I`m on disability with no transportation in very rural Louisiana. Gonna try growing potatoes indoors with lights. I just bought six 5 gallon food grade buckets with lids for storing some rice and lentils but I`m thinking of using some for indoor growing. I`m planning to invent a way to grow potatoes in large totes using hydroponic solution for feeding/watering. I was thinking a layer of clay beads in the bottom of a tote with water pumped through it will work if I can shield the developing potatoes from light somehow. I have multiple ideas and nothing but time to figure it out. Your way may be the best but I plan to do some brainstorming. I`ve seen potatoes we had stored under a trailer send out runners to the light and potatoes grew on top of the ground in the dark, so this gave me the idea that maybe they can grow in air if the feeder roots get fed. I bought 6 tabletop hydro gardens for fresh leaf lettuce like butterhead, herbs, and other greens, and they work extremely well. When I heard about a possible fertilizer shortage I bought enough nutrients for over 3000 plants but it was under 100 dollars. But right afterward one type I bought doubled in price. I`m moving into a camper as soon as they get utilities connected and the first project is two indoor yellow squash plants in my buckets using hydroponic solution. I have some nice grow lights.
We get scab in the ground here. And on my apple trees. I can treat with chemicals (organic when I can ) but those should be fine to eat as scab usually doesn't affect taste(at least here in my garden tests it hasn't lol). They just are not pretty and I cut all the peel/skin off. Oops I forgot what I used its an organic fungicide with mostly sulfur in it.
Nice video, looks like good progress, especially with getting a good yield under 24hr lights. Would a moisture meter of some sort help? For instance you could cover the substrate if it's too dry and uncover it if it's too wet and that would give you some control over stabilising it.
Hey, air inject the entire thing, keep the tubers fairly wet tthe whole time. You know there is enough water when you see some bubbles on top of the soil. You will have the biggest potatoes you have ever seen and tons of them. Don’t ever drain it, keep it so it’s bubbling on top the whole time, and do the 24 hour photo cycle. Trust me bro, I promise you will have some great content. Massive potatoes. You’re welcome
I haven't tried it yet, but I have used grow bags in a shallow pool of water outside (not hydroponic). It does pretty good. So when I try hydroponic potatoes I plan to try some kind of wicking system first.
I'm not sure NFT would work well for taters. I'd try drip irrigation similar to a flood and drain system but without the flooding, just let it drip down into the DWC with the air stone
We actually tried this! Unfortunately, the growing conditions were so perfect that the plants produced massive vines (>8 ft/>2.4 m) and didn't bother investing in any tubers...
I don't know a lot about potatoes exccpt they are getting expensive here lol. I didn't know scabbing was from dry soil. That is interesting. You may want to watch Dr. Kratky growing potatoes. He does it in a similar way. Except he puts about a foot of mulch on top. I'm guessing it is to keep the moisture in the growing medium. He does outdoor in Hawaii.
Yeah, I'm familiar with Dr Kratky's work. Absolutely fascinating stuff. This method sounds an awful lot like that invented by W. F. Gerike (there's a video about him on this channel) back in the 1920s!
Peace! A couple of kilos is impressive. You didn't mention how you were planning to cook the potatoes, I vote for mashed. I appreciate the videos, I get to skip all the hard work and just observe the results. NFT, eh? I don't think I've seen an NFT potato growing system, that would be interesting. Big thumbs up, looking forward to the next batch.
Hi Dom - great video! A bit late to the party but hey! A few questions. What was your newts that you used? Just veg or mixture of veg and bloom? Was it hydroponic ready made or home made? Also when you planted the OG tuber did you put it right at the bottom of the top tub? I'm interested as to how the roots went down to the newt solution. Thanks mate!
Hi! Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm not 100% sure now, but I think I just used some ready-made cannabis veg nutes. I know I had to buy two-bottle pack, but I think veg nutes have to be kept in two parts before use to prevent (and I'm guessing here) the iron complexes from chelating. The mother (actually, I prefer OG 🤣) tuber was planted about half way down in the substrate. I could have planted it lower, but I was worried about the sprouts not being able to emerge as I had some rather old seed. At some point, I'd like to do an experiment to test the yield differences between planting depths and variations of hilling-up, so stay tuned if you're interested!
Would hydroton be a better substrate? It can be kept slightly damp without any risk of swamping and as it's a looser medium it won't compact, which fixes the concerns about developing an anoxic environment.
It may well be. My only concern would be if the tubers would come out slightly misshapen. I've been busy with my main PhD experiments, but I hope to do some more hydroponics over the winter...
If you watch my first video on the system (entitled "Experimental Setup"), you'll see exactly how the spuds were supplied with water. Drip irrigation would likely have prevented the scab, but wouldn't fit in with the more passive system I wanted to try.
very cool thanks for sharing I wanted to ask with regards to the nutrients what did you use and at what grams im intrested in the science of this thanks again
Hi Kenneth and thanks for watching. I ended up using a two-part liquid nutrient solution designed for cannabis vegetative growth. I think the brand was "Dutch Pro". I can't remember exactly how much I used (bad science, I know), but I know I would have stuck to the bottle's recommendation. I changed the solution out every few weeks to prevent any nutrients that the plant wasn't taking-up from accumulating to toxic levels. Hope that helps!
Can you share the relative size of containers ? Is this something that you built ? Can you let us know where you got those two containers - the reservoir and the potato growth stack container - from ?
All the info about the setup is in an older video, but the top box is 15 litres, the bottom box is 30 litres, and you can get them from anywhere that sells euroboxes. 👍
I grow my seedlings in those stacked euroboxes. The bottom one has the nutrient solution, the top one has coco+perlite and 1-2 8mm holes for a glassfiber wick or a stripe of capillary mat to transport the water upwards. Do you water your coco just in the beginning and afterwards the system becomes kratky with the roots in the nutrient solution?
Very cool. I sporadically watered the top chamber, but only when I thought it looked very dry. Effectively all of the water used by the plant was pulled up from the bottom chamber (or as near as makes no difference). It's not technically Kratky though (which didn't work the first time around) as there's an airstone in the bottom chamber to aerate the roots.
can you tell me how many watts your LED light used when growing these potatoes under constant lighting? Also, how close did you put the light to the top of the plant? thanks
The lights weren't LEDs, they were HPSL. Not sure on the wattage as they've been at the university longer than any of the staff and all the info has peeled off or faded away! 😅
Hi! No, I didn't unfortunately. I suspect the system was a lot less power-efficient than it could have been as my university (for the time being) still uses high-pressure sodium lamps rather than LEDs. It would be interesting to find out though.
I`m on disability with no transportation in very rural Louisiana. Gonna try growing potatoes indoors with lights. I just bought six 5 gallon food grade buckets with lids for storing some rice and lentils but I`m thinking of using some for indoor growing. I`m planning to invent a way to grow potatoes in large totes using hydroponic solution for feeding/watering. I was thinking a layer of clay beads in the bottom of a tote with water pumped through it will work if I can shield the developing potatoes from light somehow. I have multiple ideas and nothing but time to figure it out. Your way may be the best but I plan to do some brainstorming.
I`ve seen potatoes we had stored under a trailer send out runners to the light and potatoes grew on top of the ground in the dark, so this gave me the idea that maybe they can grow in air if the feeder roots get fed. I bought 6 tabletop hydro gardens for fresh leaf lettuce like butterhead, herbs, and other greens, and they work extremely well. When I heard about a possible fertilizer shortage I bought enough nutrients for over 3000 plants but it was under 100 dollars. But right afterward one type I bought doubled in price.
I`m moving into a camper as soon as they get utilities connected and the first project is two indoor yellow squash plants in my buckets using hydroponic solution. I have some nice grow lights.
My favorite beginner plant. You don't even have to go to the nursery. A great teachers
Hilling is a mostly archaic activity but it still has the benefit of cooling down the roots at the bottom. Potatoe roots like it below 67 degrees.
You are a pioneer. I can see a cultivation like this on Mars
Good work! Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. Looks like you are getting close to a good method.
We get scab in the ground here. And on my apple trees.
I can treat with chemicals (organic when I can ) but those should be fine to eat as scab usually doesn't affect taste(at least here in my garden tests it hasn't lol). They just are not pretty and I cut all the peel/skin off.
Oops I forgot what I used its an organic fungicide with mostly sulfur in it.
Nice video, looks like good progress, especially with getting a good yield under 24hr lights.
Would a moisture meter of some sort help? For instance you could cover the substrate if it's too dry and uncover it if it's too wet and that would give you some control over stabilising it.
It would indeed. I have some on the way for my next experiment!
Hey, air inject the entire thing, keep the tubers fairly wet tthe whole time. You know there is enough water when you see some bubbles on top of the soil. You will have the biggest potatoes you have ever seen and tons of them. Don’t ever drain it, keep it so it’s bubbling on top the whole time, and do the 24 hour photo cycle. Trust me bro, I promise you will have some great content. Massive potatoes. You’re welcome
I'll give it a try!
@@DominicHill I can’t wait to watch the video.
I haven't tried it yet, but I have used grow bags in a shallow pool of water outside (not hydroponic). It does pretty good. So when I try hydroponic potatoes I plan to try some kind of wicking system first.
Sounds interesting, let me know how it goes!
I'm not sure NFT would work well for taters. I'd try drip irrigation similar to a flood and drain system but without the flooding, just let it drip down into the DWC with the air stone
We actually tried this! Unfortunately, the growing conditions were so perfect that the plants produced massive vines (>8 ft/>2.4 m) and didn't bother investing in any tubers...
I don't know a lot about potatoes exccpt they are getting expensive here lol. I didn't know scabbing was from dry soil. That is interesting. You may want to watch Dr. Kratky growing potatoes. He does it in a similar way. Except he puts about a foot of mulch on top. I'm guessing it is to keep the moisture in the growing medium. He does outdoor in Hawaii.
Yeah, I'm familiar with Dr Kratky's work. Absolutely fascinating stuff. This method sounds an awful lot like that invented by W. F. Gerike (there's a video about him on this channel) back in the 1920s!
Peace! A couple of kilos is impressive. You didn't mention how you were planning to cook the potatoes, I vote for mashed. I appreciate the videos, I get to skip all the hard work and just observe the results. NFT, eh? I don't think I've seen an NFT potato growing system, that would be interesting. Big thumbs up, looking forward to the next batch.
Thanks dude. I enjoy making them! The NFT system is rather ambitious and has already resulted in me losing a nail...
Fascinating!!
Lady Rosetta or rock star???
Desirée
Hi Dom - great video! A bit late to the party but hey! A few questions. What was your newts that you used? Just veg or mixture of veg and bloom? Was it hydroponic ready made or home made? Also when you planted the OG tuber did you put it right at the bottom of the top tub? I'm interested as to how the roots went down to the newt solution. Thanks mate!
Hi! Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm not 100% sure now, but I think I just used some ready-made cannabis veg nutes. I know I had to buy two-bottle pack, but I think veg nutes have to be kept in two parts before use to prevent (and I'm guessing here) the iron complexes from chelating.
The mother (actually, I prefer OG 🤣) tuber was planted about half way down in the substrate. I could have planted it lower, but I was worried about the sprouts not being able to emerge as I had some rather old seed.
At some point, I'd like to do an experiment to test the yield differences between planting depths and variations of hilling-up, so stay tuned if you're interested!
Would hydroton be a better substrate? It can be kept slightly damp without any risk of swamping and as it's a looser medium it won't compact, which fixes the concerns about developing an anoxic environment.
It may well be. My only concern would be if the tubers would come out slightly misshapen. I've been busy with my main PhD experiments, but I hope to do some more hydroponics over the winter...
been through your vids, how did you irrigate, would a drip irrigation have prevented the scabs? is there another vid on the set up you used
If you watch my first video on the system (entitled "Experimental Setup"), you'll see exactly how the spuds were supplied with water. Drip irrigation would likely have prevented the scab, but wouldn't fit in with the more passive system I wanted to try.
very cool thanks for sharing I wanted to ask with regards to the nutrients what did you use and at what grams im intrested in the science of this thanks again
Hi Kenneth and thanks for watching. I ended up using a two-part liquid nutrient solution designed for cannabis vegetative growth. I think the brand was "Dutch Pro". I can't remember exactly how much I used (bad science, I know), but I know I would have stuck to the bottle's recommendation. I changed the solution out every few weeks to prevent any nutrients that the plant wasn't taking-up from accumulating to toxic levels. Hope that helps!
Can you share the relative size of containers ? Is this something that you built ? Can you let us know where you got those two containers - the reservoir and the potato growth stack container - from ?
All the info about the setup is in an older video, but the top box is 15 litres, the bottom box is 30 litres, and you can get them from anywhere that sells euroboxes. 👍
@@DominicHill Many thanks
I grow my seedlings in those stacked euroboxes. The bottom one has the nutrient solution, the top one has coco+perlite and 1-2 8mm holes for a glassfiber wick or a stripe of capillary mat to transport the water upwards. Do you water your coco just in the beginning and afterwards the system becomes kratky with the roots in the nutrient solution?
Very cool. I sporadically watered the top chamber, but only when I thought it looked very dry. Effectively all of the water used by the plant was pulled up from the bottom chamber (or as near as makes no difference). It's not technically Kratky though (which didn't work the first time around) as there's an airstone in the bottom chamber to aerate the roots.
when did you plant and harvest?
Planted around the beginning of Feb and harvested on 5th May.
can you tell me how many watts your LED light used when growing these potatoes under constant lighting? Also, how close did you put the light to the top of the plant? thanks
The lights weren't LEDs, they were HPSL. Not sure on the wattage as they've been at the university longer than any of the staff and all the info has peeled off or faded away! 😅
As for the distance, they were about a meter away. The plants would get too hot under HPSL of they were any closer.
@@DominicHill - thanks for sharing.. I've also been looking into how to grow potatoes using no sun or soil.
Don 👍
Hi, did you measure how much power you u used?
Hi! No, I didn't unfortunately. I suspect the system was a lot less power-efficient than it could have been as my university (for the time being) still uses high-pressure sodium lamps rather than LEDs. It would be interesting to find out though.
@@DominicHill maybe next time ;-)
Will come back with some agronomist thoughts later but for now you are going to have to learn how to write backwards on the blackboard
Hi K, I got a notification that you'd made another comment but I can't see it now..?