Grow Tent Beginnings

[Sher]

I still have a long way to go setting up the tent.

The vertical NFT system leaks at the bolts, so I am going to have to dismantle it and redo it. I also have the other light to hang.

Pictures to follow when it is set up.

For now, I have a some happy looking Kratky romaine.  (I also have one Bounty seeded with romaine, and another with bok choy.)

[ERR0R1755]

Congrats!

[Sher]

Oct 21, 2020 19:55:48 GMT -5 ERR0R1755 said:

Congrats!

Thanks!

[Sher]

I got the rain tower disassembled and caulked around the bolt holes.

I am not supposed to touch the caulking for 24 hours. So I am very impatiently waiting until tomorrow night to get it up and running.

I also have installed a narrow decorative shelving unit for small plants.

After I transplant my peppers and tomatoes into the rain tower, they will probably go into shock for several days. As soon as they perk up, I will post pictures.

I am keeping two peppers and one tomato in Aerogardens in case the rain tower fails! My goal is to grow a fairly constant supply of tomatoes and peppers using both the Aerogardens and grow tent.

I also have a cucumber in the tent. Hoping it survives and thrives.

Step by step, little by little and before you know it..VOILA" ! It's done! Looking forward, sher.

[Sher]

Thank you, @cornne.

It took me a few decades to learn not to rush projects, but to take them one step at a time.

I still forget a lot!

[Sher]

I still have a LONG way to go to get it set up like I want, but it's a fair beginning.

I plan to add Swiss chard or perpetual spinach (which can handle heat) to the top of the tower.

Since I transplanted larger tomato and pepper plants into the tower, I had to support them with bungees until they adapt to growing upward.

The unit holds 12 plants and is designed for outdoors. The fast flowing water is supposed to keep algae from growing. We'll see. 

It's too warm under the lights for the lettuce, so I will move it.

Much more planning and arranging is ahead.

I keep the window uncovered and all vents and ports open because (unlike some, um, farmers), I don't have to worry about light leakage. With everything open and one 4" fan blowing in, and one on the top blowing out, the ventilation is adequate.

Here's a closeup of the tower from the Etsy website.

[Shawn]

WOW, you have a great beginnings in here. 

This is serious business! Exciting, sher!

[Sher]

Thank you, Shawn and @cornne. I am really excited about it.  It works beautifully in tandem with my Aerogardens!

[ERR0R1755]

That looks great! Definitely more sophisticated than my approach of throwing gallon jugs and 5-gallon buckets into mine.

[Sher]

No, I use 3 gallon buckets and Folger's coffee containers! The little tower is just a bonus!

I wish I had room for something like that.

[Sher]

Oct 28, 2020 13:48:52 GMT -5 @cornne said:

I wish I had room for something like that.

@cornne,  Khang Starr keeps his in his garage.  Would that be an option for you? Up where you are, it would have to be heated in winter, at least at night.

My fight is keeping it cool enough. It climbed over 90 in there today. I put in a bigger exhaust fan and it dropped into the 80's.

Not an option. The garage is used as a storage for lawn mowers, rakes and all other gardening stuff and gets below freezing. We are going to get our first inch of snow this week!

[Sher]

Oh, well. I would dearly love to have your sun porch. 

This looks incredible!

[Sher]

I will be removing the cucumber and harvesting the romaine today.

I have some fantastic new ideas for the grow tent -- if they work!

I see a lot of nice things in there,though!

I wanted to ask you about that etsy pump photo..what is that green stuff? It grosses me out every time I look.

[Sher]

It is a hard green piece of plastic with holes drilled in it to give a nutrient rain effect.

Unfortunately, it is algae colored, but there is no actual algae due to the fast water flow.