Hydroponic Tower Gardening

[gsganzer]

I got my wife a hydroponic tower for mothers day. It's this model, with the light kit, if you want to use it indoors. Tower Garden Flex

I was planning to buy one, but then my FIL said he was planning to get rid of his. He's a widower now and just doesn't have the time for it or can keep up with all the salad it grows. I've been reading up on it and it seems like it will be a pretty neat endeavor. I love having fresh basil, cilantro and parsley and there are all sorts of greens we can grow for salads. It doesn't look like too much work either, compared to a soil based garden. Right now, it sits on our south facing patio and is a neat addition.

Anyone else have a hydroponic tower garden? Any greens you really like or recommend?

 

[grsthegreat]

My wife purchased one years ago….could never grow anything with it. Gave it to the neighbors.

I think my wife never got the nutrient levels correct.

Hers didnt have a grow light though.

 

[gsganzer]

My wife purchased one years ago….could never grow anything with it. Gave it to the neighbors.

I think my wife never got the nutrient levels correct.

Hers didnt have a grow light though.

You only need the grow light if it's indoors, which is a nice option to have for year-round growing.

Ours is flourishing on our back patio. I think the two of us will have a hard time keeping up with eating what it produces. From what I can tell, you just adjust the water PH, add the A and B nutrients and it does the rest. The pump will circulate water for 3 out of every 15 minutes.

In the winter months, we just stick the lights to it and move it somewhere indoors and set the light timer. The pump has 2 settings, indoors and outdoors.

 

[grsthegreat]

Texas has more heat. Itdid not work for us in idaho

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

My son got the wife a countertop hydroponic system. Had 7 holes I think. We have raised numerous crops of herbs in it. Perfect for winter time when we usually plant most stuff in dirt. We had it right near the stove where it was very handy to pick off some fresh herbys. It has lasted us about 6-7 years. Only put a capful of liquid fertilizer in it every few weeks.

Liked the idea so well I bought one for my SMom and she raised flowers in hers.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Wait, you got it for your wife yesterday and it is already flourishing?

I bought my wife one of the countertop ones like @part-time-Farmer-NC is talking about for Xmas one year. Seemed to work alright, but my wife's thumb is the opposite of green so It never really took off. My neighbors have one of the towers like in the first pic, they have yet to set it up though, looks like it would work pretty well. I have grown things hydroponically in the past using deep water culture and nutrient film technology and it is pretty cool how well it works. I am thinking about doing a couple hydroponics setups in the basement this winter with the grow lights I already have.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

One of my retirement projects is to finish a aquaponics system I started building a few years ago. I put it on hold until I retire. Too many irons in the fire. I'm hoping to build a lettuce farm in a 96' greenhouse. We'll see how well it goes in a year or so.

Then again I keep reminding me, I don't want to "Work" in my retirement. So there is that battle going on in my head. I am so programmed to work as I have done my whole life, it should be time to relax and pick the stuff I WANT to do.

 

[gsganzer]

Wait, you got it for your wife yesterday and it is already flourishing?

I got it from my FIL and it was already pre-planted with some lettuce, kale and basil. I was somewhat surprised the plants weren't any worse for wear after the 65MPH ride home in my truck bed.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Pictures?

 

[gsganzer]

Here it is. We need to harvest some of the greens and also plant some of the open spots. My wife is ordering some of the pots, so we can plant some more stuff in it.