saw some youtube videos today,people are growing potatoes and other vegetables without using soil,i was pretty amazed

basically it starts off by germinating the seed in some bread and feeding it with nutrient rich water then its planted into a pot with holes ,which is then inserted into a dark container containing the same water and left ,,you only top up the water now and again.
on this particular video i watched ,the guy actually experimented with soil and water but the latter proved much more potential,plants were twice the size of the soil one.

interesting stuff,,,,might try this one,,,he did potatoes,lettuce and spinach,but there's plenty of others if you lot are interested in that kind of thing.

Bigger isn't better.

Strawberries grown hydroponically have higher levels of anti-oxidants than soil grown strawberries, but for Raspberries, it's the other way round.

So strawberries should be grown hydroponically then? Well, not necessarily, because contrary to popular belief antioxidants aren't a more is better thing - oxidation is required for normal cellular function, and too many antioxidants is just as bad - and at extreme levels, much worse - than not enough. So perhaps raspberries should be grown hydroponically, and strawberries in soil?

Well, maybe not - because levels of fructose are always higher in soil grown produce, which is why soil grown food tastes better. But too much sugar is bad, right? Well yes - but overall, not the concentration in a particular food.

Hydroponics need less water than soil grown, except where I live, most of the water comes from the sky. I only have to get the watering can out a handful of times a year...and it's all been collected from rainfall over the year - so while technically hydroponics requires less overall water, it actually requires a much larger amount of drinking water.

Hydroponics requires less space? That one is true. But it also requires more labour, and a pump. And hydroponic fertilizer solution isn't cheap, and it's difficult to make your own, verse soil fertiliser which literally falls out of your arse every couple of days whether you like it or not.

So, my suggestion is that you read lots of science, and come away still not sure what your best bet is.

What also works very good for several plants: Canna coco A+B or as I like to call it idiot proof

BouldRake wrote: Bigger isn't better.

Strawberries grown hydroponically have higher levels of anti-oxidants than soil grown strawberries, but for Raspberries, it's the other way round.

So strawberries should be grown hydroponically then? Well, not necessarily, because contrary to popular belief antioxidants aren't a more is better thing - oxidation is required for normal cellular function, and too many antioxidants is just as bad - and at extreme levels, much worse - than not enough. So perhaps raspberries should be grown hydroponically, and strawberries in soil?

Well, maybe not - because levels of fructose are always higher in soil grown produce, which is why soil grown food tastes better. But too much sugar is bad, right? Well yes - but overall, not the concentration in a particular food.

Hydroponics need less water than soil grown, except where I live, most of the water comes from the sky. I only have to get the watering can out a handful of times a year...and it's all been collected from rainfall over the year - so while technically hydroponics requires less overall water, it actually requires a much larger amount of drinking water.

Hydroponics requires less space? That one is true. But it also requires more labour, and a pump. And hydroponic fertilizer solution isn't cheap, and it's difficult to make your own, verse soil fertiliser which literally falls out of your arse every couple of days whether you like it or not.

So, my suggestion is that you read lots of science, and come away still not sure what your best bet is.

i agree bouldrake,bigger isnt always better as in this case

but the concept is good...i was looking at ways to experiment and found this video, i wonder if this method i used commercially?

Marcel we all know witch plants gives the biggest best crops grown this way . Just add some UV light in the container .

hyldig wrote: Marcel we all know witch plants gives the biggest best crops grown this way . Just add some UV light in the container .

Cauliflower?

Bloemkool

pindokhan123 wrote: i wonder if this method i used commercially?

The Bengal method has been used commercially in, well, Bengal, since the 1940s. It's not a matter of whether it's used commercially or not, it's more a matter of at what scale, which exact technique (hydroponics is a family of technologies, not a single technology) and who by.

Because our communal back yard is being totally dug up
to be able to fix the leaking roof of the parkade,I have to
replant my Kale and bean plants and completely empty
my composter. A royal pain in the you know what.

And you are Dutch Marcel . Not that plant , the other plant we are not allowed to discuss in forum .

hyldig wrote: And you are Dutch Marcel . Not that plant , the other plant we are not allowed to discuss in forum .

Just kidding, I happen to be a bit of an expert when it comes to "Not allowed to discuss here"plants

Blaiming it on me being Dutch

Marcel-R6 wrote:

hyldig wrote: And you are Dutch Marcel . Not that plant , the other plant we are not allowed to discuss in forum .

Just kidding, I happen to be a bit of an expert when it comes to "Not allowed to discuss here"plants

Blaiming it on me being Dutch

What happened, did I miss something again, new rules about plants ? LOL at this rate we won't be allowed to discuss breathing air

BouldRake wrote: Bigger isn't better.

It's HOW you grow them right ?

Quote:
So strawberries should be grown hydroponically then? Well, not necessarily, because contrary to popular belief antioxidants aren't a more is better thing - oxidation is required for normal cellular function, and too many antioxidants is just as bad - and at extreme levels, much worse - than not enough. So perhaps raspberries should be grown hydroponically, and strawberries in soil?

In Western world, it's not a problem, over consumption of highly processed foods and sugar, so excess anti oxidants would be rare unless you are consuming a large quantity of those. I don't think people will start growing their own produce anytime soon

Quote:
Well, maybe not - because levels of fructose are always higher in soil grown produce, which is why soil grown food tastes better. But too much sugar is bad, right? Well yes - but overall, not the concentration in a particular food.

Excess sugar is bad, excess fat is bad, excess vitamins are bad, etc. Not all calories are equal. Sugar in fruit is not the same as refined sugar in processed foods. Fruits contain nutrients and some contain a high amount of fiber. Glycemic index of berries are relatively low, so unless you are eating above your baseline, you should not worry It's all relative to your activity level and how many calories your body uses on a daily basis. People get fat because they over consume, in excess of what their body needs or for other health reasons non related to food. Now tell me which is healthier - home grown, more sugar vs. you don't know where it's grown and how much pesticides and other rubbish used - which hands touched them at the supermarket, insects, etc. So I'd say home grown is generally healthier, unless you are growing factories and eating fruits and veggies 24/7 Everything in excess is bad. But the sh** you buy at the grocery store will likely kill you first,

Quote:
Hydroponics requires less space? That one is true. But it also requires more labour, and a pump. And hydroponic fertilizer solution isn't cheap, and it's difficult to make your own, verse soil fertiliser which literally falls out of your arse every couple of days whether you like it or not.

It falls out of this arse on a daily basis But you raise a good point, labour. With today's lifestyles, who has time to do all this, in the end it all comes down to your faith and what's written in your genes. Some people eat unhealthy their entire f****** life and have normal levels of cholesterol, glucose, etc, and live healthy. Yet some people are active and healthy and have all kinds of health issues. There are are contaminants everywhere, the polluted air you breathe, the water you drink, the foods you eat, etc. People growing their own fruits and veggies, are they doing this because it is healthier or because it is cheaper in the long run ? or because it is a hobby and they have nothing else to do.

So conclusion to this, there is no perfect science. There are pros and cons to everything we do. The entire medical industry is corrupted, along with the Pharmas, so what we are told is healthy or not healthy is all based on money interest and misinformation in the end instead of SCIENCE and common sense.

Quote:In Western world, it's not a problem, over consumption of highly processed foods and sugar, so excess anti oxidants would be rare unless you are consuming a large quantity of those.

Yes, and no - for the average consumer, it's not an issue. However, I'm thinking in terms of somebody growing all (or most) of their own food.

The kind of people who do that also tend to follow the trendy health folk wisdom of the day - which is to eat as many anti-oxidants as you possibly can, which kills you much faster than not eating enough of them.

Quote:Sugar in fruit is not the same as refined sugar in processed foods

Again, I'm thinking of someone growing all their own food. But I'll give you that one - as long as you're not living off mostly-fruit, fructose isn't a problem unless you're extracting it and adding it to other things.

Quote:People growing their own fruits and veggies, are they doing this because it is healthier or because it is cheaper in the long run ? or because it is a hobby and they have nothing else to do.

Because we're filthy hippies who don't want to give money to megacorporations

BouldRake wrote:

Quote:In Western world, it's not a problem, over consumption of highly processed foods and sugar, so excess anti oxidants would be rare unless you are consuming a large quantity of those.

Yes, and no - for the average consumer, it's not an issue. However, I'm thinking in terms of somebody growing all (or most) of their own food.

The kind of people who do that also tend to follow the trendy health folk wisdom of the day - which is to eat as many anti-oxidants as you possibly can, which kills you much faster than not eating enough of them.

Quote:Sugar in fruit is not the same as refined sugar in processed foods

Again, I'm thinking of someone growing all their own food. But I'll give you that one - as long as you're not living off mostly-fruit, fructose isn't a problem unless you're extracting it and adding it to other things.

Quote:People growing their own fruits and veggies, are they doing this because it is healthier or because it is cheaper in the long run ? or because it is a hobby and they have nothing else to do.

Because we're filthy hippies who don't want to give money to megacorporations

Hello,
Can i ask why do You think too much antioxidants can kill? I am extremely interested in growing my own food and consider to buy MiracleGro because i dont have a space outside to make a garden. Would appreciate Your answer as i see You have big knowledge and i am person who really want to take care of my and my family health. Thanks in advance

See this paper.

Essentially, you need a chain reaction. One type of antioxidant donates an electron to a free radical, and that makes the free radical less reactive.

The antioxidant is now reactive itself, and needs a donated electron from another antioxidant, and so on, each time becoming less reactive.

But if you get a whole bunch of the same antioxidant from a supplement or a "super food", this doesn't happen - so the antioxidants themselves become reactive, which is the exact opposite reason people take them.

But worse, free radicals send a "signal" to a cell to create it's own antioxidants...and if you're swarming with too many you've got from elsewhere, this never happens. Your body doesn't produce it's own antioxidants, which both prevents this same reaction happening, and also negates any benefit of exercise.

Or in a nutshell, the body is complicated - you need to get the balances right, you can't just throw stuff at it and hope it gets enough of everything.

I have always thought about doing the hydroponics but have never done it. Personally I prefer to get my hands dirty in the dirt. My dad taught me to garden when I could first walk and I still love doing it however around here the dirt isn't any good to grow anything. Wish I still lived in Maine with all of the black dirt and not this horrid gravel.

hlrive wrote: I have always thought about doing the hydroponics but have never done it. Personally I prefer to get my hands dirty in the dirt. My dad taught me to garden when I could first walk and I still love doing it however around here the dirt isn't any good to grow anything. Wish I still lived in Maine with all of the black dirt and not this horrid gravel.

yep i agree,i love getting my hands terribly dirty too im lucky coz i live in a rural area where theres nothing around apart from green land and trees,my own back garden well its pretty big,driveway is bricked but i got tons of area fo growing decent crops,i already have around 34/40 fruit trees or more,i mentioned em all in a previous post.

now i just planted some seeds of various veg,aubergines,tomatoes,chillies,courgettes ,okra,cabbage.
coz the heat is so intense here and the seeds are from homebase UK, i wonder if they will ever see the light of day

but being the persistent and determined person i am,i have to try and find out for myself....will let you know as soon as some decent progress is made...fingers/toes crossed.

Well in this country gone mad, Marijuana will be legal as of next year, so the only thing people will be growing around here is pot ! (Not me of course, I don't do any of that) so I don't think it's the norm around here to grow your own veggies/fruits -

Here in the country it has often been discussed to make marijuana legal on perscription to the terminally ill . The funny thing just is opiums flower ( beautiful plante ) and cannabis seeds are legal to sell , they are just not legal to grow .

Try a Google on Grodan , which is a division of Roxul .
Ground up specially volcanic rock , it holds the water longer than soil and uses less water than the full hydroponics .
Grow anything that will normally grow , more and more greenhouses are using it .