Planted the beans 3 days later this is what I had, very cool
The beans one week later.
Some radishes after 2 days
One week later. Note the cucumber coming up on the lower left.
Verdolaga found this growing next to the house and replanted it in the grow bed. This grows very fast and is great in a salad or cooked as greens. Looking forward to trying it.
This is an awesome blog I stumbled across! My name is Steve, I grew up in Scottsdale but am currently living in the south. I am planning on moving back home to the PHX metro area around the first of the year. I am planning on building and operating a small back yard system similar to yours but I have a few questions If you have the time. I am curious as to how you’re beating the brutal summer heat? I have looked at every photo you posted and notice that your system is in the shade on the side of a building. I am assuming this is an area shaded by the afternoon summer sun? Is that sufficient to keep your fish and beds from dyeing off or are you using an alternate method to cool the water? I know it isn’t going to get cold enough to freeze the water but have you had any problems with your plants or cycling during the occasional freeze in Phoenix? I am assuming your system runs year round? How large and productive is your system? I would appreciate any guidance and advice your experience has taught you about beating the heat in PHX.
ReplyDeleteSteve thanks for your great comments.
DeleteSorry I did not notice your comment until now.
I am new to this as well as you can see by my post. Just now coming up on a year.
I did nothing to the system to keep the water cool for the fish, and they survived okay. No losses. The garden however did not survive. I have since built a shade screen in hopes of extending the grow season through the summer next year. I do have this system on the east side of the house so it gets shade after noon. I used small heaters in the water last January and I did not feel they made a difference so no heaters this year. I will see how the fish do and keep my fingers crossed. If I have to start running heaters, coolers… than the expense may out way the benefits. I got the greenhouse from Sam’s scratch and dent in hopes of keeping the produce going through the winter. We’ll see.
I will be happy to answer any questions you have, just keep in mind my experience is limited.
The web site below has some great forums and I have learned a lot from them. However mostly though trial and error.
http://aquaponicscommunity.com/
Thanks for the reply Tom. I have been in the process of moving since Oct and missed you response untill now, almost Feb. I found a house in Cave Creek and have been moving and unpacking since. I was hoping to build a system before this coming summer. Unfortunatley I am not really going to have the time to construct it untill this summer. I have been following your blog closely thanks for the info.
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