Anyone have experience with outdoor Hydro growing?

[OnionPatch]

I think I posted two years ago about how my garden area has been completely invaded by Bermuda grass. I've still not been able to eradicate it (which is why you don't see me around here much these days) so I'm thinking of turning that area into an orchard and giving up on trying to grow smaller plants there. However, this leaves me with not much space for a veggie garden.

I do have another space that would be a good location for a garden. It's perfectly level, has a great southern exposure, is in a convenient location to the tool shed, faucet, etc., but it used to be a driveway and I'm pretty sure the soil is contaminated there. Another problem I have in soil here is the gophers, which exist in such large numbers as to be almost an infestation. On a bad year they have destroyed more than half of my crops, in good years, slightly less. So I've been thinking about growing in pots for awhile. I've never had good yields in pots, though, so I'm starting to think about hydroponics. I hear you can get a really high yield with hydroponics.

At first I figured with hydroponics there would be too many timers, pumps and electronics to work well outside, but I've been reading about these things called Autopots, which are a sort of drip system. http://futuregarden.com/hydroponics/systems_autopots.html These require no timers or pumps.

I'm thinking I would do about 12 tomato plants, some beans, squash and cucumbers hydroponically in an autopot-type system. The autopots are too expensive to just use them, but you can buy their valve, which is the key to the whole thing, anyway. I think I could rig up a larger DIY system with several of their valves with much less expense.

Well, before I ramble on more, has anyone done this type of thing? I'm wondering what the pros and cons are.

[WhiteTara]

1. I've been looking at other systems, but this sure

looks very interesting.

I think the only con is that you don't do it. You could dig the pots in the ground and create a garden effect. I wonder how long the tubing is and how far you can go away from the reservoir. So, try it and let me know how it goes. I'll be looking for your post!

[OnionPatch]

2. I guess I'm spring-dreaming kind of early this year.

:) I'd about given up on gardening because of all these pests but am missing it and feeling ready to try again. This time I'll try different tactics. I do think I'm going try this system. I think you could probably add additional tubing if you needed it.

I'm also going to try growing potatoes in bins or grow bags next summer and wonder how well that works. The gophers have especially enjoyed my potato crops the last few years---I got a handful of tiny leftovers that they somehow overlooked. ( :mad: )

Well, I'll post back with pictures and all when I do this and meanwhile I'll be looking for more info.

[WhiteTara]

3. I've been creating raised bed all over

we have a plethora of rocks where I live and so I've created three beds. 2 of them are crescent shaped, about 30 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide. The 4 foot is a little wide for most veggies, so I'm going to plant corn/beans/squash in it. 3 foot wide will get the regular veggies; tomatoes, etc. The third bed will be for shade crops, lettuce and peas sort of thing. I built one bed made of grape vines in a circle - I consider it my masterpiece so far. But, I lined the bottom of each bed with chicken wire and very heavy duty weed barrier mat. So far, I'm in love.

Potato bins! Yes! Don't forget to line the bottom of each with wire and weed barrier - Bob's your uncle!

Now's the time for building the hardscape in my mind, so you are right on time with your hydro system.

[OnionPatch]

4. I've thought about raised beds.

Yours sound wonderful! I love rocks in the landscaping. Do you have pictures posted here anywhere? I'd love to see them, especially the grapevine one.

I always wanted a lot of pretty, raised beds and I have a bad back so raised beds would be easier for me to maintain. But because of my back, I would not be able to do the work required to create the beds in the first place. Moving rocks and shoveling lots of heavy soil....no way. One of these days I might get lucky and be able to hire someone or get my husband to do it but meanwhile I can do the puttering-around kind of work it takes to grow with hydro.

Thanks for the tip to protect the bottom of the potato bin. I might not have thought of that but I'm sure the local gophers would probably chew right through the bottom of a grow bag. We've had problems with squirrels eating our tomatoes, too, so I may just be building my whole garden inside some sort of big cage or something. :D

[WhiteTara]

5. here's a picture of the wattle bed

(that's what they called them in jolly olde England)
http://picasaweb.google.com/103043936071037989476/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCPqS27-EpqKhNg#5527261813012902818

I didn't actually build any of the beds myself. My nephew came a couple of weekends and built all the rock beds. My employee did the physical labor for the wattle. I too have a bad back!

The wattle is a bit big, so I decided to plant bulbs and maybe some sort of hardscape in the center, because I could never reach that far. I still don't have dirt in it. I'm waiting until I get my little pick up truck in the early spring.

I'm in heaven.

[OnionPatch]

6. What a cool idea!

And it's really pretty. Hardscape in the middle will be perfect. Why is it called a wattle, do you know? Your rock beds in the background are beautiful, too. Is that sandstone or something else?

I have a big, strong nephew that would help me out if I asked, but he lives 2000 miles away. :( My husband already has a lot on his plate and a very long ToDo list, but he'll help me out eventually. It's just going to be awhile, so this project will keep me happy in the meantime.

I look forward to you posting some picks when you finish your wattle.

[trud]

7. Have you tried

putting cardboard over the garden, weighing it down with stones, and leaving it for a few weeks. That tends to do in even tenacious stuff.

[silverweb]

8. Not yet, but soon.

But I'm planning on experimenting with it this year.

I have no real yard, but have turned my paved driveway into a kind of patio garden. This spring, I'm planning to use the fence to support something like a windowfarms project. Starting small, of course, but hopefully it will be a successful experiment.

[harun]

9. I've done Hot Pepper plants in sort of a hybrid hydro style.

What I do is put tent rope in the soil twirled around (in pots). Cost less than two dollars for the kind I like. Then run down a wick. I got the idea from people growing African Violets. You run down a wick then water normally through the top for one watering and the next you do straight water or light hydro solution in a container below. It works really good for when a plant is full grown, and sucking up a lot of water and you want to have it in a smaller pot. Also for if you are away for four of five days when it is hot you just load up the reservoir below so it doesn't dry out.

I can provide more info to anyone who is interested. If you don't have much space and want to grow in small pots this is a nice way to do it without the danger of them getting too dry in the heat.

[WhiteTara]

10. Okay, I ordered the smallest unit of this

it can expand if it's great. I'll keep you updated on my experience.
BTW I have been really enthralled with Natural Farming with Master Cho http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/
in this he talks about how to deal with this overwhelming grass problem. He recommends that first spray it with vinegar and then you dig it up in squares and turn it root side up. The grass dies and you still have all the microbes.

Let me know how that goes!