Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Cannot seem to grow strawberries. Everyone says they're the easiest to grow, but mine continue to die. My set up is a flood and drain system that holds Tomatoes, Cucumber, Bell pepper, Hot peppers, Eggplant, Pole Beans and Zucchini. Tilapia are the fish of choice, which are growing well. My thoughts include: that I read a gardening article that says that strawberries can catch some sort of cooties from peppers and tomatoes. Possible? My system isn't the most balanced system either. Too many fish/ grow space. Possible? Any advice on the plant side of a system 3 months old?

Hey

did you salt your system? strawberries do not like salt.....

jT

+1

Nope, did not add any salt, but that sure is some useful info, Thanks for that.

What about seaweed extract, which also contains a lot of salt?

I dont think the salt content of seaweed extract will cause any problems (unless you filled your system with it and not water).

On that: if you are adding seaweed extract, from my research on here, 1 capfull per 1000 litres is about all you need to add.

Seasol is over 3g/L of sodium - most of this as salt.

Salt isn't "used" by an AP system per se so it builds up over time; so frequent additions of even small amounts, or less frequent but more exuberant amounts of Seasol (or other similar products) could result in salinity which could be problematic for salt intolerant plants such as strawberries. Personally I add 125mL of diluted (1:5) Seasol (20mL concentrate per 1/2 cup of water) to 1000L once per week IF I see the plants looking a little hungry, however, I have seen people add significantly larger quantities of undiluted Seasol which has caused all sorts of chaos, including dead plants.

I cant seem to grow bloody basil, it may have something to do with my salt content too

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm i thought i read on here that plants in AP can use up to 1ppt of salt a month? Or was it just another delusional dream?



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I was once young and stupid, i'm not so young now

I have also read on the forum that plants do use some salt but strangely enough my strawberrys are doing better since I put some salt in the system but they are still not good enough to brag about.
I have recently read where strawberrys don't like wet feet so I am considering trying some on their own and not watering them as often.Also I put some in the system that were not looking very healthy and they may have introduced a fungus that is staying in the system so that may be another lesson .If it doesn't look healthy throw it out and buy some healthy ones.

Well thanks for the salt conversation. I have,in fact, added liquid seaweed ( liberally). I was trying the old "shotgun" technique to cure some leaf curling and yellowing. Learning curve!

i am constantly cutting off banches of my basil yo use as mulch it grows so bloody fast!

another problem could be that your getting the crowns of the strawberries to wet....

if they are buried to deep, they could rot...

JT

Celery sucks up salt out of your system...

Not sure that this really has anything to do with the discussion, I just like to say it....

Is that good or bad EB? As in does it affect the taste?