May We Begin

It’s still early days at the AutoPot Lifestyle Greenhouse as the season slowly gets underway due to wetter, cooler-than-usual temperatures. Nonetheless, taking a goosey gander at this point affords us an excellent opportunity to understand the setup involved before it all becomes inundated by a sea of greenery. And in a few months we can all look back on the burgeoning plants in this article and say, ‘ah, were they ever that young?!’

We’re running systems inside and outside this year with plenty of new products and techniques deployed. Shall we begin, as all life once did, in the great alfresco?

Tray2Grow Planters

Just outside the greenhouse we’ve arranged three Tray2Grow systems line-astern, all fitted out with 107.5 L / 23.5 gal fabric planters. These have been been connected to a 100L FlexiTank collapsible reservoir for ample watering capacity.

To minimise maintenance a Profilter has been attached to the tap on the FlexiTank. 16mm pipe runs away from the Profilter before splitting off to the individual Tray2Grow systems via 16-9mm reducer fittings and 9mm pipe. This may sound mildly technical but all it requires is straightforward cuts to the pipe and push-fit insertion of fittings during setup.

Don’t know if you’ve noticed but it tends to rain quite a lot in the U.K., summer notwithstanding. You might think that rainwater would cause issues with excess irrigation but happily we’ve got that covered. The Tray2Grow base has an overflow machined into it, ensuring that any surplus is quickly evacuated. All you need to do is remember to remove the overflow plug when using outdoors.

Snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug, the three planters bear two crops apiece. Planter One has sweetcorn plants and carrot seeds, Planter Two has cabbage plants and parsnip seeds, whilst Planter Three has cauliflower plants and beetroot seeds. Plenty enough for a vast and various harvest haul!

Reservoir Heat Shields

As last summer showed, temperatures can get a little silly inside the greenhouse during warm spells. With that in mind we’ve deployed our new Reservoir Heat Shields on the 47L / 12.4 gal tanks that supply water and nutrient solution to the indoor systems.

These slip-on jackets feature a durable, metallic coating that reflects heat away from the reservoir. By doing this it helps to keep water temperatures stable – an essential factor in healthy growth and fruitful harvests. Ideally you should aim for a reservoir water temperature of 18-21°C.

We’re not so avaricious that we won’t share some other tips for keeping your water temps in check. There’s the obvious, such as locating your water storage in a shaded area. You can get makeshift and create your own reservoir wrap using reflective material. For the technical inclined you could employ a water chiller. Or how about some lo-fi ingenuity with sealed 2L bottles of frozen water, periodically swapped in and out as-and-when the last one thaws.

6Pot System

Connected to these reservoirs are a number of systems including a 6Pot comprised of 15L / 3.9 gal modules and a 47L plastic reservoir. This 6Pot has been planted up with Sungold and Sunbaby tomatoes that AutoPot MD Jason Ralph-Smith describes as ‘absolutely prolific’. We very much enjoyed the cultural diversity of hierloom varieties in the greenhouse last year but are looking forward to the promise of these more fruitful tomatoes this time around.

To better manage the tomato vines Jason has taken two heads on each plant. These heads are running up strings which are attached to ceiling-mounted tension rollers. The sky (or more accurately the ceiling) is the limit!

easy2grow 6

Swing lo, easy2grow chariot, coming forth to carry strawb’s home. On the opposite side of the greenhouse to the 6Pot we have an easy2grow 6 (essentially a easy2grow Kit with 2x easy2grow Extensions added) planted up with strawberries. This is the perfect choice for such plants as its low profile 8.5 L / 2.2 gal pots provide just the right mix of support, space, and accessibility. It looks like a lovely little train.

This particular setup has just two plants per pot but should you wish to increase capacity its easily done using our Strawberry Toppers. These collars fit onto the tops of the pots and allow you to lie your strawberry plants side-on. Foliage grows up and fruits hang low for ease of plant care and picking – ideal for modules on elevated racking.

Propagation

As well being a powerhouse of root veg production Tray2Grow is excellent for propagation, which is good because that’s exactly what we’re using it for in the greenhouse! The same plants that are now in the outdoor planters were first fed and watered on Tray2Grow units positioned on indoor shelves.

We’re continuing to use the greenhouse Tray2Grows for microherbs, more tests with our lettuce cultivator, and seed germination on silicone mesh. This last prospect is yet another tilt at mess-free, media-free gardening. The aim is not to supplant soil, coco, or any other such media. It’s just to provide quick and easy options for those who’ve not the space for bags of substrate and the attendant hassle they can create.

For the mesh trial the Tray2Grow has been set up in capillary mat configuration. Arranged thus, the capillary mat is placed onto the tray and contacts with the water beneath. A root control sheet sits atop the capillary mat. Topmost is the silicone mesh – laid directly onto the root control sheet. Seeds have been scattered onto the silicone sheet and a Tray2Grow microherb training tray has been used as a blackout lid to aid humidity. Let’s see what emerges from this dark primordial lair!

Because he’s got a smartphone and he’s not afraid to use it, Jason will be bringing you developments on a weekly-or-thereabouts basis. Witness his triumphs, tears, and interminable tinkering @autopot_global and @autopotsystems!