Your garden tower inspired me. I'm thinking of using a similar system, but true Kratky with no power. Have the 5 holes on the side at the top with no lower holes, fill up the bucket with nutrients, and then stack them on top of each other. No nutrients flow from one bucket to the other, each is in isolation. It should be easy to fill them up and clean them up instead of many smaller bottles.
I love the milk jar idea it’s great. It really works with a lot of small spaces . I would love a video that shows step-by-step on how to set it up and how to maintain it.
I'm wondering if the type of plants that you've grown in the pipe ladder has anything to do with how it grew vs the garden tower. It would be interesting to see which veggies can grow as easily as the bok choy in the ladder grower. Good video.
Great Idea just a couple questions. Could you grow 2 plants in a half-gal container or not big enough for roots? Do you fill the nutrients all the way to the very top? As the plant grows what percent of the roots need to be in the nutrients?
@@KeepOnGrowin oh thanks for the reply😊, is this method suitable for other crops as well like spinash and cabbage, if you did refill the water, you do it manually or using a top down piping method?
Love systems like this and that use no power. Those look like awesome jugs. Unfortunately, my milk jugs are not good plastic and deteriorate quickly in the sun. Having good trash is a great asset!
Maybe try a different kind of jug. My milk jugs don't last a long time either, but they're cheap, though I use them in little a different way. But those gallon jugs of Arizona Icet Tea seem to have a lot more durability. Also, painting them black and then white also helps to both keep the algae out of the nutrients and to keep the sun from prematurely evaporating the nutrients. I think it also helps a bit in protecting from UV rays that deteriorate the plastic.
I like both but I want a system that does not depend on electricity. My hubby and I plan to experiment with tote and aquarium pumps this spring outside. I had brought my few downspouts inside, but I ended up with a huge fungus gnat problem. I ditched all of them to eliminate the problem. I am going to try again, hopefully once the gnat problem is eliminated in the house I can be successful.
@@KeepOnGrowin They grew like crazy! I harvested all I could. The Tiny Tim Tomatoes broke my heart to get rid of, but they would not have lived outside, and were still green.
Barley straw helps keep algae down in a pond, I wonder if it could help? I use to put a good handful of straw into a bag made of shadecloth when I started my pond. (Extra large bath tub, approx 240 litres roughly 64 gallons). I no longer need to, as the plants & fish have found their own balance. You can also buy it in liquid form now here in Australia.
Still doing old fashioned rain gutters. I found a hard sided cooler i might convert that to a grow tank. Dollar tree has a few planting pots that look like they hold a gallon or two. I might buy some Styrofoam to make a cover for a single plant grow like a head cabbage. I get a jug every month or so from my neighbors recycle bin. I used some soda bottles and water bottles to grow some extra lettuce seedlings. Having a small salad every other night. Anything that can hold water is an opportunity to grow.
Love that rack. I've been working on an idea to do the same thing except with the ability to hang one jug at a time. I realize it will be more expensive, but for some people a 35-40 pound length of jugs can be hard to lift. I've been kicking this idea around. Anyone else ever put any thought into doing kratky this way? I grow Kratky all winter and do an outdoor garden in summer. I have grown a little bit of Kratky outside, and a system like this would be ideal for some areas of the outdoor garden. I'll probably start with a system like this outside, but I'm working on ideas for a similar system I can use inside that only involves lifting 7 or 8 pounds or less. I want my wife to be able to lift the nutrient reservoir jugs. Tomorrow is never guaranteed!
@@KeepOnGrowin Yep. That was my first thought. Basically like a set of stairs. But I use jugs, so hanging them individually is a good option that I'm hoping to employ while using about the same footprint. Something almost exactly the same as the rack you're showing here except with individual hangers. Probably more expensive to make though. But worth it for some of us older folks. I just hope I'm giving someone an idea. To me this kind of thing is all open source, but the bottom line is availability to those who need the technology.
Would the 3 bucket tower system, with a pump, work if I use solar power & the pump runs when the sun is out? (We are in California & get no rain in summer).
I have some pvc pipe lying around from a previous project. I plan to use that.. for the jugs, i am checking out what dollar tree has that i can substitute..also checking out your master blend. thank you for your very informative videos.
New subscriber now that you've freed me from plugs and pebbles. Have you ever tried germinating the seeds in the hockey pucks directly? TANSTAAFL when it comes to electricity. My immediate reaction for the tower was to suggest that you put it on a timer. I doubt you need to have the pump running all the time. The wet pool noodle slices and the inside humidity give you a buffer. Try running it like an ebb and flow system. I have a water feature in my yard and I don't want to run it when I'm not home. Who wants to run a 1/3 HP motor 24/7? I use a cool gadget from VeSync that is programmable thru wifi. I have it set to run for 30 minutes every 12 hrs to keep the system from getting clogged. You can even set it to turn on at sunset. I can turn the pump on or off manually using my cell phone via Wi-Fi. The VeSync timer costs about $13 or you could use a good old-fashioned analog timer. Having done hydroponics since 2008 I have a whole drawer full of those for indoor lights and ebb & flow and you probably have a few lying around. That doesn't address the power failure issue though. You'll need some kind of battery backup. I have led lights and a 3 foot fountain that have solar power. The panels charge batteries. Most systems I've seen use a small panel and a couple of rechargeable AA batteries because they're driving low loads. My leds typically dwindle down after a few hours with 3-5 led lights per panel. I doubt you'd be happy with the lift and duration. You could go off into the weeds with a battery backup with or without solar power but that would be relatively expensive given the initial investment and the goal of the project. Solar is also dependent on sunshine. I have a 1500W battery and two solar panels. It can run my TV and speakers for about 10 hrs and also charge phones and batteries. However, it can take 8 hours or more to recharge with solar panels. If we get several consecutive days of clouds I have to put the TV back on house current or recharge the battery from house current. Looks like Kratky using the jugs and rack is the way to go for what you're growing.
Holy Cow!! Just found you and I'm hooked. You have so many fabulous video's! I wanted to grow a hydroponic garden for a long time but it was always cost prohibitive. I've grown plants in dirt in buckets but not hydroponics. One quick question, to one who is contemplating hydroponic gardening, and don't laugh, but I have NO idea how to get the seed started as a hydroponic plant.. Please tell me so I can raid my bucket stash and get started in the garage...Thanks for all your video's
In the case of the tower, we could just put the Kratky buckets whit lateral holes stacked. It would be less holes per bucket, but it would still be worth it. Thanks for the video!
Doing some research and the local produce stand said the owner would surely like to buy microgreens but by law it has to be from a business, not just some person in their house. What I didn't find out yet is if it is sufficient to be registered as a business or are there going to be requirements on where the product is grown, i.e. not in a residence. Do you have any knowledge of this subject? I am in FL, thanks.
Check with the Dept of Agriculture. Also, microgreens are easier to sell than sprouts. Sprouts have more potential risk since they are grown in a moist enviroment.
Check with the state cottage laws. Sprouts and micro greens have different requirements. Sprouts are more regulated then micro greens. I live in Florida also. Hope this helps.
Does the water get stagnant without the air flow or a pump? Does bacteria get in there? How often do you have to change the water? I would like to start one but my husband is skeptical about the water conditions and safety without air flow.
Going to try the solar pumps this summer. As I saved over winter i bought one. Now I have 5 and need to buy a few more buckets. Experimenting with both kratky and solar this spring. Wish me luck.
I live in Utah, so I would have to do things in the winter indoors. If I have space indoors, would this work? Can I grow things that I think normally need to grow down? IE potatoes, carrots, Onion, garlic?
Your garden tower inspired me. I'm thinking of using a similar system, but true Kratky with no power.
Have the 5 holes on the side at the top with no lower holes, fill up the bucket with nutrients, and then stack them on top of each other. No nutrients flow from one bucket to the other, each is in isolation. It should be easy to fill them up and clean them up instead of many smaller bottles.
That sounds awesome. Keep me updated, I may have to try that too. Have an awesome weekend.
i LOVETHAT IDEA!
A modular Kratky tower, Cool.
Brilliant idea!
I love the milk jar idea it’s great. It really works with a lot of small spaces . I would love a video that shows step-by-step on how to set it up and how to maintain it.
Vertical systems are hot right now, especially with limited space for many growers. I like this one better than the bucket tower. Great work Mike!
Thanks Matt! Keep up the great work!
I've noticed stackable systems on Amazon that are inexpensive. They could easily be retrofitted with a reservoir and pump to make an ebb & flow rig.
Love this! I prefer systems that use no power, so this is great!
I'm wondering if the type of plants that you've grown in the pipe ladder has anything to do with how it grew vs the garden tower. It would be interesting to see which veggies can grow as easily as the bok choy in the ladder grower. Good video.
Great Idea just a couple questions. Could you grow 2 plants in a half-gal container or not big enough for roots? Do you fill the nutrients all the way to the very top? As the plant grows what percent of the roots need to be in the nutrients?
So put the nutrient water to the top once and no need to refill the nutrients after that? Awesome content btw.. 🌷
Thank you! Yes, for this crop. Others that take longer to grow like kale may need to be refilled a few times.
@@KeepOnGrowin oh thanks for the reply😊, is this method suitable for other crops as well like spinash and cabbage, if you did refill the water, you do it manually or using a top down piping method?
Love systems like this and that use no power. Those look like awesome jugs. Unfortunately, my milk jugs are not good plastic and deteriorate quickly in the sun. Having good trash is a great asset!
Try raiding your neighbors recycle bins.
Maybe try a different kind of jug. My milk jugs don't last a long time either, but they're cheap, though I use them in little a different way. But those gallon jugs of Arizona Icet Tea seem to have a lot more durability. Also, painting them black and then white also helps to both keep the algae out of the nutrients and to keep the sun from prematurely evaporating the nutrients. I think it also helps a bit in protecting from UV rays that deteriorate the plastic.
i AM NOW BEGINNING TO USE LARGE DRY CAT LITTER BOTTLES,
The gallon jugs of almond milk are very sturdy
@@richardlossow5259 they’re not food grade
Hi. Always educational and enjoyable.
If possible to post a schematic of the ladder system with components' description.
I believe there is a video from about 7 months ago that shows how to make it.
I like both but I want a system that does not depend on electricity. My hubby and I plan to experiment with tote and aquarium pumps this spring outside. I had brought my few downspouts inside, but I ended up with a huge fungus gnat problem. I ditched all of them to eliminate the problem. I am going to try again, hopefully once the gnat problem is eliminated in the house I can be successful.
That's the spirit! I know you will get the hang of it!
@@KeepOnGrowin They grew like crazy! I harvested all I could. The Tiny Tim Tomatoes broke my heart to get rid of, but they would not have lived outside, and were still green.
Try putting a small piece of copper pipe in any standing water. Helps prevent algae build up.
Barley straw helps keep algae down in a pond, I wonder if it could help?
I use to put a good handful of straw into a bag made of shadecloth when I started my pond. (Extra large bath tub, approx 240 litres roughly 64 gallons).
I no longer need to, as the plants & fish have found their own balance. You can also buy it in liquid form now here in Australia.
Just doing mason jar kratky so far this winter. So far so good. Thanks 👍🏼
making a stand to hold your 3x4 inch rails , multi layer to use in small porches could be helpful
Still doing old fashioned rain gutters.
I found a hard sided cooler i might convert that to a grow tank.
Dollar tree has a few planting pots that look like they hold a gallon or two. I might buy some Styrofoam to make a cover for a single plant grow like a head cabbage. I get a jug every month or so from my neighbors recycle bin. I used some soda bottles and water bottles to grow some extra lettuce seedlings. Having a small salad every other night. Anything that can hold water is an opportunity to grow.
That's awesome! Keep up the great work! I love that you are always willing to try new things and experiment.
Love that rack. I've been working on an idea to do the same thing except with the ability to hang one jug at a time. I realize it will be more expensive, but for some people a 35-40 pound length of jugs can be hard to lift.
I've been kicking this idea around. Anyone else ever put any thought into doing kratky this way?
I grow Kratky all winter and do an outdoor garden in summer. I have grown a little bit of Kratky outside, and a system like this would be ideal for some areas of the outdoor garden.
I'll probably start with a system like this outside, but I'm working on ideas for a similar system I can use inside that only involves lifting 7 or 8 pounds or less. I want my wife to be able to lift the nutrient reservoir jugs. Tomorrow is never guaranteed!
Good thinking. Always room for improvement. With a wood ladder system, you could just set them on top of it and move each one individually.
@@KeepOnGrowin Yep. That was my first thought. Basically like a set of stairs. But I use jugs, so hanging them individually is a good option that I'm hoping to employ while using about the same footprint. Something almost exactly the same as the rack you're showing here except with individual hangers. Probably more expensive to make though. But worth it for some of us older folks. I just hope I'm giving someone an idea. To me this kind of thing is all open source, but the bottom line is availability to those who need the technology.
I love it! Am going to experiment with this method! Thank you!
Nice!! I am replanting mine right now!
Hi, New here. I think I figured out he used Almond milk jugs. Can you use amber glass jugs for this ?
Welcome! Yes, just make sure enough light does not get through to cause an algae problem. They can always be painted or covered.
do start them as seedlngs slips or do you start them as seeds
Mostly I grow microgreens and transplant them.
@@KeepOnGrowin ok because I want to do the bucket tower
@@urbanharvestdfw Just emailed you some info.
Would the 3 bucket tower system, with a pump, work if I use solar power & the pump runs when the sun is out? (We are in California & get no rain in summer).
It would have to be an excellent pump that could not only attain the height you need but also have enough pressure to make it work.
I Just found this Channel. I like the set it and forget it. I want to grow.
Awesome! You are in the right place.
I have some pvc pipe lying around from a previous project. I plan to use that.. for the jugs, i am checking out what dollar tree has that i can substitute..also checking out your master blend. thank you for your very informative videos.
New subscriber now that you've freed me from plugs and pebbles. Have you ever tried germinating the seeds in the hockey pucks directly?
TANSTAAFL when it comes to electricity.
My immediate reaction for the tower was to suggest that you put it on a timer. I doubt you need to have the pump running all the time. The wet pool noodle slices and the inside humidity give you a buffer. Try running it like an ebb and flow system.
I have a water feature in my yard and I don't want to run it when I'm not home. Who wants to run a 1/3 HP motor 24/7? I use a cool gadget from VeSync that is programmable thru wifi. I have it set to run for 30 minutes every 12 hrs to keep the system from getting clogged. You can even set it to turn on at sunset. I can turn the pump on or off manually using my cell phone via Wi-Fi. The VeSync timer costs about $13 or you could use a good old-fashioned analog timer. Having done hydroponics since 2008 I have a whole drawer full of those for indoor lights and ebb & flow and you probably have a few lying around.
That doesn't address the power failure issue though. You'll need some kind of battery backup. I have led lights and a 3 foot fountain that have solar power. The panels charge batteries. Most systems I've seen use a small panel and a couple of rechargeable AA batteries because they're driving low loads. My leds typically dwindle down after a few hours with 3-5 led lights per panel. I doubt you'd be happy with the lift and duration.
You could go off into the weeds with a battery backup with or without solar power but that would be relatively expensive given the initial investment and the goal of the project. Solar is also dependent on sunshine. I have a 1500W battery and two solar panels. It can run my TV and speakers for about 10 hrs and also charge phones and batteries. However, it can take 8 hours or more to recharge with solar panels. If we get several consecutive days of clouds I have to put the TV back on house current or recharge the battery from house current.
Looks like Kratky using the jugs and rack is the way to go for what you're growing.
Do you fill the milk jugs with water all the way to the top?
In the beginning, yes
Mike! Been watching you for a long time. You’re the real deal. We’ve learned so much from you! Keep it up! Set it and forget it for sure!
How did you grow plants with milk jugs on this video?
Holy Cow!! Just found you and I'm hooked. You have so many fabulous video's! I wanted to grow a hydroponic garden for a long time but it was always cost prohibitive. I've grown plants in dirt in buckets but not hydroponics. One quick question, to one who is contemplating hydroponic gardening, and don't laugh, but I have NO idea how to get the seed started as a hydroponic plant.. Please tell me so I can raid my bucket stash and get started in the garage...Thanks for all your video's
I start with my microgreens you see in many of my videos!
Love it
Are there plans on how to make your metal tower?
th-cam.com/video/Z627ntMc1N0/w-d-xo.html
This is just what i was looking for! Thabks for this
Is the 5 gal bucket pump free? How high do we put the nutrients in the container? I've never tried hydroponics
No I bought it on Amazon. The nutrients go in the bottom container. I have a playlist on my channel about how to build the tower.
do you grow anything other than leafy greens?
Yes, but learn that first. Walk before you run.
@@KeepOnGrowin I have a 1000sq ft greenhouse I am already in the deep end of the pool
Like it but - everything I do MUST Abe indoors!
My next project can be indoors if you have supplemental lighting.
In the case of the tower, we could just put the Kratky buckets whit lateral holes stacked. It would be less holes per bucket, but it would still be worth it. Thanks for the video!
Thank you! I am working on that now. Spring should be awesome! Have an fantastic weekend!
Doing some research and the local produce stand said the owner would surely like to buy microgreens but by law it has to be from a business, not just some person in their house. What I didn't find out yet is if it is sufficient to be registered as a business or are there going to be requirements on where the product is grown, i.e. not in a residence. Do you have any knowledge of this subject? I am in FL, thanks.
Check with the Dept of Agriculture. Also, microgreens are easier to sell than sprouts. Sprouts have more potential risk since they are grown in a moist enviroment.
Check with the state cottage laws. Sprouts and micro greens have different requirements. Sprouts are more regulated then micro greens. I live in Florida also. Hope this helps.
Does the water get stagnant without the air flow or a pump? Does bacteria get in there? How often do you have to change the water? I would like to start one but my husband is skeptical about the water conditions and safety without air flow.
Stagnant happens because of decaying material. Fast growing greens will be harvested long before that.
@@KeepOnGrowin thank you very much! That’s reassuring!
wHERE DID YOU GET THE MILK JUGS? GOING TO GET THE MASTER BLEND.
These were from Almond Breeze
HOW DO YOU START YOUR PLANTS. ? I JUST STARTED WATCHING.
th-cam.com/video/ov3y8l2aXCU/w-d-xo.html
❤ all your videos
Mike is one cool cat!
Have you ever tried a solar pump? That way you wouldn't need to turn it on and off. Maybe check every now and then about the roots not clogging it.
It would have to be powerful enough to lift 6' or make a shorter tower. Also may need battery back up for cloudy days.
Going to try the solar pumps this summer. As I saved over winter i bought one. Now I have 5 and need to buy a few more buckets. Experimenting with both kratky and solar this spring. Wish me luck.
@@GardenKatt let us know how it goes with your solar please! :) Wish you well.
I live in Utah, so I would have to do things in the winter indoors. If I have space indoors, would this work?
Can I grow things that I think normally need to grow down? IE potatoes, carrots, Onion, garlic?
Those are possible but tougher, especially indoors.
Could I start them indoors, and then when we get warmer weather put them outside?
@@KeepOnGrowin , sorry if you can see my other question.
I didn't know how to tag you in that question
Love the no power needed
love it.
Thanks!
Thank you! I appreciate it!