Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Heres a simple question that I searched for but couldnt find the answer. Do you start your seeds in regular soil and transfer the seedlings to your system or do you start them right in the system? reason I'm asking is because i dont have my system built yet and it's not quite warm enough here yet to set it up, it will be located outdoors.

i'd like to start my seeds and if i have the system ready i'll put the seedlings into it otherwise i'll go the regular soil method until the system is ready and transplant them then

Quad, people have quite successfully transplanted seedlings (indeed some quite large plants) started in soil, potting mix etc.... just make sure you thoroughly wash the roots of all soil...

Most people probably sow directly into the growbed.

beans don't take too kindly to being disturbed when tiny, we direct seed most things

thanks, I'm just starting cucumbers and 4 varieties of tomatoes right now.
some guy on another forum hooked me up with some really cool varieties for free.

does anyone else have any of these growing?
Berkley Tye Dye


Chocolate stripes


Sausage


Bulls Heart

I have trouble with seedlings damping off. I suspect my lower light conditions have something to do with that. I do much better with transplants.

Not that I am doing Aquaponics yet
but the variety of tomatoes I'm growing now are
Tommy Toes ( Smallish truss tomatoe)
Elfie
Black Krim
Purple Russian
and a Grosse lisse

Cheers
Ron

Love those Black Krim....

I prefer to start my seeds in the gravel because I loose plants when they harden off if transplanted. When I do start them ahead of time I start them in a compost sponge. Then using a coffee can with both ends cut out I press the can into the gravel and then scoop the gravel out of the can, hold the plant down inside the can and slide the can out letting the gravel fill in, then I level it out.

i start all mine as estabilshed seedlings, i've hand NO luck with direct seeding

I regularly attend the local markets and buy seedlings to plant into the GBs (soil washed off 1st)...have had a very good success rate using this method.

Climbing beans I sow directly as seeds into the GBs...no messing around with starting the seeds in soil initially.

Have transplanted stuff that has shot up in my compost and that works well too...takes me awhile to identify the plant (but that is half the fun - have some cucumber/pumpkin/could be watermelom or rockmelon growing in the GBs now

I have weeds
Onion, tomato, lettuce all coming up from stuff I let go to seed in the growbeds. Or in the tomato case, seeds that fell into the growbeds while the rats were munching on the fruit they ate a lot more than I did

I've grown coriander, dill, fenugreek, and a few more in the works from bulk food grade seed...a kilo of coriander cost about $3...couldn't believe it came up! It goes straight to seed of course

Grrr I hate rats! rats

I've had equal success sowing directly in the grow beds or from established seedlings bought from a nursery. I have had less success raising my own seedlings in soil and then transplanting. My compost heap is throwing up plenty of "unknown" plants which are thriving when transplanted. I think I prefer seed directly in beds and then thinning out. The plants seem better adapted to an aquaponic environment if grown there from seed.

This is a great thread. When you plant the seeds directly in the GB, how do you keep it from falling through the gravel too deep. Do you set it on, or in something? I guess this would only be a problem for smaller seeds. I was planning on buying the tomatoes and cucumbers and peppers as starter plants, but would like to try direct seed planting if possible.

BB, I just sprinkle them on the gravel then drag a horizontal PVC pipe over the gravel lightly to get the seeds to mix in/drop a bit. I don't think the seeds getting too deep would be a problem, except maybe if the water level came right up to the top then the seeds maybe could be drawn deeper during the drain cycle. I don't have the water level that high, and to keep the seedlings from drying out before they get established deep enough I water them when feeding the fish. Once they're going well they don't get watered anymore.