|
Post by Stumour on Jan 29, 2014 20:12:30 GMT
I'm sure my dragon tree is thriving on frog shit... now that trial is over, gonna use old aquarium water for the window boxes.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2014 21:08:39 GMT
I'd give odds and take any and all bets saying otherwise that all your plants will love it. Possibly there's the odd finicky thing that might not take the throttle so well but I have my doubts.
I stepped on the pedal a bit harder today as I grabbed 2 more lights yesterday and set everything up this morning. I can probably expect a visit from pop-eye too in the not too distant future as I grabbed a few seeds on my travels yesterday and planted a row of spinach this morning.
The fan idea is working great too and stuffs all nice and torquey now.
And lastly, the 2 new fish that've been in quarantine for several days now weren't coming around so I grabbed a different type of medication and after a day it appears that I'm on the right track now. The stuff I'd used previously was primarily anti-fungal, but it seems like the problem was an actual bacterial infection, so this stuff should clear all that up.
Now on the growth progress front, my tomatoes are about a foot tall now, the broccoli and bell peppers not quite half that, and the romaine lettuce is a good 6 inches. (I'll start nipping at the lettuce next time I need some for anything)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2014 16:41:10 GMT
Now that you're back I'd really love to hear how your hydroponic garden is doing Grey.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2014 18:06:06 GMT
Hi Bug. I've been eating lettuce and tomatoes from the basement for a few months now. The tomatoes weren't as firm as I hoped for though but I think it's issues related to the water's properties that I was too lenient with.
As far as the garden aspect goes, I've had mixed results. The lemon grass took right off and is also now growing upstairs in a big planter with a palm tree. Spinach on the other hand didn't take to the water worth a dang, and the chives started fast but seem to have just fizzled and remain tiny. All hard/alkaline water issues I think though and that's being gradually rectified.
My greenhouse outside will soon be bursting with tomatoes actually. The seedlings were started TOO early in the year actually, but I'm still experimenting. I found the PH and hardness in the water from my well to be an issue though so I use only bottled until I grab an adequate filtration system for my own use.
The same old fish big black cichlid (likely around 3 pounds) is still kicking and shares the tank with a smaller variety of pleco, (still only 3-4 inches, just plumper) along with a handful of cherry shrimp I'm testing for cold water viability.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2014 16:28:13 GMT
I'm glad you're still with it. Do you think you'll be able to grow chives and such later in the game? What are you happy with that you've grown? With grocery prices going up like the do I'm being your really glad you've got this going.
Edit: how are you keeping that pleco small? Mine got huge in a ten gallon tank.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2014 20:17:33 GMT
There're several strains of plecos actually bug. Mine's a smaller variety as it turns out, but it's tough to differentiate when they're still small.
Regarding the garden aspect, I still have to do quite a bit of experimenting before I'll have stuff well tuned, but it's still rewarding even just with unending fresh romaine lettuce, and I still think the tomatoes have a chance of being worthwhile. All the changes have to be gradual though to avert damage/casualties from shocking stuff, as well as if I want fairly reliable info with regards to what likes what.
Bedding plants I have available thanks to the garden in the Spring, makes it all worthwhile regardless though
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2014 16:15:54 GMT
Impressive green thumb! Im the one that can drown a silk plant, and kill fake flowers. However I can get it green when I paint pretty pictures of them :)
I haven't had a garden since my kids were babies, and I made my own baby food.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2014 23:19:25 GMT
Surely the season of plenty it is. I just picked my peas so they weren't getting over-ripe and half filled a grocery bag in a few minutes. I can't eat them fast enough to keep up. Beets are nearly the size of softballs already and I'm waiting on seeds from a couple there, but there'll be no shortage. Spinach is long since done (though there's plenty to eat still if one wants it) and I'm just waiting for the seeds to ripen and dry as my supply is getting low. Rhubarb is ready for another pie or two and it's already provided 6 pies this year. (I share it with the neighbors. I supply the rhubarb and she does the rest, then we split the goodies) Green-beans are just getting to where there's enough to bother with, but the plants grew like monsters and are gonna provide loads for the rest of the Summer. Broccoli is starting to form heads, and I still haven't quite finished the frozen stuff from last year. There's the one big head that was relocated from downstairs, but it's been designated as my seed supply replenishment. Carrots are doing alright but not nearly as good as last year. I guess I cut back too much. No biggie though as I had way too many. My spuds grew into absolutely monstrous bushes, so I assume there're taters aplenty under em. Again I still have quite a few from last year, but I didn't care for that type (yukon gold) too much. The flesh was a bit too coarse and grainy for my liking, and the thin skin was just too susceptible to scabs, (not a big deal really, but not as nice looking and they don't quite keep as easily) so I changed strains this year and it looks really promising. Garlic looks great too but the one bulb I checked the other day was still only a single clove and about the size of a big grape. Lookin' good though. I'm trying these new Winter-onions and they look like they're on steroids. They're also the hottest onions I've ever experienced, so I'll hafta make sure to warn people about their bite. Neat looking too with the new baby onions growing in clusters at the tops. Lettuce got neglected as I thought the romaine supply downstairs was endless, but it ripens and goes to seed in my basement too, (I'll hafta rotate new plants there I guess) so I'm without for a bit right now. I'm waiting to see how well the seeds from downstairs grow. The plants look healthy and promising though, but they're just not big enough to start picking from yet. Cabbage is starting to form heads nicely, but I'll hafta start protecting it from those white cabbage butterflies a bit more as I see their numbers increasing already. Then there's my t'maters... The greenhouse is loaded and they're on my deck and downstairs still too. They're pretty much just starting to ripen up all over now, but there's gonna be tomatoes galore in a couple weeks. .....and the list goes on. (as I said initially, "tis the season of plenty")
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2014 3:11:27 GMT
You might be interested in this since you have rhubarb. Cube a few stocks then add 1 cup vodka. This makes a healthy mouthwash. It is full of antioxidants and also works as an astringent for your gums. (Saw this on Dr Oz)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2015 2:04:48 GMT
Actually, rhubarb is quite healthy food regardless of whether it's eaten raw or prepared in any other way.
Has anyone here ever had anything to do with red wigglers? There are loads of them hanging around in cobbers' neck of the woods. ( minds outta the gutter you cads!!! , though having seen the gal's booty shots too, admittedly similar thoughts even pushed into my chaste little monkey brain for a fleeting moment ) I'm actually talking about eisenia fetida. They're initially native to Europe but have been intoduced to pretty much everyplace else too many generations ago, and thrived as long as Winters aren't too harsh for them to survive. I started small over half a year ago now and am scaling up notably recently. They produce better fertilizer than any you can buy and it's totally organic. On top of that, where they're used they contribute considerably to reducing the amount of waste often making it's way to already overburdened landfill sites
|
|
|
Post by Stumour on Mar 17, 2015 2:30:36 GMT
make great bait, they wee buggers.... especially for brown trout when river fishing cos they suit the small hooks needed for fish that a pound is obese! Here, trout season licked off on Sunday there. AND I got a new rod that's ideal for backpacking.... extends from 3' to 11'.
I'll be after the grown ups that will be heading back after a sea trip.... wee 1lb brownies can easy grow to 10lb sea trout.
They're also sold here as composting worms (2nd half o the Latin name is a good clue). Over here, ye find them under rotting bark on fallen trees.... saves a purchase. I dinna understand them that wanna go greener, yet still use stores to get likes o worms.
Oh... where I was working recently has a bountiful supply of lob worms (night crawlers) they're great aerators of soil, bot leave big casts on a lawn.... who cares? Means the soil is great.
|
|
|
Post by Stumour on Mar 17, 2015 2:35:37 GMT
an udder ting.... expandin my window sill growing... investing in more boxes.... being 2 stories up in a flat may mean no garden, but that south facing bay window is the bee's knees Being bang on south, I was worried plants would scorch.... I just grow more exotic stuff instead.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2015 19:09:54 GMT
Truth is that I bought the worms I'm using, and yeah, the price is tough to swallow. (pricier than expensive seafood) I set them up to compost in a spare room.(actually aquaponics and brewery room too, but they all kinda work together and complement each other) Winters here are too long and harsh for the wigglers to survive, but I still plan to sentence a few to death by dumping them in my tilled garden once Spring comes. They'll love it until Winter arrives, and be great for the soil as well. Maybe I'll develop eskiwigglers.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2015 4:33:12 GMT
Hey brat, how's the hydroponic project?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2015 16:03:13 GMT
Hi bug. Garden's doing OK but everything took a bit of a hit when I was down to melting snow for water for almost a month. (my well caved in at the end of January and getting a new one done drilled took a while, as well as nearly $20,000. OUCH!) I also had to abandon the tilapia as fishies I was using too because the stupid "food fish" red tape since people started eating the fish from their aquarium (that's what tilapia were for ages) made them virtually inaccessible to the hobbyist anymore. I just switched to koi though and they seem happy. I'm also wrestling with heat issues caused by the light a little bit, as it's hard on root systems, but I seem to be making progress.
|
|