Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'll soon be planting my first GB and need some advise.

I grow lots of micro greens in my raised beds by scattering the seeds and then brushing dirt on top of them. How are these kind of seeds planted in AP beds, considering that the wet zone is 1 to 2 inches below the surface.

Thanks.

I scatter my seeds and then water them down with a watering can.

I was thinking that my media should be pea gravel on the top two inches, knowing that I would scatter such small seeds.

The bottom 10 inches would be course gravel.

Am I correct in my thought process?

Thanks.

my advice would be to not have different sized material layered like that. for one it won't stay that way for long as you replant and dig around in it.

small seeds don't need fine gravel, washing them down into 5 - 10mm media they will sprout just fine.

hi,

i don't bother washing down with lettuce and they germinate just fine. i have the clay balls and they soak the water and keep things moist for upto around 100mm from the water level flowing through the grow bed. for gravel and the such i don't know but you will get some wicking effect with most gravel. i find the seeds will germinate just fine. if you want then close your eyes and pretend you're putting seeds into soil. as long as there is water and nutrients they don't know any better!

;)

james

Thanks for the replies. It seems counter-intuitive to plant on gravel. Yet, my gravel driveway does seem to grow loads of stuff.

While I'm on the subject, I assume shade cloth will help the germination process by keeping the temperature of the rock down. Plus, shade cloth is good. Any suggestions on the type, say 60% penetration shade cloth?



Yur right. I hadn't thought about the gravel getting mixed up in the long run.

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This has probably been covered well, but for me to find it ?
I am wondering about using highly perforated channel pipe at the bottom of the grow bed, and then very fine pea gravel on top of that, in a flood and drain system. . The water will cover all of the bottom of the bed quickly, and then fill to the top. . i am hoping to get around the flow restrictions of small pea gravel. . It will then be able to drain down about as easily or as slowly as it fills up. .
The idea is like having large gravel at the bottom, but the small pea gravel will not filter into it.
How well has this system been found to work ?

Hi, neighbor. Ed from Leslie here. Just planted my first lettuce this week. Sprinkled lettuce seeds on clay balls and they are just sprouting. Got a 100 gal tub with 7 Talapia. Stop by and see my unit. 870-447-2603

Doc, I've recently been toying with the idea of installing a run of drainage pipe at the bottom center of my bed as well. I installed a French drain for a client a few years ago and I can't really find much of a down side to doing it other than maybe the sock deteriorating in the long run or roots eventually clogging things up... Obviously not necessary when using larger diameter media. Conversely, I recently discovered the difference between 3/4" pea stone and 3/4" "round rock." You may want to take a look at it as there appears to be just enough of a difference between the two to strike a happy compromise between pea and larger stone. And cost is comparable to pea.