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Have a great invention to help with gardening? Are you the self-reliant type that prefers Building It Yourself vs. buying it? Share and discuss your ideas and projects with other members.

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Old February 17, 2019   #1
Tomzhawaii
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Default Nutrient film technique rail system

Aloha,
So my space is very small. I tried using 4" downspouts , it cannot be cleaned good enough. So after checking some premade systems. I decided to make my own.
I chose 5" vinyl fence posts. The plus is the endcaps. Since they need to be able to be cleaned, I cut them lenthwise. Put some 2 5/8 holes on the topside and 1" drainholes.
Here is what it looks like
Tom
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Old February 17, 2019   #2
Cole_Robbie
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Neat! I like those rails, too. I had an aquaponics planter on my deck made from them. The hard part for me was keeping the water cool enough for my fish in the reservoir
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Old February 17, 2019   #3
Tomzhawaii
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Another shot.
I love how fast lettuce will grow.
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Old February 17, 2019   #4
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Nice
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Old February 17, 2019   #5
shatbox
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I've been thinking of putting something like that together. Great job and please keep posting
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Old February 17, 2019   #6
Tomzhawaii
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Thanks,
I started using a downspout and a small fountain pump, pool noodle and a micro towel.
Popped in some lettuce seeds and watched lettuce growing enough for a salad in 15 days.
I think any basic liquid nutrient at 1/2 strength will work.
Good luck and get ready for a new addiction.
Tom
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Old February 18, 2019   #7
shatbox
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what's the pool noodle and micro towel for?
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Old February 18, 2019   #8
Tomzhawaii
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Default Seed holders

Quote:
Originally Posted by shatbox View Post
what's the pool noodle and micro towel for?
I happened to see a video of someone chopping up a pool noodle to hold a plant upright. And a T'villan righand uses microfibre towels to wick water in buckets of giant tomato plants.
I cut the towels into 1x4 inch strips roll them up stick em inside a 2 inch piece of noodle. Put the whole thing into the rail, enough to touch the water inside. Put a seed in center and there you go. The awesome part is the towel holds water great , the roots can actually grow through the towel. This combination works really good for starting any seeds . And when transplanting it will not disturb the roots. Just dig a hole, put em in and again there you go. Viola
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Old February 24, 2019   #9
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Default Cabbage & Manoa lettuce

Getting ready to pluck these so I can install my new system.
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Old February 24, 2019   #10
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Mine would be ate up with holes by now.

Looks nice.
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