Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Damian

When I messed around with hydroponic NFT tube systems I found that when I used long pipes the plants got progressively more stunted as nutrient solution flowed away from the source tank. I set flow rates to the amount recommended, which incidentally was not very fast.

Logically I put the "stunting" down to the tomato plants I was growing getting progressively less and less nutrients as the solution flowed along the line, because the plant before it stripped considerable nutrient load from the flow each time.

However, someone suggested that nutrient load was not the problem.

The problem was dissolved oxygen depletion and partly due to warming of the water as it moved through the pipe , (again decreasing Oxygen levels).

A friend suggested I try using an air pump here and there along the pipe, or even better try to figure out some type of weir systm to re-dissolve oxygen into the water.

I tried a simple airstone and aquarium pump and my goodness, plants at the end of the line were as good as those at the start.

I guess some sort of internal weir may be worth a shot if you ever come accorss this problem in the future. Tomato plant root systems need dissolved oxygen as much as fish to remain healthy.

BTW, in the Carribean, okra is a staple food. I have eaten it but have no idea how it grows, Does it grow like a pumpkin, Zuchini, cucumber, or is it more like a tomato, or maybe a potato in its habit? Is it suited to aquaponics or hydroponics?

Are there any other tradittional Carribean delights that we could learn about!

For example Scotch Bonnet, allspice, pimento and Ginger are popular in the Carribean, how would they do in aquaponic systems? Too big too small, wrong growth habit etc. etc.

Best wishes to you.

Johnnie.

Okra is a seed pod on a large shrubby plant. Blooms are large, and look somewhat like hibiscus. I nominate Damian to grow it, although I always found I needed a lot of plants to get a decent meal of okra. Maybe that's just because I'm at the northern end of their range.

Janet .. Perth Australia is a very dry mediteranean climate ... -4 deg C in winter to maybe 42 deg C for a few days in summer ..... strong sun with high UV at my locality.

I have never seen Okra grown here, so your comments are valued.

I have grown various chillies, capicum, even some ornamental ginger, even had small banannas one year ... perhaps he climate is too dry and harsh for okra? Hardy mangoes are not really possible, they struggle, perth also has very sandy soil in most places.

I would love to grow some really exotic plants!

J7, in the two nft's i've set up (not mine) i've set the water flow quite high for those exact reasons (temp & DO).

The higher the water flow the better!! you cant have fast enough water flowing.

as for okra if tomato likes it the okra should to. Its a bush like plant but remember to pick them YOUNG because if you let them get ripe their are very hard to chew, even uneatable. i will grow soom okra to see how it does. i expect it to do well.

I have a pinapple growing in the back too

I would like to know if tomato cuttings will die when the mother plant dies too. Will the plant will die at all? i have never grown any tomato so i don't know what to expect but i have grown many okras women like okra slush. i will show you how its made too. later

lol

its funny doe that you have never seen okra when they are so normal here. so whats the price for them in the supermarket?

I have okra in my system now. Doing well once I got sun on it.

Hey Damian, I installed my NFT. Working great with Swiss Chard and Arugula Spinach.

some quick updates

the algea that came in with the sea sand is starting to grow more and more

got a okra cutting going

more pics of the system

Lookin' good CG!

CG, Awesome job! What is that last plant?

Your work is paying off it seems quite well. Very Nice!

Hey CG, my man... things are looking way better than they were before.

Guess moving everything and any changes you made have sure paid off.

Way to go bro.

the last plant is pigon pea

Excellent work mate. I too keep comparing (in my mind) these pics to those spindly crap looking plants you were getting at the start. Just shows that if you persist you get the prize.

great plant the pigeon pea you like dahl?