Growing lettuce and other vegetables aboard

[s/v Jedi]

We are doing trials using hydroponics in growing tanks that work aboard boats. We’re testing many vegetables, but here is a lettuce, 50 days since seed.

This is the Kratky method. This means that once you have a healthy seedling, you set it in this PVC grow vessel, fill it with nutrient solution and hang it somewhere suitable in the cockpit, on lifelines etc.

Other success is microgreens, but there are many and we’re working through them to find most suitable.

[fxykty]

Awesome. We have been growing lettuce in regular pots but have had mixed results with occasional flooding due to rainstorms and slow to protect the planters. Hydroponics looks like a great solution for boats.

Do you have a list of resources or other information that would help us get started?

BTW, is that a light with UV bulb?

[RaymondR]

One of the systems used with poly pipe is to make offset horizontal cuts about 1/3 circumference long in a helical pattern around the circumference then use a heat gun to heat the upper side of each cut and push it in towards the center of the tube. The plants are then placed in the dimples and the nutrient solution sprayed into the top.

[ahun]

During one of our experiments of growing green on the boat, we learned, that nothing kills green plants more efficiently than a tiny bit of salty sea spray. Why it's not used as a weedkiller, I've been thinking ever since?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Awesome. We have been growing lettuce in regular pots but have had mixed results with occasional flooding due to rainstorms and slow to protect the planters. Hydroponics looks like a great solution for boats.

Do you have a list of resources or other information that would help us get started?

BTW, is that a light with UV bulb?

It has been too hot in Florida for testing outdoors so we had to do much indoors using grow lights.

The PVC is thin wall 4” round drain/downspout material with matching end caps. The top lid isn’t glued, has a little hole for the net-basket holding the seedling. There’s paracord attached for hanging it.

The lettuce is “Muir” from JohnnySeeds, reportedly the most heat tolerant lettuce, but it’s only after hurricane Ian and with the plant well established that it could take the temperature.

We hope to be able to grow lettuce in the Bahamas in the winter, so are experimenting now.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

One of the systems used with poly pipe is to make offset horizontal cuts about 1/3 circumference long in a helical pattern around the circumference then use a heat gun to heat the upper side of each cut and push it in towards the center of the tube. The plants are then placed in the dimples and the nutrient solution sprayed into the top.

I have a system with nutrient tank, pump etc. as well, but the Kratky system is much preferable for ease of use, especially aboard.

For now the mist difficult part is getting from seed to transplantable seedling. We are testing with lettuce, bok choy, tatsoi etc.

The micro greens are much easier. We’re testing about 20 kinds incl. peas, sunflowers and salad mixes.

[jeanathon]

Originally Posted by ahun

During one of our experiments of growing green on the boat, we learned, that nothing kills green plants more efficiently than a tiny bit of salty sea spray. Why it's not used as a weedkiller, I've been thinking ever since?

A lot of weedkillers are salts. Homeade weedkillers are salt water with some detergent to help it stick.

I would think selecting strains that are more salt resistant will help.

[s/v Jedi]

Not confident on salt resistant species…. prefer to keep them out of salt spray

[mvweebles]

Jedi - had never heard of this method. I have grown hydroponic towers in Coir so your post caught my attention. A quick Google of Kraty method states some possible issues witb algea in the grow water. Thoughts?

I'm in the St Pete area. The attached picture includes Cherokee Red Romaine which did very well in the summer.

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetabl...seed-2741.html

Surprisingly, darker lettuces seemed to do better. Swiss Chard and Bok Choy also did okay, but got a bit tired on the summer.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

Jedi - had never heard of this method. I have grown hydroponic towers in Coir so your post caught my attention. A quick Google of Kraty method states some possible issues witb algea in the grow water. Thoughts?

I'm in the St Pete area. The attached picture includes Cherokee Red Romaine which did very well in the summer.

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetabl...seed-2741.html

Surprisingly, darker lettuces seemed to do better. Swiss Chard and Bok Choy also did okay, but got a bit tired on the summer. Attachment 265581

The thin wall white PVC seems to block enough light to prevent algae growing in there. The lettuce is now at 50 days, it emptied half the reservoir and has nice, white roots.

With the first cold front on the way, I’m ready for another round of trials so I’ll be seeding again soon.

[Fortytwo]

Any pictures of growing aboard?

[MicHughV]

I've not done any veggies, but have done a lot sprouts.
Simple, a mason jar with pierced lid, some water, sprout seeds, a darkish place, voila, a few days, and sprouts with your salad

[jeanathon]

Couple of thoughts on the hydroponic aspects. 1. For starting. Many people use rock wool blocks. 2. When you go to move your plants from grow lights to real sun you need to put them in the shade for a few days to acclimate. Otherwise they get sunburned and die.

[s/v Jedi]

That lettuce is no more… it was delicious

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Fortytwo

Any pictures of growing aboard?

Here’s one where we make taugé, a thick bean sprout from mung beans. There is a whole thread on this on CF.