Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

That's awesome. I hope he has a blast.

After spending the weekend freezing in Melbourne, I have come back and am amazed at how quickly production drops off when the cold hits. Barely a punnet of toms in a week now from my two plants. My basil went to seed and has died off as well.

Amazingly, my bok choy has survived so far. I have some more seedlings on rotation that can get planted out this week end, so we will see how they go.

Not Aquaponics, but ... Check out my little guys Xmas tree lettuce. This lettuce has kept us away from the grocery store for a few weeks now, but its now starting to get bitter.



We also planted rhubarb in each system last week. They are going well with new sprouts in each. The tomatoes came from my AP system. Some carrots and beets as well. His carrots are better than mine, my toms have got a lot more fruit than his. Not ripe on either yet, but almost....

Mulberry tree healthy. Getting lots of plump fruit for about a month.

We compare growth. He has to water his regularly, with water from my system. Watering cans growing well.

Hey Dr Bee. I live in treendale and am looking to start an IBC based system. Was just wondering if your still in the area and have a system running I could pick your brain over. Would love to see a system at work if that would be possible?

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Yep, I'm nice and local for you too. I'm over in Kingston, so can catch up . This next few weeks are not good, but free on Sat pm after kids Cricket. Actually, we play at Treendale school sat am.

I'll be one of the parents out in the middle pretending to be coach and umpire.

pm me for more details.

Hey Doc, good to see you around again.
What on earth do you do with rhubarb? I have a plant in my veggie patch I cut down last year when it was massive. I thought I cleaned it out but it has regrown. Any suggestions for it?

Martin.

Yum, Yum Yum.

We got a heap of stalks when we got the plants and made some muffins. Boys said they were the best. Mrs B and I didn't get any. Sad face.

Cook it up. Stewed rhubarb or apple and rhubarb with ice cream or cream. In muffins, cakes, pies, crumble. On your cereal in the morning. Jam. Mouth is watering thinking about it. It goes to nothing when you cut it up and cook it. Cooked then make some leather by drying it out (in the oven on low temp or outside or in dehydrator).

Leaves are poisonous, stems fine when cooked ...apparently!

<MartinC> What on earth do you do with rhubarb?

Rhubarb and apple crumble.....
http://www.foodtolove.com.au/recipes/ap ... umble-5570
serve with cream, ice cream or custard.

or one of the many variants via Google.

** note the rhubarb preparation steps, stalks only - discard leaves

Ok, I'll buckle, time to get some rhubarb...

Thanks for the update Dr.

Thanks Doc and dlf I will see if I can do something with this plant once it reaches gigantic proportions again.

Martin. (Doc or Skeg should be able to add/correct, really when you need someone like Faye).

My understanding is that rhubarb is like similar plants such as celery. It is optimal at mid sized rather than too big or too small. I think if it gets too big the stems become very fibrous and perhaps less tasty

mostly the brought rhubarb is around a 300mm/foot long.
I think there is a colour relationship - ie. when it goes from pink to red or something like that.

[edit] and here are some more ideas http://anoregoncottage.com/ultimate-rhu ... -preserve/

I was told it goes red if it gets cool enough, but the new shoots on mine straight after planting are red?? Maybe its if the root stock gets cool, or maybe nights are still cool enough?

You guys are making my mouth water with all this talk of rhubarb
you cannot beat good old stewed rhubarb and apple with homemade egg custard. However if you are a savoury tooth like me rhubarb relish or chutney are a great addition to a cheese platter. Red rhubarb is the bain of my life as mine just won't go red even in the frosty Jandakot winters but I think it is to do more with the fact of them being newer varieties, not like the old fashioned rhubarb that we used to grow and love. It loves water, but must have good drainage or it will rot. It will grow well this time of year too so I would happily add it to the vege garden, dirt or aquaponics. good to see you still at it Dr Bee

Thanks faye just introduced the passanger next to me on a flight to canberra to ap. Was able to show photos. Why doesn't everybody do it he asked.

Made it back from a wet trip to Canberra at 10 o'clock Friday night.

Up and at em for cricket Sat am. Had a really close and entertaining match against the Redbacks. Was chasing 20 runs in the last over, 4's off the first 2 balls, so thought we were in with a good chance. Lost by 7 in the end.

Finally managed to check out my system on Sat afternoon.

I just love the way I didn't have to do anything to it while I was away, and the plants still grow even though I have given it no attention. Even the fish continue to live. My lawn and bushes on the other hand are another matter. I need to set up some retic that works when I am not there.

Another hot day in the sun at the WACA watching an absorbing day of cricket. Saw Mitchell Starc bowl probably the fastest ball I will probably ever see. 160km/hr. Bring it on!!!

My youngest boy got out on the pitch at lunch and played 20/20 Blast. Got in a couple of good balls in his over of bowling, and got a 4 when batting. Lucky kid can now say he has played on the WACA. I can say I carried his kit!