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Old 29-01-2014, 10:04   #1
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Growing Food

Hello,

I am wondering what folks have had success growing on their boats besides sprouts. I want to have a garden (ha) when I start my cruising life.

Thanks,
Elizabeth
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Old 29-01-2014, 12:37   #2
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Re: Growing Food

We picked up this little palm (in the blue tub) in the Berries and it traveled all over the Bahamas with us. Here our son is eating the first fruit off it!!
Actually grew quite well living in that little tub until it it could not handle the first winter back even inside our garage.

Seriously, we tried several things but they could not survive the salt air. Maybe in the protection of a pilothouse with good soil to start, you might get something.
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Old 29-01-2014, 13:02   #3
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Re: Growing Food

Does anyone have success with chillies?
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Old 29-01-2014, 13:07   #4
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Re: Growing Food

A woman friend of mine has a tiny hydroponic system under the dodger and grows grape tomatoes, herbs, and lettuce. She uses the watermaker water for it, and it does well on passages.
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Old 29-01-2014, 14:46   #5
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Re: Growing Food

These responses are a great help. I love the hydroponic idea. I have seen hydroponic farms at Epcot and think they are a great idea in the first place.

Thank you for your input.
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Old 29-01-2014, 14:49   #6
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Growing Food

No Waterworld jokes?
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Old 29-01-2014, 16:29   #7
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Re: Growing Food

Hi Sailawaygirl (Elizabeth)

This is what i figured out whilst doing my plant growing experiment if it helps you.

I have 28' yacht so space is at a premium.

I made custom planters that could be mounted inside if needed or sit outside, could even have pairs of them hanging off lifelines.

Some veggies and herbs are more salt tolerant than others.

Stuff i grew was,...

Basil, went well
Spring Onions, ok but should have grew more at once
Chives, same as above
Lettuce, surprisingly good but ended up looking mutant
Bok Choi, also grew well
Mint, wasn't happy
Curry, stayed alive but didnt grow
Parsley and corriander, both grew ok.

All in all the plants survived in the saline environment but didnt grow as quickly as i would have liked and i've got plenty of warm sun or shade to suit them.

For the amount of time and water used to keep them growing i found that the amount that i harvested wasn't enough to keep me interested in doing it for food, but might suit someone who wanted a hobby.

Probably got a good salad for one person every three weeks.

Compared to my little beans, which produce huge amounts compared to the effort put in.

I ended up giving everything away and built a solar dehydrator instead, and just went back to beans, and with beans if you look around you can find some interesting varieties to choose from.

If you need any other or have questions let me know, im happy to help.

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Matthew
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Old 29-01-2014, 19:09   #8
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Re: Growing Food

How about growing some hippie lettuce?
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Old 30-01-2014, 03:49   #9
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Re: Growing Food

Quote:
Originally Posted by resilientg View Post

I ended up giving everything away and built a solar dehydrator instead,
Sorry for the thread drift, how did you build your solar dehydrator?
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Old 30-01-2014, 04:39   #10
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Re: Growing Food

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Sail Away Girl.
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Old 30-01-2014, 21:16   #11
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I have grown vegetables on my boat for many years but still consider myself very low on learning curve. I am currently growing kale, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, everglade tomatoes, walking onions, green onions,and chives. The chives are over 5 years old can't seem to kill them. The green onions I get at the grocery store use the greens, plant the bulbs. Anyone that likes green onions should grow them. Super easy. Main problems I've had are bugs bugs bugs. And I'm at anchor. Gotta give them respect for their tenacity. There's a beatle that looks like a lady bug in all life cycles that's destroying my sweet potatoes even after I harvested and started over. The other problem is water. leafy greens use a LOT of water. not so bad in the winter, but they grow slowly when it's cold. I do collect rainwater and am going to expand on my system. I'm also working on a way to cover them because salt spray will kill them. Lost more than one tomato plant that way. one was a huge bush that just came to fruit still makes me sad. But if it was easy no one would be impressed. So good luck and happy gardening. Joe
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Old 30-01-2014, 22:53   #12
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Re: Growing Food

Quote:
Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1 View Post
I have grown vegetables on my boat for many years but still consider myself very low on learning curve. I am currently growing kale, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, everglade tomatoes, walking onions, green onions,and chives. The chives are over 5 years old can't seem to kill them. The green onions I get at the grocery store use the greens, plant the bulbs. Anyone that likes green onions should grow them. Super easy. Main problems I've had are bugs bugs bugs. And I'm at anchor. Gotta give them respect for their tenacity. There's a beatle that looks like a lady bug in all life cycles that's destroying my sweet potatoes even after I harvested and started over. The other problem is water. leafy greens use a LOT of water. not so bad in the winter, but they grow slowly when it's cold. I do collect rainwater and am going to expand on my system. I'm also working on a way to cover them because salt spray will kill them. Lost more than one tomato plant that way. one was a huge bush that just came to fruit still makes me sad. But if it was easy no one would be impressed. So good luck and happy gardening. Joe
Wow! You sound like much more than beginner! I'm impressed.

Thank you for your input,
Sail Away Girl
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Old 30-01-2014, 22:54   #13
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pirate Re: Growing Food

Got any pics of yer setup? And rain collector? Thanks
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Old 30-01-2014, 23:38   #14
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I have solar panels on my bimini that I just put buckets under. Soon will install 4 on my davits with a rain gutter. Will work on photos
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Old 31-01-2014, 03:17   #15
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Thanks. I'm always interested in this but especially now that I'm still setting up new (to me) boat. I had a large awning made but have yet to install the plumbing to it. Can't have too many ideas, tho.
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