Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm curious about the main way you all start seeds? I've seen reference to some things seeded straight in the gravel grow beds, but it seems to me that would be very difficult for small seeded varieties? Did I miss this somewhere else on the forums?

Nope, most people sow direct... with regard to "smaller" seed... and the possibility of them falling to deep in the media...

Then it's been suggested that you wrap them in a small piece of absorbent paper towel.. then "plant" them in the bed..

Because I'm a bit worried about starting some of the seeds outside at this time of year I use an Aerograden to start mine.



I just cut up a bit of sponge and reuse the containers that came with the original seed kits.

If you replant a seedling you will be killing the smaller feeder roots
and set your plants back sometimes 1 month because of the moon cycle.

Sow direct is waaaaay better and don't forget plant at the correct time of the month.
there are a few threads now on moonphases and the best time to plant

The main challenge to starting seeds direct in the gravel is making sure they are at a depth where they will get moist enough to germinate yet shallow enough that they can reach light when they need it. Usually more of a problem for small seeds that need light to germinate or the seedlings would be too small to reach up through much gravel. I've occasionally made a bit of a trench in the gravel for these small seeds. The paper towel or cotton ball wick method also works. As does starting the seeds in trays and transplanting. I do a bit of everything depending on the situation at the time.

I usually hand (overhead) water my seeds until they germinate... and will hand water them when small during hot weather.... until the roots have grown down enough...

Yes... seedlings look healthy and happy for up to 3 weeks before suddenly they realise they're in AP and grow like crazy, this 'dead time' does not occur with seeding directly.

I dig a shallow hole, just to the water line then sow over the top then place 1 layer of gravel atop that.
That's for big seeds like pumpkin and peas, for lettuce I just shake and water in.

I've not noticed the 'dead time' then again that might be because the seedlings are coming from a hydroponic system. Also because I'm not digging them out of dirt I don't think the roots are being damaged as they were just dangling in water.

Tomatoes gave me 100% failure directly seeded: maybe too cold at the time. Lettuce, onions, radishes, cilantro, wheat, celery, parsley, and other small seeds do wonderfully just scattered, with a slight ruffle of the surface gravel to knock them down to moisture. Beets, squash, cucumbers do great poked into the gravel where you want them. Any transplants (tomatoes, peppers/capsicums, onion family, rhubarb) I've tried are far easier than into soil, even with the far greater trauma of washing the roots. Only issues so far are nutrient deficiencies (remedied with supplements), but I understand that is only problematic for about a year and that time is nearly up!

You grow Pepper in your AP system ,, I assume in a large pot ,, they are a very large tree.

peppers, as in capsicum

Carrots germinated no worries.
i think I try to produce nature, as when the seed falls the ground swollows it up
only to appear when it has geminated.
No need to water, the moisture in theimmeadiate and close contact with Hydroton
does the job beautifully.
hydrophilia -Do you remember what the date was when you had 100% failure rate?

Yep: seeded January 17th. The toms I started indoors in soil on same day had no failures. The AP water temp was 63degF (17degC).

Transplanted to AP on Feb 23 at water temp of >70degF (about 22degC) and did fine.

Try and check the moon phases you might get a better result... IMHO
http://www.afma.gov.au/information/publ ... r_2009.pdf

C1, I don't KNOW but had assumed the moon was in different phases depending on where you are in the world. Is this correct? If so, is that pdf for the eastern seaboard, the whole of Australia, or the whole of the world?