Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Here is the tops of the tomato plants. There is not much room left for them to grow, and I'm not sure whether to try and top them or just see where they go.
This is the five tube setup that is being fed from the #1 tank containing 100 catfish. I am growing cherry tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, basil, green beans, and cucumbers. 
 This tank also feeds the grow bed pictured below.

I am growing lettuce, broccoli, beets, bell peppers, basil, and tomatoes in this bed.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

I now have a problem. The tomato plants are touching the roof of the greenhouse. I don't know if I cut the tops off if it will grow sideways or just make more shoots and keep going up. I don't suppose I have much choice, I'm not opening up the roof lol. The plants in the grow tubes are doing well, now I just need to add a few hundred feet more. I will have to put them outside as the greenhouse is full. I am going to try and grow more cukes, only this time I am going to put them in pots and raise them a little. I don't think they like the water to well.

Friday, June 1, 2012

I woke up this morning to a thunderstorm, the power was blinking off and on, but it finally decided to stay on. I was afraid I was going to have to fire up the generator, had it stayed off. This little event has got me to thinking about putting the solar backup in place. I have most of what I need for it, except a relay.  Guess that will have to go on the wish list for the next trip to town, along with batteries for the camera.  I did get a good start on the pumping system that will be used on the outside grow beds, as well as the front greenhouse. A few more hours and I will be ready to fire up the backhoe, and tear up the yard.  Josh was over and  helped me raise the backup water tank. We raised the elevation 16 inches. That gives the ability to gravity flow water into any of the five tanks if need, plus it gives us a 200 gal emergency backup on potable water at the same time.