Hydroponic Lettuce - Seed to Harvest Speedrun

[@Bryazv]

By far the best speedrun I've witnessed! 😂

[@JimmyBHarvests]

😂 🙏🙏

[@Scare_D_Cat]

What a great feeling to know you are growing your own food. Looks so fresh!! 👍 nice job!!

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Thanks 🙀🙀🙀!

[@Tutkanator]

Was looking forward to seeing how your outdoor garden turned out so I came here to get some gardening goodness in the meanwhile

[@JimmyBHarvests]

🙏🙏 the growing season is wrapping up for me now should be able to get the raised bed recap together soon!

[@AvinashKulkarni-k7y]

Love the idea of Germination in the Ice Cube tray. Just one question, Can we use the nutrition water from the beginning ?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

You can / i have. Its worked pretty fine. I have seen people talk of nutrient burn issues though if you feed too much, too fast. Seedlings will grow great for 2-3 weeks without any nutrients, just water.

[@Socialine-mz3xi]

Oh how I💝 your channel, just discovered it. May I ask you: - Did you ever tried cotton balls for the seeds? - How to controle the water level using painted jars? - Can I use cotton wicks for contact with water? - Which temperatures do your plant nursery 😊 room has? Thank you for your beautiful YT channel and greetings from the Netherlands 👋

[@discourius26]

As far as your questions go, and no I am not JimmyB. I check these channels to see people's ideas. I've tried cotton balls and have had great success with germinating on cotton balls, but you also had to be mindful of what medium you are going to step up to. I don't plan on using cotton balls in the future, but if I did I would surround it with clay pebbles, especially on top as I had a huge bloom of algae on some of mine. With painted jar, you use the net cups so you can lift up the pot to see where the level is. The goal is to refill leaving some space between the bottom of the net cup to provide the air gap for the air roots. Also with painted jars, I've seen people tape a vertical strip and then paint. It leaves a clear strip to check the water and doesn't need to be wide at all. Just keep the strip away from the light source. If you work overhead lights just place a wider piece of masking over it and check it periodically. I've only used cotton wicks once and that was growing cucumbers Kratky style in huge barrels. I used a 50/50 Coco Coir Perlite mix and just planted the seed, which is why I used the wick. A few days later I put another plant in my 4th hole on the bucket and forgot the wick, and didn't really notice the difference it the water absorption of the cocoa/perlite substrate. All four plants germinated fine. I really can't answer from his set up on temperature, but when I start seeds like he did I do use a dome and it is always warm inside. Definitely warmer than the room temperature they are physically located in. But afterwards lettuce is pretty hardy and grows fine in room temperatures 70 to 80, which is the range my wife keeps that room fluctuating at throughout the year. The trickiest thing I've fund with lettuce is how quick they do get leggy, especially if you use a grow light. You want the light close enough so your plants don't start to chase it, but if you run a warmer led set up then you don't want them close enough where you will burn the plants.

[@Socialine-mz3xi]

@@discourius26 Thank you 👍 Meanwhile: After no success with A) an expensive paint usable for glass (flaking and peeling more and more by time) and B) with an investment in a package of black XXXL socks (still too tight for handling the water control w/out splashing the kitchen), I've knitted sleeves in an dense and fitting style and it finally works. 😁😆 Thanks again. Happy gardening. All the best. 👋

[@vincentpcappello4512]

Great info thanks

[@madzen112]

Ice cube trays are a really great idea for germinating seeds! I've been using cut off toilet and kitchen rolls as well, there's lots of options. 🤔💡🙂

[@67-Mustang]

Very interesting. Do you grow all of your vegetables ? What else can be grown this way ? What about homes with no sunlight at all? What should we use ?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Artificial light will grow stuff just as well. In this exact set up with jars I have grown lettuce varieties , kale, bush beans, basil. Bigger plants need bigger reservoirs like a big bucket for tomatoes, peppers, etc.

[@Jesperthansen81]

@@JimmyBHarvestsdo you start all type of seeds like that…??

[@osmmanipadmehum]

is it necessary to take all the leaves? doesnt it continue to grow if you take only one for example?

[@stevepethel6843]

If you started with a doublle sized container would that eliminate topping off low levels of water? Thanks for great inspiring honest pure videos.❤😂

[@shawnleighton199]

In other videos and classes I was under the impression that you could cut and continue to grow lettuce versus getting just one harvest? Myt notes state that you could cull lettuce aroudn 4 - 6 times before needing a new plant. Your thoughts

[@JimmyBHarvests]

The 'cut and come again' method is pretty popular with lettuce. Works decently in my experience. Just grab a few leaves and the plant will keep on growing. At some point the plant will start to 'bolt' and prepare to make seeds/die. The leaves get kind of bitter as this occurs. I haven't specifically tested how much more lettuce you may get by doing that, but it wasn't difficult to do. Time and place for both harvesting methods is would think!

[@alfadog67]

Nice video! Thanks for the reinforcement! I'm trying to get my lettuce seedlings running - again, and I'm trying the ice tray trick with small bits of rockwool. I'm curious... why not put your ice cube tray at the bottom of the tupperware instead of suspended, and just keep the bottom full? We only need to suspend it if we're trying to grow roots out the bottom, right?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Yea sounds like that could work alright. You just need the rockwool to have constant access to water. Im assuming suspending them makes it easier for roots to spread out underneath, but i dont know if thats a fact. Best of luck with your plants!!

[@ThorWithHammer68]

Good, thx . Yeah I've seen no difference in root growth when cutted 30 angles

[@bencezarellano1165]

Whats that round one he used

[@hoarmike1]

Do the stalks produce more after you’ve harvested?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Not if you just chop them like i did in this video. If you remove a few leaves at a time the plant will continue to grow more leaves. This is often called the 'cut and come again' method.

[@megalepivolos]

excellent video

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Thanks as always my man hope youre doing well!! 🙏🙏

[@megalepivolos]

@@JimmyBHarvests everything goes up and the madness does not stop.I dont get it my friend try to stay strong and possitive there is a lot of shit coming our way

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Tough times for sure. 'Stay strong and positive' just like you said thats the key. This too shall pass.

[@malk6277]

As always, really great video! So surprising to realize your total time invested ended up being under an hour! I'm looking at making a hydroponic batch in a tote, with water then nutrient solution sprayed on the roots via a pump... but I don't like that this relies on power, and a fallible water pump. Do you have any experience using worm casting tea as your nutrient solution for this sort of thing? All the best man. I truly appreciate your channel.

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Thanks Malk, greatly appreciated! I started out very similar to what your describing- building an aeroponics setup in a tote. It was a lot of fun to design and build. Ive since transitioned to the jars because they are silent, energy-free, and theres never an issue where the pump stops working. Just seems easier and sometimes simple is better. With lettuce in particular a small jar works just fine in my experience. No experience with worm castings but I've read some good things. Best of luck with whatever you pursue bro keep me posted!

[@malk6277]

@@JimmyBHarvests Thanks Jimmy - great to get that validation. Since I already have the makings of it, I might try the pump version out, with intermittent spraying for 5 seconds perhaps every 5 minutes. That should keep the power use down and spare the pump too much wear. But I agree - simpler is probably better. I'll try to remember to drop you a message once I've done a run with worm casting tea! All the best!

[@GodsChild145]

I’ve tried it SEVERAL ways and I’ve found the BEST way is to do the Kratky method, so no pumps etc do only 1 head of lettuce per net cup doesn’t matter what size it is and if you give it 1/2 gallon to 1 gallon per lettuce 🥬 example 4 in a 4 gallon tote you don’t have to mess with the water at all and they grow way bigger!!! Also it’s best to just straight up start the seeds in the net cups so you don’t have to move them. Easiest nutrients are either Aerogarden brand OR Fox Farm grow Big, MaxiGrow or Dyna Grow formulas with only 600-800 ppm only added to the water after they have the first set of true leaves, you won’t have to change the water or anything, if you do use 1/2 gallon per lettuce plant and you do have to add water then you don’t have to add nutrients again just straight water that’s pH balanced. Also the lettuce grows way bigger if using a tote instead of mason jars. Make sure the tote you use is dark colored to prevent algae which throws off your pH levels. I’ve tried this MULTIPLE ways and this is my tried and true best method. Also make sure your light is at least 25 watts and keep it a few inches about the lettuce, if using more watts then keep it further away. Also this can be done outside as well but then you could get pests in it.

[@malk6277]

@@GodsChild145 Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@bhsbass]

Do you use pH meter and EC meter?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Yes! With these specific nutrients its usually redundant as these will self balance. Great to have meters to check your reservoirs in most applications though

[@zazaaaaaaaa333]

Hi there! In general how often should you add nutrients ?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

It will vary quite a bit throughout the life of the plant- as they get larger they will use the water/nutrients faster. Its best to look at your reservoirs every couple days and top them up as they need it. The plants should always have some water and ideally should always have about an inch or so of roots above the water, exposed to air

[@mattm5696]

Should I just grow one seed for Arugula also? It is a smaller plant.

[@JimmyBHarvests]

1 plant per cup with arugula is optimal imo

[@ANJH1106]

This is cool but most folks forget the live side of nutrients use latic bacilous an your overall quality will increase

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Will definitely look into that, thanks for sharing!

[@mikestanger4205]

good video give this a like

[@cannabis1014]

What's the name of the growing cube thing?

[@KoricTheBrave]

Rockwool probably. Looks like it is. It's a medium used for germinating seeds.

[@cannabis1014]

@@KoricTheBrave ty

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Yep, rockwool. Grodan was the brand I used, but I believe there's a few out there

[@alphaomega8373]

I like the blue and pink. Reminds me of Smurfette.

[@JimmyBHarvests]

😂😂 perfect

[@heybriaan]

Can you do a strawberry via Kratky hydroponics?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Definitely want to give strawberries a try! Thanks for sharing

[@mememe84]

What is the missing ingredient for hydroponics that is not present in soil and aquaponics fertilisers? I heard hydroponic need special fertiliser not off the shelf organic liquid fertiliser

[@JimmyBHarvests]

Im not entirely sure. I think most 'normal' fertilizers are just meant to supplement soil, not replace it?

[@tombryant4518]

Hydroponic nutrients are chelated to be immediately plant available. Microbes in the soil break down and chelate the nutrients and then give them to the plants in trade for sugar. Aquaponics is a totally different game due to the waste from the fish being used as food for plants, but not giving them enough of what they need. So, you need to feed the plants, but be careful not to feed them stuff that’s harmful to the fish. Using a dual rootzone system is ideal in aquaponics because the fish give the plants the bulk of their meat and potatoes, while the soil supplies the micronutrients, minerals, and whatever else they need. Different crops have different nutritional needs of course, and knowing how everything all works together is the key to success! Growing With Fishes is an excellent podcast to listen to and get free information on the world of aquaponics.

[@mememe84]

@@tombryant4518 thanks!

[@tombryant4518]

@@mememe84 Anytime!

[@SuperUnknown-y3h]

Cheap fertilizer does not have calcium and magnesium

[@mattm5696]

After your Harvest of lettice, Will they grow anymore or is that it?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

If you only cut a few leaves at a time the lettuce will continue to grow. If you hack them like i did in this video, they will not.

[@ASYLUM_fz]

Where do you buy your cannabis seeds

[@JimmyBHarvests]

OCS.ca - I'm in Ontario, Canada and that is our regulatory body / distributor

[@Ssc839]

What about PH?

[@Eldrad235]

Hey Jimmy im trying to get a hold of you for a partnership how do I reach out to you?

[@JimmyBHarvests]

[e-mail]

[@madzen112]

Assumed you were going to invite your friends over for hamburgers 🙂