Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

It's not too hot there yet is it? I think bitter lettuce comes from warm temps?

Lettuce also becomes bitter if it grows slowly.........

Still looking good

Welcome back Gnash. Long time no see!

The longer lettuce takes to grow the bitterer [now thats a word ] it gets

Been busy with work but always drop in to see netab32's work

Aww thanks Gnash, you smooth talker you...

I reckon your right Bushy and F&F, it seemed to take ages to grow for some reason
Only thing we can do is rip it out and start again - maybe the high pH was just locking out too much, not sure... but temp wasnt a factor I dont think as it had been warm but not overly hot at that stage.

Hey Andrew and Naree you guys still going up there

Bump

Great read...again...great system, ton of information...
Thank you for sharing your journey.
Brian

Hi all

Yes, we are still here, and have started up our system again after a few months of down time. Its at the point right now where we have heaps of seedlings starting to pop up after seeding the system a few times starting somewhere between 4-8 weeks ago (read that as me getting impatient and throwing more seed into already seeded beds as they werent DOING ANYTHING )... Needless to say, it may end up being an interesting mix in the GBs if they all start growing!

So at the moment we have butter beans, mammoth snow peas, sugar snap peas, kale, and lots of cabbage popping up everywhere... as well as marigolds as they have managed to seed themselves into nearly every bed... have told daughter she can pot them up and sell at the farmers market... will see how that goes

Plants from last year still in and doing their thing include our peppino and capsicum plants, both cut back and are starting to re-shoot. Also strawberry bed was thinned a bit and has started invading a couple of other beds too ... and garlic chives, spring onions, brown onions and leeks, curly parsley and flat leafed parsley are taking off again... and a couple of flowering plants hubby planted last year are trying to take over that bed as well... dont ask what they are... have no idea

Have also given in, bought and planted a few tomato plants, rainbow chard to add to the couple that had re-shot from last year, mixed lettuce, and lemon thyme as our one in the herb garden isnt doing too well against the lavender and I wanted to see how one would go.

Still have heaps of yabbies - many, many babies... and even tho we started with 4 goldfish, a baby was found - obviously, we thought, the only survivor of the three big yabbies that live in their tank... then I found a monster swimming by himself in one of the big tanks when I was curious one day and drained it... am figuring it was another baby that has found its way through the pipes and pumps, and had a field day swimming in 2000 litres all by himself... needless to say he is as big as the parents already (and about 5 times bigger than his sibling). So, 4 becomes 6, tra la la...

Have system running on fish food in stockings in a couple of tanks (one leg in each - its a good look), as well as super kelp and a chelated iron product that blockies use which is more accessible to plants than normal as it doesnt get locked out with high pH - only prob is it turns the water a beautiful shade of claret...

So there we are - sounds like theres a lot going on, which there is of course... but beds still look bare to me ATM... I know... patience
Have to admit its such a good feeling to have the system going again and spend time in there - 5 months of 6-7 days a week has been hard for us both, and for the kids too, but on the home stretch now so more time for the fun stuff
Fish coming soon once the system has stabilized itself properly and we do a few more jobs to get ready... Silvers all the way this year

Nice to hear from you Netab... and that you're cranking things back up....

You know the rules.... pics to follow... of course...

Hi and thanks Rupe Hope youve been well... and busy too of course

I know, I know... as soon as I find the camera - promise

Andrew and I need to do some catch up reading to see what everyones been up to im thinkin!

Hi Naree, its good to hear from you. Hope the citrus season wasnt too hard on you all

Hi Guys - glad you are back. Looking forward to updates and pics.

Thanks Mantis and Arbe

2/3rds of the way through the season Mantis, but starting to get a little time off for fun stuff now - also having a go at making my own orange wine... might be interesting - especially since I will have to rely on guinea pigs and hubby as I cant stand alcohol unless its mixed with coke... and is bourbon flavoured

Keep looking at old pics of the system and am impatient for it to strt looking like that again lol.

Went out just before and took some pics so they are coming up soon... once I remember how to do it that is