Spring here! First seed planted

Planted my first set seeds for 2009. These will be going into new hydro buckets this season.

Rhubarb, cucumber, eggplant, squash and watermelon...

Adding More Hydro Buckets

My three test hydro buckets did so well last season, that I am adding more this season. As you see from the two pictures. First I lower the height the buckets by 8 inches or one concrete block. The nutrient tank was sunk into the ground with only 3 inches sticking above ground. Three more buckets were added to orginal three. These six buckets will be for tomatoes plants. Plus I start work on adding a second row of buckets.

Removed Hydro buckets plants

Removed all plants and support structures from the Hydro buckets today. Will start planning for next season. See you next spring.

Taking down the last of tomatoe vines from my NFT system. Still have the hydro buckets to take down yet, later this week.

Last Harvest

Weatherman forcasting 29 degrees for a low to night. Did my final havest of remaining tomatoes today and will remove plants from the NFT system tomorrow.

This is a new vertical system that I am building for next season. Plans were purchased from http://www.easiestgarden.com/. I am hoping to put strawberries plants into next year.

Squirrel raid

The remains after a squirrel had a little snack.

Current picture of my NFT system

6 1/2 inchs rain in 48 hours

Just had over 6 1/2 inches of rain in 48 hours due to Ike. When out to check the nutrient tank water level on my hydro buckets system. As you can see the water is right up to the return pipe
and leaking out the pipe excess hole. This is one concern you should take into account when making your tank. Is the water level should ever rise above the return pipe. The water level in the hydro buckets could rise and damage the plants roots. Of course, this all depends on the over flow level you built into the buckets. All Im really trying to say here, is that you should build a over flow into your nutrient tank. So that the water level won't sub merged the return pipe.

Hydro buckets now using approx. 10 gallons of water per day.