Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

How many towers dedicated to strawbs? (Happy, productive strawbs obviously, just want to be able to do a quick calculation)
I DID go back and read for myself, but all I could determine was there was "a bunch" of strawberry rootstock... in a converted aquaculture system...
16? 8? The difference between "Wow, I'm very impressed considering how late they were started" and "Holy CRAP!!"

Rick

I'm running 9 towers, but I had an accident and lost irrigation for a day to two of them- they "mostly" recovered, but it's really cut back thier production. So basically I have nine towers and am getting strawberries off of 7 of them consistently. The ones I tried to kill are just starting to produce now, although the plants still aren't as full and lush as the other ones. They're kind of in a rotten spot in my GH, right next to my modine, so I know life isn't easy for them, but despite the heat and drought stress, they're doing alright! Not a bad use of space overall, I think it's a little over 12 sq. feet for the whole kit and kaboodle.

Actually, don't quote me on 12 sq. ft. it may be closer to 14 or 15, I'll have to check next time I'm out there. . . Here's some more photos. I've been getting lots of really lg. bunches of flowers, the berries will be very big at first and then become smaller. I'm wondering if I should snip some flowers? Anyone know?
Also, I know I'm doing a terrible job at hand pollinating- probably one in ten berries looks like this because I missed it.
I looked for more photos that show how all the towers are arranged, but I couldn't find anything that showed the whole "mass" very well. I'll get a pic and post it when I have time.

OK, pounds every day from 7 towers. Yeah that rates a .

I bet bees would come if you hung one media core without the container - they always appreciate a free drink. But they'd have to find their way in to the greenhouse...

I had to look up "modine" - thought it might be your goat's name. It MOWS when it DINES, get it? Don't mind me, it's Friday alright?

Nate, I've noticed that my berries go through a state of growing berries followed by sending out runners until winter resets this process... Perhaps you can cycle your towers (during the winter?) by bringing a few outside so that they seemingly die off but are really going dormant and then you can bring them back inside your greenhouse. Perhaps you can put your tower in a recycled refrigerator... you know the kind that have the fridge next to the freezer instead of on top of eachother? I'll go run out and take a pic of what my strawberries do after they produce...brb

Ohh yea btw the first crop of berries are usually the largest and they get smaller and smaller until the only thing growing are runners like this.


0829001517.jpg by mikeytitan, on Flickr

I have previously placed runners onto another pot of dirt and they will forma new plant.

I have also in the past cut runners and excess flowers for better fruiting.

Ha! thanks Smin, and no goats in my greenhouse. . .

Thanks for the pics Mike- I was wondering about that. I put in an everbearing variety of strawberry (SeaScape) so they should keep going if I keep giving them haircuts, although if they slow down, I might definitely try a cold treatment (the GH i rent has a walk in fridge in the headhouse). I'll keep you updated. Do you know what type of strawberry you're using right now? I just keep cutting back runners and hoping that they keep going, but I have noticed that the berries are getting smaller- I'm hoping it's because every plant has 6-8 berries on it and not because they're losing thier steam. . Anyway, here's hoping.

VLT- yeah, i've been cutting runners and wondering if I should cut off flowers too? any advice? I think I'll probably start harvesting runners for new plants if my plants start to poop out on me.

I would start cutting flowers if you don't feel the fruit is as big as you like. Or you are sick of hand pollenating.

Yeah, vlt, I'm definitely getting sick of hand pollinating. I'm no match for bugs. Maybe I'll cut back old leaves, and take off some flowers this week. I just think they flower too much, some of the plants will produce 7 or 8 nice sized berries on one stalk, but the smaller plants do 3 or 4 big ones and then get smaller and smaller.

Looking good Nate! Mine have been sending out runners like crazy. I basically replace all of my plants each year with the runners and have had really good luck. However, this year I'm suffering from a whitefly infestation. It's horrible!

Wow Rob, that's a scene from my nightmares. What kind of control do you do?

I've tried a few things:

Safer brand insecticide soap works fairly well, but I haven't been good about applying it on a regular basis. I try to spray the plants and not get much into the growbeds. So far, no ill effects on the fish.

A friend told me to try boiling lemon rinds and spray it on the plants. Evidently the citrus smell is suppose to keep them away. No effect

I also have a bunch of yellow sticky traps hanging around the plants. These catch a lot, but I have to keep changing them.

My grandfather had some large commercial greenhouses for growing African violets. He would set of nicotine bombs. They were very effective! I bet the fish wouldn't like that too much!

Sometime during the winter, I'll probably have to clean out all the plants and let the greenhouse go through a hard freeze for a few days.

Do you have to add any salt for fish. I have had to add salt up to 3ppt for fish health and it killed all my strawberrys. jerryandjuliel

Yep...strawberries and salt just don't go together