Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

What am I doing wrong??? I have not had any success with tomato seedlings surviving in my ap system. Ph is fine Nitrate/Nitrite ok. I know some got scortched in the hot Botswana sun but even with 80% shade cloth they do not survive. Tried different depths. Could it be too hot??? i always thought tomato's liked hot weather. I have flood and drain system on a timer. about every hour all the GB's empty out. It's been 35 to 42 most days and cools down when it rains. HELP!!!!!!!!!!


MM

I dip the roots of my tomato seedlings in a mix of water and seasol. Not sure if this will help your situation thou

Do any of the other plants suffer?

With your temps... I'd flood for 15/15... or 30/15... (30/30, if the beds don't drain in 15 mins, although it doesn't matter if they don't)...

Or even consider constant flood.... I think your media is probably getting too hot... and burning off the seedlings, and/or roots... before they become established...

I don't have any experience with toms in AP but I'd say your temps are too high. If I get a plant with good growth before the temps hit about 32 here, then they're okay, but tomatoes don't like really high temperatures unless you really soak them to make up for it. Blossoms often won't set over 32. When people say "hot" they mean what the rest of the world thinks of as hot, about 30 to 35.

I agree with increasing your floods and maybe get them a bit bigger if you can before putting them in the system.

I had all sorts of trouble with tomatoes growing, but dying as fast as they could grow. ie new leaves, but lower leaves dying.
Recently with different varieties I've had great success.
I'd try different varieties, shadecloth, and also shielding from night frosts.
I think frost was one of my issues.

thanks guys...I did try constant flow and had the same results. Maybe i'll just wait till it gets a little cooler. Not too much frost here in Botswana KudaPucat unless you look in my freezer, that is if wedon't have a long power outage.



MM

Wasn't sure what night temps got to. There're places here in aus that are 40°C during the day and -10°C at night. I must admit I know nothing of Botswana.