A Hydroponic Homestead Timeline

 

A Homestead Timeline

Week 1.  Day 1 to 7

Plant lettuce in a 9-pod system.  If available, plant two different lettuce varieties so you can compare growth, taste, longevity.   Use 4 pods for lettuce and 2 pods for the aromatic of your choice.  Do not add nutrients at this point and cover the empty pods with spacers.

Plant Pak Choi in a second system.  The size can be any that you have.  Plant them in about half the pods you have avilable;  in a 9 to 12 pod system, plant them in 5 pods.  Cover the empty pods with spacers.  As before, do not add nutrients yet.

Most lettuce and cabbage will sprout within the first week.  Watch the pods and make a note of the day when the germinated seedlings first appear.  This is the kind of info that will be different from what you can find on the seed packet and is the first information to write down in your gardening journal.

Week 2.  Day 8 to 14

After 7 days, the plants in both systems should have germinated with visible sprouts.  If any have not, it is time to examine them closely to determine why.  Check for the growth of mold/algae that is inhibiting the seeds.  Also, check the seed packet for the expected germination period.  Many will say 7-10 days, and some can take up to a month.  The front of  your garden will likely have the number of days planted so you can compare where you are in the timeline and consider re-planting new seeds

In those systems where some have sprouted, its time to add nutrients.  Give exactly half of the recommended nutrients to these newly growing seedlings.

Remove the domes, when the seedlings touch the tops.  Set them aside to be used later.  Very carefully help any sprouts that are stuck under the label.

Week 3.  Day 15 to 21

 On day 15, your garden will report that it needs nutrients.  Once again, add 1/2 the recommended amount, and this time hit the "Plant food added" button.  This will bring the total nutrient concentration up to the standard and will last for the next 14 days.

At the end of the week (around day 21) you should thin all your sprouts to one per pod. 

You should have two systems planted and growing well.  If this is the case, then it is time to bring the third system online.  This will be the garden for peppers and tomatoes.  If you have a 6 or 9 pod system, then you will plant one of each.  Larger Farm systems can accommodate 3 or 4 plants.  Follow the standard process for seeding the required number of pods, cover with domes, don't add nutrients yet.

Week 4.  Day 22 to 28.  

This is the final week of growing before you begin harvesting lettuce.    Keep a careful eye on the water level as well.  Evaluate if you need to raise the lights. Lettuce likes to be cool so keep the lights at least 4 inches away from the top of the leaves.

Tomato and pepper seeds may take longer to germinate, so be patient.

Week 5.  Day 29 to 35

At the end of last week, your lettuce will have been growing for 28 days.  This week it is time to make your first harvest of lettuce, taking only the outer 1 or 2 leaves from each plant.  Clip a few leaves from the herbs in your garden as well, and enjoy your first homestead salad.

Lettuce and Bok choi gardens will report they need nutrients.  Add full strength according to the nutrient directions. 

Add 5 ml or 1 capful of Hydrogen peroxide to the basin. Keep the water level topped off.  The H2O2 will ward against the roots developing disease.  This isn't necessary when the seeds are just starting, but as they hang down into the water reservoir all the time, it helps to keep them clear.

Tomato and pepper seedlings will begin to appear.  Add half strength nutrients when you see the seed leaves.  Remove domes when the leaves touch them

 

Week 6.  Day 36 to 42

If the bok choi has been growing more slowly, it may finally be ready for its first harvest.  Gather 1-2 leaves from each plant for your stir fry.  

It's also time to revisit the lettuce garden and harvest if its ready, 1 leaf per plant.

Week 7. Day 43 to 49

Harvest lettuce for your weekly salad.  This can be a more aggressive harvest if the lettuce is growing vigorously.  Lettuce that isn't harvested will flower and go to seed sooner than if it is clipped regularly.

 Add nutrients following the program

Week 8.  50 to 56

Harvest Lettuce.

Harvest Bok choi

Prune tomato branches that are causing problems.

Week 9. 57 to 63

Harvest Lettuce

After two months you should consider changing the water in your gardens.  Remove the top and set into a plastic container.  Then simply drain all the water into the sink and rinse the tank.

While you have the top off, look at the roots to see if they are growing into each other or getting tangled with the pump or water gauge.  Using scissors, cut the two root masses apart from each other.  Trim the bottom fourth of the roots that are touching the bottom of the tank. 

Add H2O2 to the basin and fill with clean water.

Add nutrients following the program

 

Week 10. 63 to 70

Harvest lettuce

Harvest Bok Choi

Note that the tomatoes are only about 50 days old at this point.

Week 11. 71 to 77

Harvest Lettuce.  Look for signs of bolting or beginning to grow a central stalk.

Add nutrients following the program.  

Week 12. 78 to 84

Once the lettuce has been growing for 12 weeks it may show signs of bolting.  Some varieties will continue to produce for several more weeks, while others may be about done at this point.  Keep an eye on both the lettuce and cabbage and document their life span meticulously in your garden journal.

Create a Seed pot kit with 9 baskets, sponges, stickers, and domes.  Have this kit pre-assembled and ready to go, so that you can minimize down-time when a garden needs to be replaced. 

You should see tomato flowers and some peppers may begin to flower as well.  Tap the stalks to assist in pollination.

Week 13. 85 to 91

Harvest Lettuce

Harvest Bok choi.

Begin to see tomato fruits appearing, although green.

Add nutrients and check water.

Week 14. 92 to 98

Week 15. 99 to 105

Week 16.  106 to 112

Should be harvesting tomatoes regularly

First peppers may near harvest

Lettuce will probably be replaced very soon if not already done.

Bok choi will have begun to flower.