Old support structure taken down.

Ran out of time tonight trying to get second support leg/wall built. Did get the old NFT support structure taken apart and ready for the garage man.

New support structure for NFT tubes

The NFT tubes support structure is getting rebuild. The old wooden structure is being replaced with concrete blocks for the legs at both ends. Here you can see the one end being build. The other end will be bit harder, due to having electric line coming up thru it. I'm hoping to have the other end completed tomorrow. The new legs/walls are 39 inches wide, compare to the old structure of 24 inches. This should allow me room for four NFT tubes.

I thinking that I might try a doing a deep water NFT system with two tubes this year. Along with the standard NFT system.

NFT tubes support legs are cracking.

Today when I was placing my NFT tubes back on the support structure. I realize that I never got the electric outlet wired up on the stand. So I went ahead and wired it up. I the process, I found that the wooden legs of my support structure were all starting to split apart. Most of them didn't look like they would last another season. So I decided it time to rebuild the structure. So this will be one of my projects this coming week. It also means I have to wait until next weekend to fire up the NFT system, weathering permitting.

This season I'm also planning on adding sensors to the nutrient tanks. Sensors will report the status of the following:

1. The tank water level
2. That water is actually flowing from then return pipe.
3. Pump still has A.C power ( Gound fault has not tripped )

Cleaning the NFT tubes

Getting the NFT tubes ready for the new growing season. I'm scrubbing the the insides of the tubes, by closing off one end. Adding 1/2 cup of bleach with 1 cup of water to the inside of tube. Then using a piece of 1/2 inch pvc tubing, with a sponge attached ( see picture ). I pull the 1/2 inch tubing back and forth with some downward pressure thru the NFT tube. Works quite well.

I purchase some sweet 100 tomatoes plants early today. I hopine to get the NFT tubes up and running by next weekend, so I can insert some of the sweet 100's in the NFT tubes.

New support structure for hydo buckets plants

My support structure last season started to fall apart from weight of plants. So this season I wanted a stronger structure. Here I'm starting to put together 1 1/2 inch pvc tubing for the main support poles. Still trying to come up with a roof structure to put plastic on to keep rain out of the buckets.

Plants coming along this fine.

Waiting for Spring to come

Here's the garden under about a foot of snow. Can hardly wait for Spring to get here.

Tomatoe Plants Still Growing

Tomatoe plants are still growing and starting to get top heavy. Going to have to add some ropes later to keep the whole structure from leaning.

Strawberries Plants Replaced

Strawberries crowns never took, so I pull them out. Just finished replacing them with flowers I got from lowes for 6 cent apiece. The two impatients were put in with the strawberries crowns orginally, that why their so large. I m amazed that they are doing so good, for being shade plants. That are in direct sunlight for 8 hours a day.