Hydroponic produce

[burner]

Easy to get passionate about, that's for sure. Just found out that we have a community garden in town, a spot for those that are able to, to plant and pick fresh produce. Due to the, ahem, variety I'm growing, a close relationship with said gardening community might not be the wisest of moves, but they are always seeking donations of plants and cuttings, preferebly edibles, so that will be one of my near future ventures. There's a lot of elderly that use this garden apparently, so it will be for a good cause.

[burner]

Looks like we will have two tomato plants, a capsicum and a couple of Coleus to nurture soon, but gnats are in plague proportion outside, causing me some greif inside, and the future is uncertain for the lil' ones, so gonn sit on this thread for a couple of weeks, while I wait for nature to give me a break.

[Naycha]

What kind of gnats are they? Way too big to be fungus gnats.

 

Naycha

[burner]

Its a bit deceiving, but they are probably about five millimeters away from the lens. They were swarming around my face when I took the pics. They are the same little monkeys in the room, not to mention all over the house. Not good but what do you do, need hash screens on the windows to keep these buggers out, conventional pest mesh screens are crap.

[burner]

I remember reading that it takes up to three years for strawberries to fruit from seed........

Been two months since the seed sprouted, curious to see what eventuates from here?

Chilli plant is still fruiting, and a couple of tomato and a capsicum plant, to finish off the salsa:-)

Now I'm off to check on the other garden.

[burner]

Now the crisis is over, can get back to growing the vege's. Bug issue is over finally, but had to put the herbs outside, the frost got the basil and marjoram, but the sage, dill and parsley live on, oh, the peppermint has had the dick as well!

But indoors, I have given the tomato, capsicum, chilli and strawberry plant/s their own growspace, under the 130w cfl. I think they are enjoying themselves, they seem healthy, the chilli is fruiting and the tomatoes are just about ready to up size pots and stake/trellis. Been looking at maybe using the spare clone tent as a mushy tent, but have not grown mushrooms before and would appreciate any info on those grow your own farms at Bunnings, if any one has tried them. Might even delve into more exotic species if I can get the conditions right, but best to practice a little first, aye?

So, has anyone grown tomatoes or capsicum indoors? I'm thinking of throwing the 400w cool tube back in the vege tent, and if the mushy room needs lighting, using the cfl in there. Too much light for the vege's? Here's some fresh pics, to give you an idea of what stage of growth I'm at with the plants. Cheers for input in advance, the Burner:-)

[louise]

I remember reading that it takes up to three years for strawberries to fruit from seed...

The plants will fruit earlier if you let them, but good hort practice is to remove any flowers that appear in the first year. Preventing the plants from flowering early makes for more robust and resilient plants.

 

Best wishes for the gardening exploits

[burner]

Thanks again Lou:-) I did a bit of researching and have been nipping the buds as they appear, still 8 or 9 months to go:-)

[louise]

Sorry if I missed it... do you know what variety of strawberry you have growing? I'm going to start some Alpines from seed shortly.

[burner]

Its packet seed, red and white variety, Mr Fothergills. Not sure of what type though, I'm a newbie to berries:-)