22Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesRecently emerged as seedling.  Happily living in the MegaGarden.
#23Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesRecently emerged as seedling.  Happily living in the MegaGarden.
#24Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesRecently emerged as seedling.  Happily living in the MegaGarden.
#25Alexandria Alpine StrawberriesRecently emerged as seedling.  Happily living in the MegaGarden.
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Comments (4)
Posted By Red Icculus, Sunday, January 20, 2008 8:44:12 AM
I didn't think hydroton had the right consistency for strawberries. Despite my Megagarden doing well, they just withered. When I put them in coco, they perked right up. Glad yours are doing ok.
Posted By Ben (Hydroponics Tuesday), Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:38:18 AM
I'm quite surprised to hear it, Red. Hydroton has never presented me with any problems. The only trouble that I had with my strawberries (in the beginning) is that they require a lower pH range than most of the other things that I grow. I target a 6.0 pH for the strawberries, which is lower than the more general 6.4 for other plants.
Posted By Red Icculus, Sunday, January 20, 2008 9:28:51 PM
Also, you have 2 different color lights there. What is your light schedule for each light?

Thanks,

Red.
Posted By Ben (Hydroponics Tuesday), Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:31:30 PM
Indeed, you are quite right. I run a 125W Compact Fluorescent over the MegaGarden (which is used as an incubator for seedlings). I use a 400W HPS over the TurboGarden. I color-correct the photos to match the HPS light, so the CF looks "blue" in comparison.

At the moment, I'm running an 11 hour schedule on the 400W HPS, and a 13 hour schedule for the 125W CF.

I'm planning on switching a number of things out once the eggplant has run it's course. I didn't expect the eggplant to dominate as much as it has... It's really thrown me for a loop.

We have new eggplants that will soon be put into "private" (single-site) units, since they are such bad neighbors to the other plants.

Also, we're going to be getting a new breed of strawberries in the growing room soon. I'm building some new aeroponic units (tube-style), which will probably be hosting Quinalt strawberries (still debating).

Hope this helps. What kind of setup are you using?