Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yes it sure did EB and probably 4 times the amount.
I wont be growing dutch creams again as they were in the bathtub wicking bed and produced very small and few spuds
Kiphlers and Nicolas did really well

I got hold of some purple ones the other day, as in purple on the inside rather than just the skin. Can't wait to plant them and see how they do. The sign in the shop said "you can buy this variety from diggers if you want to grow your own". You may be able to buy them, but unfortunately you just can't get them sent to W.A.

Found something online that reckoned the purple ones contain 9-10 times more antioxidants than normal potatoes..

Purple potatoes I'll have to try in a wicking bed this year. We have regular white taters planted in a couple of raised beds I made for the wife. Waiting on (orange) sweet potato slips to hit the market at our local feed stores.
Have blue barrels, will make a few wicking beds.
Great info here, thanks all.

This is an interesting thread. These appear to be your basic self watering pot but with some improvements like the overflow pipe (since you can do this outdoors). I think making an indoor plant stand with a cutout for the overflow would really help some people who have wood floors - they could just put a little bucket under the overflow when they water.

Joel, what size do those potatoes wind up? Most of the purple ones I've seen around here are what they call finger potatoes?

Do you have Yukon Gold in Australia? It's golden with a buttery taste. Not as big as a regular russet potato but taste is much better.

No no TCL I will pot compost in the coconut coir basket and hang it, no gravel at all.

Hi there peoples...
New to AP & still in the planing stage of our first system... Shall start a system thread when the Barrels are cut & assembled...

We do have a back yard ½ filled with wicking Beds, barrels & buckets though...

Also have a clip showing how I put a barrel together recently...


Just my 2 cents

Love your backyard and yes wicking beds rock

Welcome BnBob, hope you enjoy your AP journey . Lots of helpful people here.

Cheers JORGY

The purple ones I planted only produced medium to small spuds. But I did forget to water them and though they hadn't made it. Only found the spuds when I was digging around. The second crop is doing better, due to the watering.

mantis i would like to try sweet potatos for my parents in a wicking bed.

Can you give me the make up of your beds? I have a few blue barrels i need to us

Like what do you have under the potting mix?

Just scoria Zman with some course shade cloth over it. Just drill a hole a third of the way from the bottom for the overflow, whack in a bit of pvc for the filler pipe, scoria to the overflow hole, shadecloth, potting mix or compost and plant

Joel, which shop was selling them? I really want to find some dutch creams http://www.taspotatoes.com.au/shop/index.php
When I was in Tassi they were my favourite but you can't get them here so I was hoping I might find a gourmet store who is selling them to eat

I'm just about to do the same. I have some deep barrels and have added in 2 black bins with the scoria to hold more water.

Also is less rock I need to buy and carry

Am half way through making a video, once it's finished will put it up.

Thanks Decal. My parents are aquaponics skeptics so a wicking bed is a good half way point

I haven't seen anyone else do what I am doing so not 100% confident it will work but can not see why it wouldn't?