I need a favor!

[Worth1]

I need a favor from anyone that hasn't started seeds yet, (can you hear me up north)?

What I would like if it isn't any trouble is for someone to document how much water they use from the time the seeds sprout till the time of plant out.
And how often they water the time between the watering and so forth.

With this information I would be able to automate a system to sprout seeds and keep them alive while I was gone.
I would need temps and how much water at each watering and what the set up is you would be using.

The more information I can get will allow me to punch it in and maybe make this work.


Worth

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I need a favor from anyone that hasn't started seeds yet, (can you hear me up north)?

What I would like if it isn't any trouble is for someone to document how much water they use from the time the seeds sprout till the time of plant out.
And how often they water the time between the watering and so forth.

With this information I would be able to automate a system to sprout seeds and keep them alive while I was gone.
I would need temps and how much water at each watering and what the set up is you would be using.

The more information I can get will allow me to punch it in and maybe make this work.


Worth

I can hear you loud and clear! And I'm assuming we're talking tomato seeds -- right?

I won't be starting mine until the end of March, but I can set up a table for tracking data on and try (emphasis on try, because I often get sidetracked and forget to keep records) to get you some data.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

I can hear you loud and clear! And I'm assuming we're talking tomato seeds -- right?

I won't be starting mine until the end of March, but I can set up a table for tracking data on and try (emphasis on try, because I often get sidetracked and forget to keep records) to get you some data.

Yes tomato and pepper seeds.

Thank you.
What ever data is missing I can just average it out.

Worth

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Yes tomato and pepper seeds.

Thank you.
What ever data is missing I can just average it out.

Worth

Well then, since I just started my peppers yesterday, I better get going on that data collection sheet!

[Worth1]

Thanks.

Before I leave again I am going to put some pepper seeds out in the garden under each drippier and see what happens this year.

Worth

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I need a favor from anyone that hasn't started seeds yet, (can you hear me up north)?

What I would like if it isn't any trouble is for someone to document how much water they use from the time the seeds sprout till the time of plant out.
And how often they water the time between the watering and so forth.

With this information I would be able to automate a system to sprout seeds and keep them alive while I was gone.
I would need temps and how much water at each watering and what the set up is you would be using.

The more information I can get will allow me to punch it in and maybe make this work.


Worth

Wouldn't the relative humidity make a big difference?

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by Tracydr

Wouldn't the relative humidity make a big difference?

Okay, I'll add a column for that as well.

[rwsacto]

How about setting up a shallow flood and drain basin on a timer for bottom watering? Let them drink all they want every other day or so.

Rick

[FarmerShawn]

Originally Posted by rwsacto

How about setting up a shallow flood and drain basin on a timer for bottom watering? Let them drink all they want every other day or so.

Rick

I was going to suggest something similar. That's basically how I water when I'm around. If you could figure out how to do it without your direct input you'd have it made. As long as it drains, there's no danger of overwatering.

[Worth1]

No matter how you guys do it post it if you please.
We will consider this a think tank, that is how things get done.
I have many options to consider and testing to be done between now and next year.
What is not an option is get a friend or neighbor.


Worth

[clkeiper]

This would also depend on the ambient air temperature and the type of media used to grow the plants in, too. There are going to be a lot of factors influencing just how much water and and how often they need it.
Have you looked at the OARDC's ( www.oardc.org.edu ) web site? they might have a lot of the information you are seeking. Every year is going to have different statistics, too and if they have this kind of information recorded there would be several years worth of data..

This sounds like an interesting project. How do northern statistics help you there? or is this not being used for where you are? Our environmental influence would be very different from yours. What about a soil moisture monitor/sensor? that is automated for coming on and turning off according to the sensor? But an ebb and flow system sounds the easiest to work with.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

This would also depend on the ambient air temperature and the type of media used to grow the plants in, too. There are going to be a lot of factors influencing just how much water and and how often they need it.
Have you looked at the OARDC's ( www.oardc.org.edu ) web site? they might have a lot of the information you are seeking. Every year is going to have different statistics, too and if they have this kind of information recorded there would be several years worth of data..

This sounds like an interesting project. How do northern statistics help you there? or is this not being used for where you are? Our environmental influence would be very different from yours. What about a soil moisture monitor/sensor? that is automated for coming on and turning off according to the sensor? But an ebb and flow system sounds the easiest to work with.

Carolyn I figure since the seeds will be started in the house there wouldn't be that much difference in growing conditions.

I do know some guys at work that start tomatoes from seeds, they are my age and real pros.
One is one week off from my schedule and he is one of the best.

An idea would be to sprout and grow the seedlings at work and hand carry them back on the plane.
That way the most crucial period of growing would be monitored by a person.
That will still leave me with one week without human care.
I need to find another person to take up the slack for that one week.

I could start the seeds about 4 or 5 days from going to work carry them to work let them stay up there and go home .
Come back to work stay for 2 weeks and carry them home.
Once at home I would then need the automated system to care for them while I am gone.
That would be a little over 6 weeks from seed plant to transplant or i could squeeze it to 4 weeks if I started them up there.

If they were started in some custom made starting trays I could get away with about 50 cells or plants.
They would make quite the conversation piece on the plane.

Worth

[kurt]

I in the recent past put in a complete wireless camera system hooked to hurricane shutters,door locks,windows etc.All of this goes thru a monitoring system with our Comcast Internet provider and I have access thru a laptop/Ipad combo.I could see a same selonoid that controls the shutters(wireless,electronic motor)controlling some switch for a mini pump(timer also).Naturally throw in a simple 12volt(two car batterys)as a back up in case of a power failure.All this could be controlled via a joystick type control remotely.

Using a aquarium pump(low voltage)some wifi cameras,drainage system and a decent lighting system you could be good to go with some of these contraptions.

http://www.amazon.com/YW-Wireless-El...rds=wifi+timer

https://www.controlanything.com/

[Dutch]

Worth check this out.
Homemade fill and drain.

[AlittleSalt]

Worth, yeah Grow your own. Automated sounds really interesting and innovative. I'll PM you a different idea or two in a few days. Right now, I can't.