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Gateway Hydroponics 2016(1)
Hydroponics systems at Gateway Technical College include Dutch buckets, nutrient film technique (NFT), ebb and flow rafts, aeroponics towers, and ZipGrow vertical walls. Rockwool is used to start seeds, providing inert support in nutrient solution. Plants require 16 nutrients delivered through fertilizers adjusted based on crop type and growth stage. The systems are suitable for a variety of crops including tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and leafy greens.
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Gateway Hydroponics 2016(1)
- 1. Hydroponics at GatewayTechnical College and Beyond
- 4. The Basic Idea •Nutrients added to water in reservoir/tank • Water pumped to container holding plant roots • Water flows back to tank by gravity • Air stone adds oxygen needed by plants for respiration and to keep water from becoming stagnant
- 5. Rockwool • Seeds arestarted in rockwool and transplanted into various systems • Rockwool is an inert material holding plants up in nutrient solution • No bio activity to plug lines or foul water. • No nutrient charge
- 6. Seed Starting inRockwool • Rockwool needs to be soaked for several hours to lower pH • Add pH buffer to bucket of water and adjust to pH5.5 • Add weak nutrients solution to 660ppm or .5-1 EC • Soak cubes for 30 min -2 hrs • Place rockwool cubes in web tray and seed. Don’t squeeze rockwool • Light and 70-80 deg
- 7. Nutrients • Plants need16 nutrients to grow • Nitrogen – Phosphorous – Potassium = macronutrients • Micronutrients – very small amounts needed • Nitrogen vegetative – ‘green’ growth leaves, stems, chlorophyll • Phophorous – rooting and flower initiation • Potassium – stress resistance, cell strength, quality
- 8. Nutrients and Fertilizers •Amount and timing vary according to crops grown • Leafy greens/herbs vs fruiting crops - tomato, cuke, medicinals • Change ratio at flowering or lower fertilizer level
- 9. Fertilizer Formulations -liquid • Premixed stock solution. • Convenient – use directly from bottle, no pre-mixing • Dilute – paying to ship a lot of water • Expensive for large systems
- 10. 9-7-37 9% nitrogen 7% phosphorous 37%potassium Complete micronutrients and gel technology to coat bare roots in solution For product information sheet click here
- 11. Gateway has examplesof 4 major systems 1. Dutch Bucket or ‘bato bucket’ 2. Nutrient Film technology or NFT 2. Ebb and Flow or Raft System 3. ZipGrow Vertical System – wall and upright 4. Aeroponics Tower Garden
- 12. 1. Dutch Buckets,bato Buckets
- 13. Crops • Larger fruitingcrops • Tomato • Pepper • Basil • Cucumber • Medicinals – Cannabis, Ginseng, Goldenseal and others, Tobacco for producing vaccines
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- 18. Pruning One main stemonly Side shoots and suckers should be removed weekly EZ to lag behind. Fruit production down 50%
- 19. Aeroponics – TowerGarden
- 21. • Warm seasonor cool season?
- 22. Crops 2 different uses: 1.Homeowner or restaurant system with lights 2. Commercial indoor with or without lights (energy $) • Leafy greens – lettuce, kale, spinach • Leafy herbs – basil, parsley, chives, cilantro, marjoram • Baby bok choi, mustard, kale • Warm or cool season?
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- 24. Crops • Leafy greens •Lettuce – head • Herbs – basil • Animal fodder – gas fed cows in winter, chickens
- 27. Ebb and Flowor Raft system
- 28. Ebb and FlowRaft System
- 29. Ebb and FlowMicrogreens
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- 33. Crops • Leafy greens •Leafy herbs • Herbs – basil, rosemary, cilantro • Strawberries • Cool or warm season? • Daylength – day neutral
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