Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been trying to grow mint in a floating raft in my FT, but I think the 70% shadecloth over the tank is starving it of light.

Does anyone have any great ways of containing mint in a media GB? I was thinking it might be possible to set up a stand pipe outer wider than a pot with a pot inside that you twist around to stops the roots taking over the rest of the GB?

Would like to have a good supply of mint - also seem to have same issue with Leb watercress in another raft. Don't want to take the cover off the FT due to he neighbours trees dropping lots of crap and my water is nice and clear with no algae.


Thanks
Matt

Could you make a small GB in a bucket or drum just for the mint? No worries about roots or taking over anything, just a little extra plumbing.

My IBC system has mint - I just wanted something bomb-proof while I learned this stuff so mint, some basil and silverbeet. The mint gets the hedgeclipper treatment regularly and still is a solid mass about 2 feet high and covering 3/4 of the GB area.


And that's just after I trimmed it back! So I know what it can do - when my new system is running I will have such things in their own bucket/drum GB's to prevent such rampant takeover.

Good luck...

Containing mint; might need a flamethrower

Small separate container and throw some Vietnamese Mint in for variety (great in a stir fry).

Don't do it... It takes just one small root getting through, you chopping it off won't matter, it will start spreading from a tiny bit of root in the other section of growbed.

Also remember the leb watercress does have a flowering season, it will flower, about now, and die right back, mine has here at home. Give it another week or two and it will take off again though.

OK thanks - didn't know that about the leb cress Joel.

I'll try and setup a separate pot for it -

put mint in a floating raft. problem solvered.

my growbeds are still being overtaken by water celery. i've never seen something so invasive. dont think i'll be trying mint any time soon

*grins* What a bunch of wooses... "Me Human, You Plant..." There is a reason we are meant to be rulers of Earth - I am pretty sure it ISN'T because mint can outsmart us.

le sigh...

Wrong. Mother nature > mankind.
I had the same problem my floating pot mint died but luckily I also planted in soil and that,s growing well. I don't think it's a shade issue as my Ffloating pot had lots of sunlight

My mint is unkillable, but it's going to God soon enough as my GH system comes online. I will take a small piece and it's going in its own 20L AP bucket. Mind you, the fancy basil behind it (not sure what kind because it was a bedraggled little stem when I put it in the IBC bed) is going gangbusters as well.


The foliage above the barrel is the grape vine across our back veranda. The rest is mint except for a bit of the basil poking out at the back - indistinguishable in this photo.

The difficulty with any mint is the root system.

Only by isolating it will you be safe from invasion. However... I can see how a little would be ideal to 'cycle up' your system. It is voracious... and would do a great deal to munch nutrient.

Fancy basils would be a fabulous cash crop. Purple Ruffle is my fave in vinegar or in oil... it doesn't taste (to me) like licorice... and that is why I like it.

gorotsuki69... you're right!! Mother nature is far > man... we experiment within the system. When we start playing doctor with the building blocks, we get into trouble.