Plumbing Hydro Buckets

Started working on plumbing the pump to the Hydro Buckets. Still have not found a way to mount the water filter that I like yet. Going to stop at Lowes tomorrow and buy some 3/4 inch plastic pipe hangers and give them a try. Did completed running 1/2 inch PVC between the buckets with two 1/4 inch feeds to each bucket. The forecast calls for thunderstorms tomorrow night. So most likely I have to wait til Thursday night to mount the filter.

Leaking End Caps

I been using the cheap end caps that should be glue into place. Which I didn't do, so the caps could be removed for easy cleaning of the tubes. This results in water leaking from the caps once the plants get larger. So this season I replace them with pressure testing caps. When you turn the wing nuts clockwise, a rubber gasket expands making a air tight seal. Turn them counter clockwise, the cap becomes loose and removeable. Lowes sell them for approx. $6.00 each.

Place Plants In The First NFT Tube

Place seven better boy tomatoe plants in NFT tube one today. Hoping to startup the first
channel of Hydro Buckets tomorrow.

NFT Tubes Turn On Today

Turn on

Turn on the NFT tube system today. No plants in it yet.

New Pavers Around The Nutrient Tank

To reduce the chance of slipping on wet grass. I replces the grass around the nutrient tank with three new pavers.

To Wet To Work In Yard

This has been bad week to get any work done in back yard. By the time I get home from work, it either to wet out or there are other prior commitments. Hopefully I can get in the yard this Saturday.

Took down a large branch from my neighbor tree that growing directly over my NFT system. This allow lot more sun light to reach the my plants this year.

Eliminating the grass

Got tried of coping with the grass that was growing under the NFT support structure. So this year a placed brick pavers under the whole structure.

New row coming along.

Second row of hydro buckets is coming along just find. Since I am try my hand at growing watermelon, which is going to require a lot of water. I will need to get a larger nutrient tank for this row.

Vertical strawberry grower

Purchased 30 strawberry plants that will be going into my vertical grow garden next month (May). Started setting up the vertical garden, but still need to get a nutrient tank for it. Also can't decide what to use for as growing medium.