Hydroponics ??

[sunflower-n-ks]

Would it work to use a plastic tote or something similar, in the yard, this spring/summer to grow a few plants? I have so many ducks/geese to try to keep out of the garden and am thinking it would be so easy to have a container close to the house and up where they cannot paddle foot the plants to death. As if the plants would even survive long enough for their feet to get to them.

Maybe the deep water method with the plants floating on a raft of some sort and some gold fish swimming below. Any chance of it working?

[TooManyHobbies!]

I think the geese and ducks will just jump right up into the container with your plants, tear up the plants, muddy up the water and spill it out, and eat the goldfish.

You'd have to have some sort of lid that would keep them out, but in that case, your bucket of water would probably get too hot and kill the goldfish, and maybe the plants, too.

Sorry to be such a downer...

[Halfway]

All methods should work well and the larger the rervoir the better. Some simple caging to keep critters where they belong should suffice.

I am expanding hydro to outdoors for some select tomatoes and peppers. It will easily outperform even the best soil mix, but keeping the solution at mid 80s or below seems to be a challenge.

[sunflower-n-ks]

Originally Posted by Halfway

All methods should work well and the larger the rervoir the better. Some simple caging to keep critters where they belong should suffice.

I am expanding hydro to outdoors for some select tomatoes and peppers. It will easily outperform even the best soil mix, but keeping the solution at mid 80s or below seems to be a challenge.

I have a couple of 50 gal totes I am thinking of using. How is the best way of keeping the temps down? Obviously it gets well above 80 here in the summer. Air stone, shade? I think critter control will be easier off the ground with a wire cage type cover over it. Will lettuce, basil, and other veggies do ok in shade or with only morning sun?

[frankva]

How expensive is the mix or do you make your own?

Like for a 50 gallon container, what does it cost to fill with solution?

[lambs.are.cute]

Originally Posted by TooManyHobbies!

get too hot and kill the goldfish

!!!!! How hot does it have to get to kill goldfish? We have some in the stock tank (120 gal) that are out in 100+ weather (not in the sun). Never had a problem during the summer. WOW I had no idea.