Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi All

Has anyone had any experience growing cherry tomatos in an AP system?

My system has been running for a few months now but the tomatos are growing slow as.

Do I need to give the system more time to stabilise?

Have you done any water testing to find out nute levels yet (could be a good idea)

To be honest I've never bothered as Ive heard the accuracy on a lot of those kits is shocking.

Ive had a lot of aquariums over the years (fresh and marine) and they all worked fine without the tests.

As for my AP system, I've stocked it quite high and had an algal bloom or two but these have cleared up now.

I wonder whether cherry tomatos dont grow as well in an AP system?

can`t see any reason why they wouldnt grow.
P.S. hearing about something and doing something are two entirely different things, for such a low cost test kits aren`t a bad thing

Are the fruit growing slowly or is the plant itself not growing very fast? If it is the later it is possible there is not enough nutrients available at this time. If it is the fruit there may be a lack of trace elements in the water ie Potassium or Phosphate... I'll let more experienced APers direct you if it is the later.

As many are now having fruits in their AP systems issues like phosphate and potassium are being delved into. stay tuned...............

Tim makes a fair point, if you're low in N then your greens will be slow in growth, if your P and K are low then it stands to reason that fruit production will be slower as there two are in higher demand for fruiting.

Steve

and if my tomatoes, capsicums and chillies arent ripening but my strawberries are?

It could possibly have something to do with how the seeds are developed. The plant makes the seeds a priority and seen as though strawbs have the seeds on the outside might have something to do with it... Plus strawberries can be ripe on the outside but still white inside if it hasn't got enough nutes...

Oh, thats easy, your obviously missing the europium trace element......... Buggered if i know!

.........so is this sumthin ELSE I have to make in me lab?

you have a LAB?

"........so.............why dont you come up to the lab.....................and see whats on the slab...................."......maybe, maybe not

Yes Rocky....

hahahaha...............am glad im not the only sad person in the audience tonight lol

i have yellow and red cherry tomatoes growing above the barra and they are so far do very well. The plant is growing and fuiting.

You don't have to buy the kit, if you have an aquarium shop near by they will often do a complete test for you for relatively cheap, like a buck of two.