Open mike 06/01/2023

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 19 comments
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19 comments on “Open mike 06/01/2023”

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    1. 1.1

      Thanks. The logic of siting solar near existing grid connections is appealing. Article does a wonderful job of exploring all the potential downsides.

  2. 2

    I conducted an experiment this year – I put one hydroponic tomato 🍅 plant on the veranda outside the bedroom. All day sun, all the water and nutrients it needed. So far, this one plant has yielded 200+ tomatoes and looks like another 50 or so to come. Now, the initial cost to set up was $750 so at 75c each not much of a bargain, but it'll scale to four or five plants for only $100 more then annually about $50. The plant is disease free, spray free and yummy. The footprint for five plants won't be much more than 5mx3m and it didn't require much maintenance.

    So if you can scratch up the initial cash, this is a great way to get a ton of tomatoes from even the smallest of spaces.

    1. 2.1

      I did an aquaponic tomato in a prototype system decades back got 200 tomatoes off a plant before Christmas. Hydro's a bit meh in my opinion, but if it tastes good and it works…

      Won't mention the salts solution, and where that ends up.

    2. 2.2

      Another option for tomatoes in a small space, is to put a small hole (60-70mm) in the bottom of a $4 bucket. Plant seedling so it is hanging out the bottom then fill bucket with soil and other goodies. Hang bucket on conveniently placed hook.

      This takes advantage of the vine nature of the tomato.

        1. 2.2.2.1

          It is looking a bit sad now, it was in full pomp about a month ago… The main advantage of this hydroponic solution is the timer means it gets constant watering and, absolutely above all, no chance of viruses which seem to impact tomatoes alot in NZ.

          Buying the kit was hilarious, the dude in the hydroponic shop was astonished when I said I didn't need grow lights as I was growing them outdoors (“novel approach, novel” was his comment) for what he clearly though was going to be "tomatoes" in the sense of not being tomatoes at all, and while I was there I bumped into a senior IT manager from a large corporate who was a client of ours and he was buying a LOT of kit for his clearly extensive "tomato" crop….

          Lots of strenuous and loud discussion of the pitfalls of "hydroponic tomato growing" (and a long lecture on the evils of using chlorinated and floridated tap water for my "tomatoes" from a random odd chap with wild hair and a peculiar dress sense who felt it most important to weigh in with his tuppence worth) went on before we all fled in our different directions in the car park.

          Anyway, I would suspect tomato growers do not make up a large percentage of his clients.

      3. 2.2.3

        I will move the whole kit and caboodle indoors in a few months and buy some grow lights and grow cherry tomatoes through the winter in one of the bedrooms.

      4. 2.2.4

        TYhe only issue with this I think would be the need to consider the ability of your pump to pump the water from the nutrient tank up to the plant – 4-6 metres is actually quite high, and that means an expensive pump.

          1. 2.2.4.1.1

            There is an "A" nutrient and a "B" nutrient (that is how they are sold) used in equal amounts. No idea what is in them, probably something radioactive.

    3. 2.3

      for people without the cash up front, growing in a pot or grow bag is easy in many parts of NZ. Start early with a bought seedling inside, and then you can propagate new plants off the laterals that you have to remove anyway.

      1. 3.1.1

        For what gain?

        "However, airlines have criticised these actions.

        “It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years,” Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said in a statement.

        IATA, which represents 300 airlines accounting for 83 percent of total air traffic, argued that the coronavirus is already circulating widely within the borders of countries imposing the tests.

        “Research undertaken around the arrival of the Omicron variant (in late 2021) concluded that putting barriers in the way of travel made no difference to the peak spread of infections,” Walsh said. – From your link

        "

      1. 4.1.1

        That was great.

        I have just finished a Hank Williams biography, like Margo Price his best songs came from within; "Your Cheating Heart" (as much about him as 'the other'), "There is a Tear in My Beer" "Lovesick Blues".

        It's taken a while for this ex punk enthusiast to realise a good song is a good song.

        Since that ditty was from Third Man Records here is another.

        The less gentle version of this is a banger.

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