Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

I have finally got my first IBC system up and running. I have the growbeds just out in the sun. I'm a complete amateur at growing plants. My question is, do I need a greenhouse in South East Queensland? I'm wanting to grow all manner of vegetables.

Thanks
Jeff

You probably won't need a greenhouse to keep things warm (not much of a problem in QLD!), but you will definitely need a netted hoop house or similar if you want to grow fruits etc - Queensland fruit flies suck! It will also help keep caterpillars and grasshoppers off your leafy greens, and you can use shadecloth in summer to keep your plants from frying to a crisp and your water temperature getting too high for your fish.

Check out RobBob's youtube channel here - https://www.youtube.com/user/bnbob01 - he's also on this forum though doesn't pop up much. He's in SEQ too so can give you much more detailed advice, and he's got a lot of youtube videos about how he set up his hoop house, when he puts up insect netting and different types of shade cloth, etc.

It's a good idea to keep excessive rain fall out of the system.
Too much rain can dilute the system water, flood tanks, damage plants make it easier for mildew to develop and rot flowers.

Pete.

Thanks Mel and Pete. I appreciate it.

At the moment the fish are outside but I plan to put them in the shed soon. Once I clear out all the junk anyway!

Thanks again.

Cheers
Jeff

That'll do a good job of keeping the tank shaded and stopping algae from growing in it, but most heat transfer and rain collection happens in the growbeds so some sort of cover is still a good idea

Poly carbonate is ideal, greenhouse plastic is good for 5 years & Grunt poly ethelene builders plastic about 1 year $55 a roll at bunnings i think.

Pete.

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