Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What plants do you think are the most profitable in AP gravel grow beds?

We have new grow beds and have drawn up some plan but would like to know what you think on this. Has anyone tried medicinal plants or any other rare variety?

Here is a picture of our new grow bed under construction. Any input you can give would be great.

Marijuana is always the most profitable...but

I've been thinking about that question. And if you exclude illegal plants like cannabis and opium....

I've been inspired by the British tv-show "River Cottage", a show about a chef that moves out to the country and begins growing his own food and raising his own livestock, where he talks about "adding value" to the vegetables he grows.
He doesn't just sell his tomatoes at the farmers market, he makes his own ketchup and sells it as "River cottage organic ketchup" for a higher profit margin. He also makes his own chilli sauce, and shots some rabbits and sells "bunny burgers with chilli sauce".

I've also thought about growing aloe vera and wheat grass and selling my own "health juice".

Try figuring out what people in your community would like and also pay a little extra for as a locally organic produce.
I haven't been to india but don't think that ketchup is in great demand in a country with such amazing and tastefull food. Maybe grow some different herbs and make your own herb-chutney? That goes really well with all the fresh fish you produce...

Right.. it is illegal to grow weeds and would get prosecuted.

How about growing broccoli, cauliflower, and capsicum, etc.? Capsicum is a hot-sell.

Hi Nikenik, simple and innovative ideas. Thanks for the input. I will definitely put my thoughts into these and let us see. I had been a virtual chef for several years and used to collect heirloom recipes... google My Dhaba

Herbs and spice type plants tend to sell at the highest rate per weight.

Go to the shops and see what is being sold as packaged and being brought into the area. No good trying to sell something people can get cheaper from the normal farmers - you then have to fight the 'I'm better' fight. Go for something NOT local but in use.

Aside: How near done is that GB? What are the plans for it? At present, in that pic it looks like it's going to be a dirt bed or perhaps a wicking bed? Also if the sides are not raised significantly you are going to have dirt falling into it.

Thanks for the inputs J-man. Markets import everything from nearby states, pesticide/che. fertilizer induced products. Our state is too far from self-sufficiency. Farmers almost stopped growing vegetables and there is a tendency to go for cash crops - ginger, rubber, cardamom, soya bean, etc. There is less locally produced stuff. There is a market for everything organically produced. Herbs and spice, yes, an area we need to explore further. I will visit the nearby agricultural university to get other ideas.

GB - not a dirt bed... we would use an HDPE pond liner and cover everything before adding media... working on it now. Sides are raised and liner would go over it to prevent dirt falling into it. I am thinking of 40% 1/2-inch gravel in the bottom and 60% M-sand/river sand combination media. Plumbing is yet to be done. Keeping the options open on media and plants.

It would look something similar to this below picture.

What is in demand in your area?

Hi Arbe,

Our state has virtual monopoly in pepper production (81%), rubber (92 %),
cardamom (74%), coconut (44%), besides coffee (22%), cashew (15%), and tea (8%) in the country.

The crops that we cant compete with are pepper, coconut, cashew, ginger, turmeric, arecanut, cocoa, cardamom, tapioca, sweet potato and other tubers, fruits covering banana and plantains, mango, jack, pineapple, papaya, etc.

Vegetables such as cowpea, pumpkin, snake gourd, bitter gourd, cucumber, okra,
amaranthus (local spinach), eggplant, tomato, chillies, floriculture etc. are in much demand. Almost 80% is being imported from other states and distant areas. with highest concentration of pesticides, pollutants and dangerous chemicals.

It will take some time for us to understand what works best in a warm AP environment. We need more expert opinions.

If tomatoes are imported, then maybe try tomatoes. They love warm conditions and suck up huge amounts of nitrates apparently, so you could (may need to) perhaps stock a little heavier than with other crops.

Yavimaya is on the money with tomatoes. I would also throw in cucumber and chillies. I would also think that cowpea may do well.

Hi Yuvimaya.. tomato is of course on the list. Pretty easy plant and fruits fast. More over, they love warm weather.

Arbe - cucumber, chillies, and cowpeas... I will search around for good quality seeds. They are our personal favorites too.

Jasmine flower - Google Jasmine flower for pictures. The rates of Jasmine is going up and is hovering around $8 per kg locally. One can get one kg flowers every day from 14 to 20 plants, it seems. We are talking about on an average $200 per month from Jasmine alone. We are thinking of keeping one whole grow bed dedicated to Jasmine. Has anyone tried this in AP?

You might also be able to take advantage of crop timing by having something early or late in the season compared with other growers.

Thanks and noted, Scotty.

Do we really need to worry about seasons in AP? I have been under the understanding that we can grow plants in AP 365 days and it is a big advantage over traditional farming which is entirely dependent on rain/water/sun.

We're still at the mercy of ambient heat and sunlight - without heating lighting you won't get plants that like the warm to grow in winter. (maybe not such an issue in kerala where its either hot and humid or hot and not quite so humid.)