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New Jersey

Since you thought it wasn't practical to grow pumpkins hydroponically, I thought this article would be of prime interest to you:

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/6808076p-6697982c.html

Jason

8/13/2005 12:35:59 PM

Phoenix, AZ

Man, I want to see his "top secret" setup!

8/13/2005 6:41:13 PM

hamilton,Ontario

good read

8/13/2005 10:04:27 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Jason- very cool. Thanks. Are you trying this? I know a lot about plant physiology in general but not about pumkins specifically except what I am leaching from you guys this year. I would love to see pics if anybody has this type of operation going.

I wonder if the plant has secondary roots? I'm starting to come up with a tangable mental picture.

Now, the aeroponics.. I admit I am completely unfamiliar with that concept. Does anyone know how it works?

8/15/2005 12:51:26 PM

Sioux Falls, SD garyboer@dakotalink.com

I 'm guessing the roots are "misted" instead of submerged

8/15/2005 5:35:32 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Aeroponics is the misting of suspended roots with nutrient solution. Disney has an exhibit like this. Probably not pracftical for AGs LOL.

But hydroponics is do-able.

8/15/2005 10:04:43 PM

Leamington, Ont.

I remembered in '04 someone tried a hydro pumpkin, so I did a search and found it:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2004&grower=27505

The diary never did finish, so not sure what the final outcome was. Anyone know?

8/15/2005 10:25:31 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I emailed him but he never responded. It looked to me that the secondary vines landed on soil & rooted there.

A good system would involve level half pipes (connect to the main planter) to train secondary vines into since adding buckets at every node would involve too much hardware & too many fittings. Picture a Christmas tree....

As Jason & I are starting to discuss privately, it might make more sense to design a system that is equaly in size to the finished plant so that adventitious rooting can occurr as needed within a planned area.

8/16/2005 5:17:46 AM

New Jersey

Orangeneck, no I'm not trying this at the moment, simply in the planning annd research phase. Living in apartment kind of puts a damper on running a large hydro system, or for that matter growing AG's at all. I'll be finding a new house sooner or later, hopefully b4 next spring. We'll see how it goes.

Shiznit, that plant failed sometime midsummer. Probably around when he stopped posting pics... I'll take a peek in my old emails to see if I can find out exactly what happened. I believe it was neglected for a weekend or a pump failed and the plant went down. This is the thing with Hydro, you have control, with control comes responsibility, slack on your responsibilities for even a day and your plant might go to hell in a handbasket real quick.

Can we please stop saying things are not practical right off the bat?!?! :)
It's all about meeting the challenge... For some people cooking a plate of eggs in the morning is not practical because their too tired or don't have the skills/knowledge/resources to cook an egg. To quote a good friend, "Of course we can do it, there are plans to colonize mars..."

8/16/2005 10:24:26 AM

New Jersey

There are aeroponic methods which have their roots contained within containers rather than just hanging in the open... Picture long PVC tubes full of mist, running down into a resevoir... This method combines Aeroponics, NFT, and eventually DWC once the roots reach the resevoir... Do a google for Irish and Webby tubes, it is a system that some MJ growers came up with a few years back.
If your looking at a bucket based system that combines a bit of aeroponics do a google for Krusty Buckets or Freedom Buckets.

Tremor, some nice NFT Trays running down secondary vines would be an excellent idea. This sounds like what you were talking about, it's called Nutrient Film Technique, one of the most economical hydro techniques because there is very little growing media involved, just water running down the trays in a very thin film. The top of the roots are exposed to oxygen and the bottom of the roots are immersed in water. Quite a good thing.

I've always felt that a stump growing in soil, followed by secondaries running on hydro would be a good idea lending the stability of soil and the efficiency and control of hydroponics. And it is definitly wise to design the system based on the needs of the plant.

8/16/2005 10:24:33 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Jason- you are right. We should never down on a new idea, just be interested in the outcome. That is how we move forward. I have learned a lot since I criticized you that one time. Specifically, now I know enough to know that I don't know. Too bad he gave up on that pumpkin. Was that damage on the last hydro pic from that hailstorm, or some deficiency?

I'm extremely interested in this now and I'd like to try it out next year. I knew there would be a problem w/ the secondaries. The whole plant first idea seems good. I might like to try a hydro/soil system. I am also curious about what happened to that plant he trimmed at the stump. I plan on doing a number of smaller plant type experiments next year.

I feel you on the apartment probs, Jason. I was trapped in one for the last 2 years. Just try buying land in the Baltimore/DC area! Oh yeah- I see you're in NJ. doh :>D

8/16/2005 2:33:47 PM

Netherlands

BBC TV in Britain showed a farmer up in Scotland who grew all kinds of vegetables hydroponically. He hasn't tried pumpkins yet due to the size of the plant and the amount of room he needs.
One of the benefits is you don't have to scrub your potatoes...

8/29/2005 3:47:28 PM