Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

In certain part of China, folk like infant bak choi. Very yummy when compare to regular bak choi. They are like 2-3" long and skinny.


As the infant or micro need less time to grow, so one plants and harvests then plants and harvests again . Also one needs to grow a lot as they are so tiny. What would be the best way to grow them?

Not easy to start with grow cups on dwc, using media grow beds? Or there could be some sort of grow tray as their roots ought to be less voluminous



Any suggestions?

Grow grips? https://www.bigelowbrook.com/growgrip

depending on your media and temperatures you may get away with direct seeding. It would require some playing around with water levels to get right germination moisture to optimise. I have run Bok Choy and Pak Choy from seed OK.

May be something that is better done using some form of over-sized seedling tray type method.

Main issue would be getting the seed at those sorts of volumes.

for that type of turnover you wouldn't want to be running individual grips, baskets or slots.
But maybe a strip of foam could be an option or something similar that will give you many plants for a small area.
Something like a vertical tower laying horizontal, or something in a gutter.

Our big box stores like HomeDepots often sell annuals in 6 to a packs, then may be 9 packs in a tray. The trays are about 20" x 20" (50cm x 50cm) or so and 2 inches (5 cm) deep, solid sides and bottom with slots/openings. May be I can get a few for free, then line them with landscape cloth, put media on top of the cloth. That way, I will have a 2 inches deep tray with open bottom.

If I submerge 0.5" of those 2" media in running AP water, may be media would wick?

This way, perhaps I can do direct seeding?

What would be the ideal media? Temp? I am guess seeds and seedlings don't really require direct sun, right? So I can just put them outdoor in shade, or even on some shelving.

I am not too sure but look at the hydroponics stuff rather than soil.
If you get something about 2-3" deep then you should be able to put them on a tray.
keep the tray wet so the moisture is wicking into the seeds but not saturating them. I have done this before.
Though a microjet spray from above running 1min in AM and 1min in PM would be better.

initially you may have to water lightly couple times a day.

but it is not really an AP solution - this is one to look at other options.

with the cells you can get tree seedling trays - they tend to be deeper than veg seedlings.
Have a look online. These often have 50-60 cells and will carry them all the way through.
and not too expensive. Easy to get here in Aust. so presume should easily be able to find same in US.

I wonder if these would work for growing them in 1020 trays (This also made me wonder if they could be started on pine shavings.)?

https://www.trueleafmarket.com/micro-mat-hydroponic-grow-pad-for-wheatgrass-and-microgreens

That may not get them up to the size you want and if that's the case then I found this which has a section on baby bok choi and may help you a little with tray and cultivar selection -

http://www.greenhousegrower.com/edibles/the-intrigue-of-edible-petiole-crops-for-hydroponic-production/#Tinsel/72996/3

You could get a flood and drain tray and use it with some of the plug insert trays as well. The flood and drain trays have a deeper depth although you'll never be bringing the water level up much it might be easier to automate with only one water holding tray. I'm not sure of how efficiently the space would be used by 1020 tray inserts within the flood and drain tray .

There are lots of tray inserts, 1204's, 1206's. 606's, 606 deep cells that fit the flood and drain trays

Also Plug sheets 32's, 50's, or any that are 2" tall, will work also.

Sounded like the trick is to do direct seeding on "something" and just let it grow to say 3" tall. Just harvest without transplanting. Getting to 3" may take about 3 weeks?

Questions:

1. In normal circumstance, at what size do you guys transplant bak choy seedlings to grow bed etc from seedling tray?

2. Seeds to 3", it wouldn't need direct dun, would it? If just indirect sun, then I can put some trays on a tall stand away from the sun.