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paccrest · 10-06-2015, 10:25

My girlfriend and I are new live aboard cruisers in the Sea of Cortez and Mexican Riviera areas for now and would love to know of ideas on how to grow some basic veggies and herbs aboard. I know that the salty environment is an issue. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

MarkJ · 10-06-2015, 10:39

Basil is ok at anchor. At sea nothing is realy viable.

**boatman61** · 10-06-2015, 10:41

Depends on the Herbs..

monte · 10-06-2015, 10:43

The sprouter works well. This is after 2 days, another 2 and ready to add to sangas, side dishes etc. really tasty and nutritious to boot!. They last in the fridge over a week.

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dannc · 10-06-2015, 11:18

This has been discussed on CF before so you might want to try a search. Seems like I found a book somewhere on the subject somewhere as well...

Seems like the most practical boat farming was sprouting as Monte mentioned.

Later,
Dan

**Bulawayo** · 11-06-2015, 07:14

My wife does the same......watercress, mung beans etc etc. Has anyone seen the 'four foot vegetable' farm? We saw one a couple of years ago on a French single handers boat but have never seen one since and we lost those particular details. He was growing some wonderful things.

Mike OReilly · 11-06-2015, 07:26

We do sprouts and herbs (basil, cilantro, thyme, etc.) while underway, but we're not in salt water (yet). The sprouts are easy and down below. The herbs are in small pots that can be positioned under our translucent hatches when we're underway. At anchor they come out into the sun.

I don't know anyone who has sustained a veggie garden on board.

wrwakefield · 11-06-2015, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by paccrest

My girlfriend and I are new live aboard cruisers in the Sea of Cortez and Mexican Riviera areas for now and would love to know of ideas on how to grow some basic veggies and herbs aboard. I know that the salty environment is an issue. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Paccrest,

For decades I have always grown sprouts for fresh 'greens' while cruising. [We even use sprouting jars while on multi-month long sea kayak expeditions... and no, we aren't vegetarians...]

Why sprouts? They don't require any light and are ready in 3-5 days. I have a very old stacking sprouting system [similar in concept to the Victorio Sprouting Kit found on this page...] I'm sure there are many like this out there.

Over the years I developed a taste for sproutable hull-less sunflower seeds [NOT seeds with hulls... inedible because the hulls become part of the tangled root mass...] They are delicious and delicate- like butter lettuce.

For variety and spice, I would sprout radish, mustard, alfalfa, etc. in other trays at the same time. [I learned to put the stronger flavored seeds in the lower trays so their water doesn't taint the seeds below in a stacking system...]

I never had the patience for herbs since I could store them dry and use less that way. [And yes- I love to cook and have- what I'm often reminded are- too many herbs and spices onboard...]

I hope this is helpful.

redhead · 11-06-2015, 07:54

Here's some parsley just loving the sun, not minding the salt air. Goes below when underway.

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**skipmac** · 11-06-2015, 09:47

Like most above, sprouts are the easiest, most bang for the buck things to grow on a boat.

I have seen posts from cruisers that claimed success growing a few other veggies but all I can think of will take a lot of space for not a huge volume of output.

Another concern, if you plan travel between countries the dirt in the growing pots will probably be a big problem as it can harbor all sorts of critters that could attack the local food crops. Some countries make you toss any fresh food, even if it isn't in dirt. In those places a pot full of dirt might cause major heart failure. You might even be executed, prosecuted but at least persecuted.

zengirl · 11-06-2015, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by monte

The sprouter works well. This is after 2 days, another 2 and ready to add to sangas, side dishes etc. really tasty and nutritious to boot!. They last in the fridge over a week.Attachment 103531

You can grow all kinds of sprouts. Alfalfa, broccoli, mung beans, chick peas, all kinds of beans. In pots... basil, parsley, chives, any herb. Depending on what kind of room you have hanging tomatoes, string beans etc. Grow strawberries in an old clean gutter! Potatoes, onions, garlic in straw beds. Google all that and hydroponic growing. I'm removing the head and installing an Airhead or C-Head. I will remove tank and see what I can do with that space. Maybe straw, I don't know, but next year I'm going to seriously get into this. Good luck.

GafferMate · 11-06-2015, 17:17

Years ago there was a book called "SAILING THE FARM". The first edition was wonderfully political as well as offering good information about self-sustainability aboard...the second edition was slicker, less radical (to attract a broader spectrum of readers, most likely) but still interesting. Lists of miniature vegetables to grow in hanging baskets, such as Tom Thumb tomatoes. It might still be available somewhere...

**StuM** · 11-06-2015, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by GafferMate

Years ago there was a book called "SAILING THE FARM". The first edition was wonderfully political as well as offering good information about self-sustainability aboard...the second edition was slicker, less radical (to attract a broader spectrum of readers, most likely) but still interesting. Lists of miniature vegetables to grow in hanging baskets, such as Tom Thumb tomatoes. It might still be available somewhere...

PDF available here: http://cruisenews.net/sailfarm.pdf