Hydroponic Growing

[pslamont]

Mostly lettuce so far but mine is perked right up and moving along. We are having great salads. Anyone else got the lettuce going? Let me know how it is working.

Pam

[pslamont]

Doesn't ANYONE have lettuce going?

[Guest]

I know a lot of people who have quit growing lettuce because of the latest scare going around.

Damon Tucker's Weblog

[pslamont]

The latest scare with the slugs is the reason to be doing it i the buckets. I have had not one slug climb a bucket! No bugs, no slugs, no weeds... that it the whole point of the system!

[Youser]

We have tried the hydroponic lettuce and like others I have seen posting here have been thrilled to see seeds sprout in no time and then we wait and wait and wait and nothing but a few spindly leaves that never grow. We are using buckets with cone insterts filled with peat, and a tablespoon of feed per bucket. We are very disappointed as we thought this would be a fabulous way to grow our own lettuce.

[jade]

Sounds like not enough feed.

1 tsp. per gallon of water

[pslamont]

are you using the food I gave out?

[Andrew]

I saw Pam's hydro lettuce and it was flourishing. I have yet to get it started myself but plan to someday before too long. Youser please provide more detail to your post.

Thanks
Andrew

[Youser]

We are using the blue liquid feed and put in the amount suggested, 1 TBSP. Not sure what else to add Andrew, but we followed all the instructions and just never got more than a few sad looking leaves. A neighbour suggested wrong PH and said we need to buy a kit and he also said the water has to be aerated.

I really hoped this would be an easy way to grow lettuce, and was hoping not to have to get into heavy science and electric fish pump set ups.

I would be grateful for any advice.

[Andrew]

Hi Youser:

The water PH is for sure a consideration. Like most other garden vegetables, lettuce prefers a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5. A ph test kit would be a good idea.

Not sure about the aeration - never heard of it.

Also is the water you are starting with chlorinated? Best if it wasn't.

Also as much sun per day as possible is good as well.

Andrew