Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Playing around with the various aquatic leafy vegetables and have found the Kang Kong to be extremely productive. Simply germinated the Kang Kong seeds in a bed of potting mix 5cm thick. Once the seedlings had enough vigour around 8-10cm high I started to introduce a flooded environment. As they grew up I filled it more until we were full. I have duck weed and azolla on the water and there are Gambusia stocked in the water as well.



Between Kang Kong, Lebanese cress and Water celery I am beginning to wonder why you would want to grow the non aquatic greens?

Kang Kong (pronounced Kung Kong as I learned today from a couple of very interested AP fellows) does extremely well in AP. I learned last week that it takes hold very quickly and is best kept in a bush like plant rather than letting it run. It takes hold very quickly!! The best eating parts are the young leaves and stems. Very nice stir fried

One problem with it I am noticing is we have Argentine ants around the house here and they seem to target sitting at the node of each leaf and as growth matures it begins to distort. Not sure what they are doing but it is definately affecting the kang kong almost hormonally?

Interesting you should say that ,Santalum. I have noticed the argentine ants doing the same thing at BYAP. I will have to observe further as to what they are up to

I've got some in my GBs that's going well just from small pieces I bought from an asian supermarket. Does it survive the perth winter? Also does anyone know what type of nutrition it provides?

Do you have any aeration/water movement in that setup Santalum, ?

sambal kangkong is one of my favourite dishes
had some growing very well in the growbeds but died when the weather turned cold

There is no aeration or water movement in this growing trough. A few frogs too of late.

It will definately die off once the frosts kick in out here, but I am going to try cutting it back close to the water and putting a perspex cover over it to see if it can be salvaged through the winter. Establishment is a little on the slow side from seed. Trouble is there are no markets out this way to grab fresh kang kong for propagation.

Nat managed to keep some alive and flourishing over winter in his indoor heated aquarium...