Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Lack of root growth is supposed to be lack of potassium.

I add quite a bit of seasol (high in iron and potassium), and roots grow fine.

I have noticed similar results in pure hydroponic systems when the nutrient is not changed on a regular basis. The root crops do not develop properly. I do not think its just the gravel, because I have grown arm sized carrots and softball sized onions in gravel. I do not yet know exactly the nutrient and or conditions that cause root crops to fail.

OBO, what doses of seasol do you use and at what intervals please

I have read that root crops need plenty of potassium. I haven't had any root crops in my AP system long enough to really comment much on them in AP.

A possible suggestion for the beets might be to mound up a bit of gravel around them so the roots have somewhere under shelter but above flood level to develop. Mounding up dirt around root crops is pretty common in soil gardening.

Thanks guys,

We thought that as the carrots went so well that we wouldnt have a problem with the beets.....silly us. We use seasol roughly every 2 weeks as a foliate spray, stay away from the nitrogen based fertilizer (root veg arent keen on too much).

shall give them another couple of weeks while we decide whether to pull them or not. Will try again with the mounding idea.

seasol isn't a nitrogen based fert is it?

No nitrogen Steve.

Ell, around twice a month in the 4000l system, about 1/2 (half) a cup of concentrate, followed by 24 hours of constant pumping = clear water again.

Photos in my thread of sweet potato - I was surprised as h' ell

The radishes in the front system are doing really well as well. The only thing I seem to be doing different to everyone else is adding quite a bit of seasol, quite often.

i read the post wrong.

carry on.

Was wondering why you were asking

Well it has finally happened, we have not had a death since our mass murder in March - April. Today we have found a suicide, we had left one section of our cover unhooked after cleaning out the poop last weekend. This smart little fish just happened to find it & jumped right out of the tank. He looks a good dinner plate size, with no disease markings of any kind that we can determine.

Don't ya hate that!
I had a jumper this morning also

He looks surprised

lol Gnash

They like chasing anything that lands on the water....

Hi just browsed ur system thread, looks awesome.

I read that u needed a permit to get the intial water what about council approval for ur greenhouse? what council r u in?

what shop supplied ur greenhouse as i'm about to puchuse one,

well look forward to seeing more great results

Hi Aquponicia,

thanks for your comments. Council gave the advise that the greenhouse was not classed as a permanent structure we did not need a permit. If however we had any solid walling or a proper solid roof (eg like a pergola), this would change the category. Our greenhouse is portable as it can be easily dismantled. Council is the same as yours.

New Age Hydroponics are the store that organised our plastic and maidenwell. Although any hydroponics shop should be able to do the same. Apparently there is a Greenhouse specialist up north somewhere (commercial supplier), you maybe able to get product cheaper but you still have to get it home. We are very much do it yourself people, plus cant afford to pay contractors.

Hope to see you on the 23rd.