The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Plant Selection and Operations 1 1 Plants like Aquaponics… Nutrients readily available to plants Oxygenated water available as needed Don’t have to search for water or nutrients Less effort needed in putting out roots All the energy goes into to growing UP not DOWN No weed competition Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 2 2 Aquaponics Plant Challenges Getting the right nutrient balance Managing disease and pests (that is fish safe) Solids management in water Algae growth Year round production Food safety considerations Temperature and moisture control Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 3 3 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Greens Lettuces Kales Tatsoi Chards Mustard Collards Bok/Pok Choi Cabbage Green Onions Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 4 4 Greens Hundreds of varieties Relatively easy to grow - vegetative Ready to harvest in about 30-60 days Can be harvested as “cut and come again”, baby greens, or various head sizes Grows best in raft system, but also in towers and media Ideal Temp 60-70o, (15o – 23o C) can tolerate down to 45o F (7oC) Temps over 80oF or changes in light cause bolting Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 5 5 Herbs Basil Mint Thyme Cilantro Sage Watercress Oregano Parsley Sorel Rosemary Stevia Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 6 6 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Herbs • Good market price if you can get customer demand • Some like bright sun • Some like shade • Continuous harvest “cut and come again” or roots on plants • Best flavor, color (flavonoids), oil production if slightly stressed (bright sunny days, cold nights) • Most herbs are very easily “cloned” planted from clippings from mother • Herbs can also be started from seed Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 7 7 Typical Lifecycle (greens & herbs) Seeding into plug trays W1 Germination (ideal conditions) W1 Seedling growth W2–W3 Transplant to lattice W3–W4 Grow out W4–W10 Harvest W8–W10 This is all dependent on seed stock, species, light, temperature, nutrients, etc. Growout is fastest in spring and fall with perfect temps and long daylength Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 8 8 Flowering/Fruiting Vegetables Tomatoes Peas Beans Squash Zucchini Peppers Eggplant Cucumber Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 9 9 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Fruiting Vegetables First 6 weeks are easy – vegetative growth Flower to fruit, needs less nitrogen and more supplemental nutrients (phosphorus, potassium, boron) Plant in media beds or containers Trellis and prune vining plants Use self-pollinating varieties Requires specific light spectrum and photoperiod which are different between vegetative, flowering and fruiting Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 10 10 Typical Lifecycle (Fruiting Crop) Seeding W1 Germination (ideal conditions) W2 Seedling growth W3–W4 Transplant W5–W9 Vegetative grow out (Vining) W6–W10 Flowering (most require pollination) W9+ Fruiting (fruit size and color change) W12+ Harvest W12+ Seed stock, species, light, temperature, nutrients, etc. Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 11 11 Root Vegetables Carrots Turnips Radishes Onions Potatoes Yams Parsnips Beets Kohlrabi Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 12 12 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Root Vegetables Grow in pots or wicking beds Water from bottom, don’t soak Using coir, potting soil, compost mix Water in wicking bed does not return to the system, it “dead-ends” Ensure proper drainage Seeds direct sown into media For potatoes start with a thin layer of media, then keep adding as plant grows upward, layer by layer Carrots get misshaped if grown in clay media or gravel Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 13 13 Typical Lifecycle (Root Crop) Seeding in grow media (no transplants) W1 Germination (ideal conditions) W2 Seedling stem growth W3–W10 Root/tuber growth W5–W10 Harvest Depends Seed stock, species, light, temperature, nutrients, etc. Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 14 14 Fruits Strawberries Figs Myer Lemons Limes Kumquats Fruit is limited by plants reproductive cycle, light and temperature Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 15 15 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Typical Lifecycle (Tree Fruits) Seeding to sapling Up to 1 year Tree growth (depends on species 1 – 4 years Flowering/pollination Spring/fall Fruit development 1-3 months Harvest When ready Seed stock, species, light, temperature, nutrients, etc. Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 16 16 Grasses and Microgreens • Wheatgrass • Barley grass • Alfalfa • Sweet Corn • Mustard • Pea shoots • Sunflower • Spicy Mix • Radish Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 17 17 Grasses and Microgreens Highly nutrient dense, use for juicing, garnish, etc. Quick growth rates, most are 2 – 4 weeks Keep moist from base, don’t overwater Seed in vermiculite or microgreen matting Do not spray or water from above with aquaponic water (microgreens aren’t usually washed before consuming) Cannot be sold as sprouts Microgreens have to be cut from the shoot/seed Sold as a nursery flat or cut in clamshell container Grasses sold in containers Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 18 18 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Typical Lifecycle (Microgreens) Seeding in grow media (no transplants) W1 Germination (ideal conditions) W2 Grow out (same as single seedling) W2–W4 Harvest W3 – W5 Seed stock, species, light, temperature, nutrients, etc. Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 19 19 Other Specialty Crops Specialty Herbs Medicinal Herbs Industrial Hemp CBD Cannabis Marijuana Mushrooms Becoming big business Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source Chimney Rock Farms Durango, CO 20 20 Species Selection Plan and plant crops based on: Time of year (light, temp) Growth and yield rates Space requirements Customer demand Market price Stuff you like to eat Other factors Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 21 21 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Stuff Not to Grow “Big-Ag” corn, soybeans Wheat and grains to maturity Blueberries, raspberries Acid loving plants Fruit and nut trees Sunflowers to maturity Brussel Sprouts Spinach Keep these in the soil, they will grow better Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 22 22 Plant operations activities Crop planning Getting plants into system Transplanting Greens production Vining crop production pH and nutrient management Plant diseases Integrated Pest Management Personal Protection Equipment Harvesting, packaging, storage and delivery Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 23 23 Crop Planning – What to Grow? How do you know what to grow? Grow what grows well in aquaponics Grow what likes the system nutrient levels (nitrogen dominant) Grow for the light conditions you have Grow for the temperatures in your space Grow for the season – day length, temps Grow for market demand Grow what will bring a good price point Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 24 24 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 25 25 Getting Plants into the System Start seedlings from seed Take cuttings from “mother” plants (propagation, cloning) Buy plants (remove soil) Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 26 26 Seed Selection Start with a good seed source Heirloom seeds are aligned with their “native” climate Not everything grows well in a greenhouse/building Greenhouse specific cultivars are available Find a seed source for farm-scale production Pelletized seeds make seeding process faster Check the catalog or package for germination conditions Seeds have a natural “thermal dormancy” - too hot or too cold and they won’t germinate Use organic seed even if you aren’t certified organic Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 27 27 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish Farms Aquaponic Course Practice “Safe” Seeding Be cautious with buying plants from garden centers. Check for pests and disease before introducing into greenhouse. Wash hands before seeding to avoid disease transfer Make sure that planting media is not too hot or too cold Make sure works surfaces are clean and sanitized Work at a good ergonomic height either sitting or standing Label trays with species and date for traceability and tracking Wet wooden chop stick or plastic tweezers work well for tiny seeds Vacuum seeder plans readily available on the internet Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 28 28 Seedling Media Greens, lettuces and herbs are seeded in mass quantity on a weekly crop rotation, so using a good media is essential Seeds go into plugs or cells with a little hole called a dibble Good media has the following characteristics: Good germination, stabilize roots, strong growth potential pH neutral and proper exchange of water, air and nutrients Affordable and available in large volumes – pallets of media Work efficiency for seeding, transplanting and harvesting Food safe and disease free Sustainability considerations - Plastic tray disposal, composable after harvest, renewable materials, environmental footprint of manufacturing processes Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 29 29 Species Grow at Different Rates 98% germination, ready to transplant Rex Bibb Green Star Parris Island Ridgeline Romaine Romaine Copyright (C) The Aquaponic Source 30 30 Copyright © The Aquaponic Source The Flourish