Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey guys

How have people fared growing root veges in media beds filled with clay balls?

I have a constant flood system and was thinking of growing baby carrots, maybe beetroots and some onions.

Will they still do ok even though they are completely exposed to water? Would I have to drop the water level at all?

Look forward to your feedback!!

Onions, garlic and beetroot all grow really well in my F&D systems. Carrots didn't do very well in gravel/clay.
I've got potatoes growing on top of AP WBs too, and they appear to be going well, with one lot over 1 metre high and in flower now. Pics of the spuds (and other veg too) in my large system thread.

Thanks for that Guna

You mentioned your system is a flood and drain set up so for a period of time they have a rest from being submerged by the water.

I have a constant flood system as mine is quite a small setup.....do the beetroot and onions still do ok when they are submerged all there growing period?

I don't know, as I haven't tried it, but I would expect onions at least would probably rot.

Mmmm......that was what I was thinking

Well the only way to find out is give it a go!

Onions do really well in my Constant Flood setup .

Beetroot has done well in both my constant flood and f&d beds.
Garlic grows well in both as well, however, once they are at a harvestable size sometimes some of the segments will start to grow it's own new shoot which can be annoying. Just have to pick them before they do this.
Tried sweet potato in a F&D bed once. Terrible idea. The vine took over the whole bed and after about 6 months it hadn't produced a potato, just a few very thin orange roots that may have nearly resembled a sweet potato. Was a mess to remove it all...
Carrots start off well. Had to move my system when they were little, so didn't grow any out, however, they looked kind of deformed. This was in hydroton media too, so with gravel/blue metal I'd say their growth would be even more inhibited.

So yeah, they can all be grown, just don't seem as good as other options. Wicking beds are probably the best bet.

-K98

Thanks guys for your comments

Kiara how did you start growing Garlic in your system?

Can I get a clove off a bulb I brought from the supermarket or are there cloves/bulbs you get from a garden/plant supplier?

I was also wondering if lemongrass or ginger would be possible.

That’s why I like AP....the possibilities and experimentation are endless and fun doing it!!

Lemongrass grows great. I haven't had any luck with ginger but your climate is different.

I've had stacks of ginger and turmeric from my small system, there are pics in that thread.

Any garlic clove that has a green tip should start growing in a GB, so long as the bottom gets a bit of moisture. However, it is harvest time now, not planting time, that should be done in winter.

I am not very much sure about carrots, but beetroots and onions grow well in constant flood system.

I'm not very much sure about your Engerish Murray... I think maybe you've been spending too much time overseas.

In a constant flood bed, if you keep the onion bulb above the water and roots in the water, it is alright. I grow onions in both soil and constant flood beds, the bulb is always above the soil/water.

It's best not to reply to spammers Gurkan, it only encourages them!

Is murrayhallam a spammer?

I have seen some of his youtube videos... Or is this not really him?