indoorgardeningexpo.com
VANCOUVER
BC, CANADA MAy 14-15 JUly 16-17SAN FRANCiSCO
CAliFORNiA, USA OCtOBER 22-23lONg BEACh
CAliFORNiA, USABoosting the
Bloom
2011
iNDOOR gARDENiNg ExpO
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3 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
5 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
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9 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10
From the Editor12
Letters to the Editor14
MaximumYield.com20
Simon Says22
MAX Facts32
Product Spotlight76
Beginner’s Corner90
Avant-Gardening110
Tips and Tricks122
Green Thumb Gardening126
Growing for Health136
You Tell Us162
Talking Shop166
Max Mart170
Coming up in May171
Do You Know?172
DistributorsApril 2011
CONTENTS
78
46
Boosting the Bloomby Lee McCall
56
Growing Japaneseby Dr. Lynette Morgan
68
Strong Stems, Healthy Plantsby Matt LeBannister
78
Are You Ready for 4G Acceleration?by Brian Chiang and Josh Puckett
92
Are Plants Conscious? by Peter Vakomies98
In Search of the Perfect Growby Casey Jones Fraser
112
How to Grow Mustard and Cressby Emma Cooper
116
Consider Using Citric Acidby Donald Lester
128
Growing Plants in Organic and Inorganic Systemsby Dr. Carole Ann Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham
142
Backyard Gardening Hydroponicallyby Jack Van Camp
148
pH Management for Optimal Resultsby Bob Taylor
156
Composting: Is it Just a Load of Rubbish?by Steve Cownley
90
FROM THE
editor
jessica raymondcontributors
Jessica Raymond, Editoreditor@maximumyield.comDr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort. Tech. degree and a PhD in hydroponic greenhouse production from Massey University, New Zealand. Lynette is a partner with SUNTEC International Hydroponic Consultants and has authored five hydroponic technical books. Visit www.suntec.co.nz/ consultants.htm and www.suntec. co.nz/books.htm for more information.
Lee McCall graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a concentration in Culinary Arts. Culinary school opened the door to research and work with hydroponics and organic production. Currently, Lee attends business school in Denver and focuses on continuing advancements with Maximum Yield and indoor gardening technology. Casey Jones Fraser owns Garden
Grove Organics, in Northern Kentucky/ Greater Cincinnati. He has a degree in communications and electronic media. He believes that indoor gardeners can achieve the highest quality crops and maximum yields when proper science is applied. Since 1998, Casey has been testing various nutrients and supplements in search of outstanding harvests. Brian Chiang has worked for DiCon Fiberoptics, Inc., an advanced technology company based in California, for the last 13 years. Brian received his bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Berkeley and master’s degree in physics from UC Davis. He is currently the managing director for Kessil Lighting, a DiCon business division.
Josh Puckett earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis on plant biology from Sonoma State University. He currently works at the UC Davis Foundation Plant Services. He has years of experience in the horticulture and agriculture industries. He also serves as an advisor for the Kessil Research team.
Donald Lester is the plant products manager at JH Biotech, Inc., a California based agricultural technology company with 27 OMRI certified products. Donald has a master’s degree in agronomy with an emphasis in entomology. He is an agricultural scientist with over 10 years of research experience and 50 scientific publications to his credit. Emma Cooper is the voice of the Alternative Kitchen Garden podcast and writes about kitchen gardening and environmental issues. An edible plant geek, she tries to grow her own food sustainably with the help of a reluctant husband and two pet chickens. Visit http://coopette.com for more information.
Peter Vakomies, BSc, has 17 years experience as a professional silviculture grower, vegetable grower and horticulturist. He graduated from Simon Fraser University where he studied photosynthesis in nursery and field settings. Living and working in British Columbia, Canada, Peter participated in growing over 550 million tree seedlings for reforestation programs.
Dr. Carole Ann Rollins co-owns Nature Technologies International LLC, producers of organic alternatives. She co-authored Adding Biology for Soil and Hydroponic Systems and has compiled and edited The Field Guide I and II for Actively Aerated Compost Tea. Contact 1-415-898-5895, naturetech@earthlink.net, www.nature-technologies.com
Matt LeBannister developed a green thumb as a child, having been born into a family of experienced gardeners. During his career, he has managed a hydroponic retail store and represented leading companies at the Indoor Gardening Expos. Matt has been writing articles for Maximum Yield since 2007. His articles are published around the world. Jack Van Camp has been working for Homegrown Hydroponics. He has years of hands-on hydroponic gardening experience and will answer all of your questions through the Homegrown Hydroponics website at www.hydroponics.com
He loves to share his knowledge with eager gardeners both locally and around the world.
Bob Taylor is the chief chemist of Flairform (www.flairform.com) - an Australian based manufacturing company. Bob was an approved NATA signatory and an official registered analyst for the government’s chemical analysis monitoring program of all fertilizers registered in Western Australia.
Dr. Elaine Ingham is president of Soil Foodweb Inc., an international laboratory system that assesses beneficial balance in materials. The major emphasis of her work is to return health to soil, so that natural nutrient cycling and disease suppression mechanisms are present. Contact 1-541-752-5066, info@soilfoodweb.com, www.soilfoodweb.com
Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 250,000 readers throughout USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Maximum Yield is the largest free-to-consumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.
Welcome to our special 11th Anniversary issue of Maximum
Yield USA and our Ultimate Denver Expo Guide. Over 186 pages await you with the latest new products and some of the best articles on organics, fourth generation LEDs, composting, conductivity and the perfect grow room. Over the last 11 years we have seen amazing growth in the industry, great advance-ment in products and technologies and more
and more individuals who share our love and passion for growing their own healthy food. Industry education and awareness will continue to be our focus, along with sharing the latest advancements with gardening enthusiasts globally.
This issue kicks off our 2011 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expo tour and if you are unable to visit Denver, you need not worry as we have world-class events lined up
in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in May, San
Fran-cisco in July and Long Beach in October, which will offer a
first hand look at the industry’s latest and greatest. Check out
www.indoorgardenexpo.com and make plans now to visit one of
our expos, which will forever change how you grow.
11 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
Maximum Yield reserves the right to edit for brevity.
We want to hear from you!
Write us at:
Maximum Yield Publications Inc.
2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 or Email us at: editor@maximumyield.com
LETTERS TO
the editor
Buzzin’ About Maximum Yield
“Man I love this mag. I work at a supply shop in Montana and the info from your mag helps me better explain procedures and products.”
- Bo Stephens
“Thanks for all of the great articles and valuable information! Education is the way to achieve maximum yields. Keep on keeping the growers on top of the latest industry news.” - SD Hydro
“Just got the February USA issue and the Jan/Feb Canada issue in the mail today. Looking forward to reading both of them!” - Emily Walter
“Stop in to Autumn Bloom Hydroponics for your free copy of this amazing magazine! We are Central Illinois premiere hydroponic/ organic gardening store!” - Autumn Bloom Hydroponics
Peat Moss in the Mix
I really enjoy your magazine, especially the article that Casey Jones Fraser wrote in the January issue titled
“Soilless Salvation.” The article stirred up some questions for me. As a fellow soil grower I’m always on the lookout for a good and easy recipe. My question is regarding the peat moss mentioned in the article. Can I pick up a peat moss mix at my local garden center?
Anthony Arballo
In “Soilless Salvation” I list one of the ingredients as “a peat-based mix.” That means any potting mix that is largely made up of peat moss. If you use plain peat moss, the soil will hold much more moisture than if you were to use a peat-based mix. I pre-fer a well-draining mix, so I don’t use plain peat moss.
Another detail I would like to point out: this is not soil, but rather a soilless mix. True soil comes out of the ground, and you never know what’s in it. With a soilless mix, you can check the ingredients list. Soil is all guesswork, but there is no guessing here. With this recipe, I have tuned in perfect levels of pH, water holding and drainage. No guessing...I know exactly what’s in it!
Maximum Yield Contributor: Casey Jones Fraser
Studious Hydroponic Enthusiast
I am interested in any and all literature that you have on hydroponics and getting started in hydroponics.
Thank You Leah Larsen
Maximum Yield magazines are a wealth of knowledge on all things hydroponics, indoor gardening and organics. I encourage you to pick up the latest issue of Maximum Yield at your local indoor gardening shop for free (a distributor listing is available at the back of every magazine).
All of our publications are available for free online at
www.maximumyield.com, including 12+ years of articles related to
modern gardening topics. I also invite you to follow us on Twit-ter (twitTwit-ter.com/Max_Yield) and on Facebook
(Facebook.com/MaximumYield).
Win Big…Grow Big
This is awesome, plus today is my birthday! Thanks for having such a great contest. If you have any extra light bulbs around, send them my way. Namaste. - Jessica Potter, Broomfield, CO, USA Thanks so much! - Darin Sanddar, Whitehorse, YT, Canada This is awesome. - Anthony Jones, New Haven, CT, USA Thanks very much for your happy news. I am really excited; I never win anything. - Dave Bassi, Hamilton, ON, Canada I’m so excited. Much thanks to you Maximum Yield. Great magazine! - Catherine Lee, Oakhurst, CA, USA
Wow, this is great news! - David Wilkey, Falls Church, VA, USA I am so excited to win. I can’t wait to try out my new grow pot. Your magazine is great and you have very informative articles. I really enjoy and look forward to reading your upcoming issues. I always learn something new. Well keep up the good work and thanks for having this contest and giving out some great free stuff. Going green in Cali. - Paul Garces, Modesto, CA, USA I wanted to thank Maximum Yield for the Geo Humus soil conditioner that I received as part of the Win Big...Grow Big contest. I have already put it to good use. Thank you once again. - Alfredo Cardoch, Raleigh, NC, USA
My goodness! Thank you so much! - Curtis Ingleton, Hamilton,
ON, Canada
This is awesome! I am so excited I won. - Katie Hilton, Hilliard,
OH, USA
And you can win too. Visit
http://maximumyield.com/contests.php and enter by
April 15 for your chance to win the latest grow gear.
13 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
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Connect to MaximumYield.cominstantly from your Smartphone with our Quick Response (QR) Code, found on the cover of every issue of Maximum Yield. Now you can access the best products, the most in-depth articles and information and the latest news, at high speeds. Simply download the QR Code Reader software compatible with your Smartphone, scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to
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uPCoMinG EvEntS
Vancouver, B.C. Expo 2011 Maximum Yield’s 2011 Indoor Gardening Expo tourwill be making a stop in vibrant Vancouver, British Columbia—the host of this past year’s world-class
Olympic Games—May 14 to 15, 2011 at the PNE Forum. This event offers education and entertainment rolled into one. We look forward to seeing you all in Vancouver in May. Countdown with us to this first-class Canadian
event on indoorgardeningexpo.com
ContEStS
Just 15 days remain to enter for your chance to win Boldtbags 20 gallon, eight bag kit; Orca Grow Film, Sunshine Systems GlowPanel 45 LED and a subscription to Maximum Yield. Enter online at
MaximumYield.com/winbig
lAtESt nEWS
Salad slaves, floating gardens, calorie crops and tomatoes that live longer on the shelf are highlighted in this month’s latest news online.
15 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
17 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
19 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
SIMON
says
An interesting question Craig, and I can see where you are
coming from. The short answer is that humic acid cannot replace carbon dioxide. You are
correct in the assess-ment that humic
acid can provide carbon dioxide but it’s in an indirect manner, not directly from this carbon based substance. Humus is a de-graded form of organic material high in carbon; in essence it is fully digested organic material that resists
fur-ther decay. However, soil microbes can be stimulated by its presence and this activity will release low levels of CO2 as the soil life breathes. Continue adding carbon dioxide to your growing area in the range you are trying to
achieve, and don’t adjust for the microbial increase. If you want to, it is possible to measure activity in
the soil with specific equipment but in an indoor growing area
Hey Simon,
It’s my understanding that humic acid is a great source of carbon
for plants and that it’s readily absorbed by plant roots. If one is
using humic acid in their nutrient stock tank, can they cut back on
the amount of CO
2injection in the grow room atmosphere?
Thanks,
Craig
it is unlikely that microbe activity would provide more than a negligible level of CO2.
It is absolutely correct that humic acid is beneficial to plants’ roots (and functions), but also to soil and microbes. Humic acid is an extract derived from ancient deposits of organic matter. In current top soils it exists as humus, and both humus and humic acid are great for plant roots. Humic acid has an extremely high cation exchange capacity and this alone is of great benefit. In its simplest terms humic acid gathers a variety of nutrients and then shuttles them into the plant very efficiently.
On top of this, new research suggests that if the substance moves through the root system and into the plant it has similar effects to some plant hormones. Although the mecha-nism still eludes us, this is a very interesting development in understanding this complex substance. The biodiversity in the rhizosphere expands more rapidly in its presence, which pro-vides vast indirect benefits due to microbial secretions such as growth regulating substance, organic acids, disease suppressing compounds and unique carbohydrates such as glomalin.
On a related point, if you are trying to create an aerobic compost tea for disease prevention, new research suggests you should be taking out the molasses and using a blend of humic acid and kelp as the catalyst for bioactivity.
When choosing a humic acid there are many options but for those of you running a true water system
I would choose a low molecular weight humic fraction product generally referred to as fulvic acid. For more information be sure to check in at your local shop to review the variety of brands and extrac-tion methods available. MY
21 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
botanicare
FULL PaGe
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
MAX
facts
Calorie Crops: Planting a Garden to Feed a Family
As more and more of us turn to local, small farms, CSAs or our own garden plots to fulfill at least part of our di-etary needs, there are a few things we should all be growing to provide ourselves with more than just salads. Salads are great, but “calorie crops” are the way to go if the goal is feeding yourself and your family more often from your own garden.
CAlorIes CroPs INClude:
• Potatoes • Corn • Beans • Wheat
• Winter Squash
What’s so great about calorie crops?
1. They fill you up: a potato or a half of a baked winter squash will give you more energy than a plate of lettuce.
2. They are generally less work: plant them, water them occasionally and harvest them; these crops work for the gardener. 3. They are endlessly versatile: Potatoes can be stored for quite a while and then used throughout the year in a variety of ways—even ground into flour. Corn can be eaten fresh, canned or dried and ground into corn meal or corn flour. Winter squash stores well for months and can be used in a variety of ways. Squash can even be dried to make for an even longer storage time. And beans will keep for years in jars in your pantry, ready to be cooked into soups, stews or as a meal unto themselves.
(Source: www.treehugger.com)
Plants and Pets
Our gardens are places where our pets spend much of their time, but often the two do not go together. There are hundreds of commonly grown plants that are highly toxic to dogs and cats. Pets are curious, exploratory and they love chewing a large range of plant material. Just because we can eat something does not mean that it is safe for our pets. For example, Maca-damia nuts, although delicious to us, are toxic to dogs.
Check out these links:
Plants toxic to dogs (www.dog-first-aid-101.com) Plants poisonous to cats (www.cat-world.com.au)
(Source: www.warmearth.com.au)
Floating Garden
A new system devised by horticul-turists at the University of Florida makes growing vegetables hydropon-ically simple and easy. The Styrofoam-based Floating Garden grows crops above ground for a grit-free harvest. Visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs184 for more information on how to build a floating garden.
23 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
MAX
facts
A Fertile World Anniversary Celebration
Humboldt County’s A Fertile World retail shop celebrated their anniversary with a high flying act from Humboldt Nutrients’ sponsored pro free-style motocross rider, Julian Dusseau. A Fertile World was proud to make this a com-munity event in Humboldt County. Leading industry reps from Hydrofarm, BWGS, Hum-boldt Nutrients, Smart Pots, Gold Label, Gavita Lighting, VermiCrop and many more were on hand for the extrava-ganza. A Fertile World has three convenient locations spread out in Humboldt County and has just recently opened their fourth shop in beautiful Marin County, CA. You can see this great new location from the major Interstate 580 in San Ra-fael, CA. Visit www.afertileworld.com to learn more. Julian Dusseau
ultraviolet light Boosts Carrots’
Antioxidant value
Exposing sliced carrots to UV-B, one of the three kinds of ul-traviolet light in sunshine, can boost the antioxidant activity of the colorful veggie, according to preliminary studies. The carrot investigation suggests that a moderate, 14 second dose of UV-B can boost fresh, sliced carrots’ antioxidant capacity by about threefold. The dose is energy-efficient and does not significantly heat or dry the carrots.
Scientists have known for at least a decade that exposing plants to UV-B may cause what’s known as abiotic stress. That’s what probably happened with the sliced carrots. Plants respond to the stress by revving up their production of two natural enzymes, one with the tongue-twisting name of polyphenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and the other known as chalcone synthase. As production of those enzymes increases, levels of phenolic compounds—antioxidants syn-thesized by the enzymes—also increase.
25 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
MAX
facts
live Happier by living Healthier
In Denton, Texas Colbie Dunn and Rachel Walker, owners of Organic Garden and Feed, are dedicated to spreading the incredible advantages of growing food and herbs sustainably with hydroponics and organics.
Address: 3801 N. Interstate Hwy. 35, Suite #126 in Denton, Texas Web: www.OGandF.com
Phone: 1-940-381-9890
Earth Will be “unrecognizable” by 2050
A lot has changed in the last 40 years and ac-cording to researchers, in another four
dec-ades things will be markedly different, too— unrecognizable, even. Earth in 2050 will be
home to an estimated nine billion people, and the planet will be forced to change
in order to accommodate them all.
What can we all expect from a fu-ture with more than a few additional planet-mates:
• The swelling population will exacer-bate resource depletion.
• Incomes are expected to rise over the next 40 years, tripling globally and quin-tupling in developing nations, adding more strain to global food supplies.
• People tend to move up the food chain as their incomes rise, consuming more meat than they might have when they made less money. (It takes around seven pounds of grain to produce a pound of meat, and around three to four pounds of grain to produce a pound of cheese or eggs).
“More people, more money, more consumption, but the same planet.” -Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund
(Source: www.treehugger.com)
tangerine tomatoes Surpass Reds in
Preliminary lycopene Study
Ounce for ounce, heirloom tangerine toma-toes might be a better source of a power-ful antioxidant called lycopene than are familiar red tomatoes.
(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)
Quick-Growing vegetables
for the impatient Gardener
All of these quick-growing veg-etables are sure to satisfy even the most impatient gardener. Best of all, by adding them to your garden, you ensure that you will always have something to harvest.
MesCluN
Great addition to salads
rAdIshes
Project for kids
AsIAN GreeNs
Exotic foliage
WheAt GrAss
Super nutritious
Bush BeANs
Perfect for containers
27 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
MAX
facts
Would Millennium Consumption Goals Help
Rich nations Reduce their Eco-impact?
Millennium Consumption Goals, as suggested by World-watch Institute:
1. Halve obesity and overweight rates by 2020. This will reduce mortality, morbidity and economic costs, as well as reduce ecological pressures driven by over-consumption of food.
2. Halve the work week from the current 40+ hours per week to 20 hours per week. This will better distribute jobs, wealth, promote healthier living and reduce eco-nomic activity, which is essential in our ecologically taxed world.
3. Better distribute wealth by raising taxes on the wealthiest members of society. To those given much, much is expected in return. The days of extreme wealth spent on luxurious living must draw to a close. The Earth can't handle it any longer.
4. Double the rate of use of non-motorized transport (bikes, walking, etc.). Increasing these forms of trans-port will improve health, reduce fossil fuel and mate-rial use and make for safer cities.
5. Guarantee access to health care for all. A minefield in the USA, but standard procedure in most industrial countries so that'll be an easy goal for most countries to achieve.
The goal for Worldwatch is to add three more to that list. Some already suggested are: creating new measures for assessing the economy; internalizing externalized environ-mental and social costs into consumer prices; halving the amount of meat consumed; halving the number of coal-fired power plants; and more.
29 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
MAX
facts
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
demand for Greens leading to Salad Slaves
Last week The Guardian exposed one of the dirty secrets of Europe’s insatiable demand for fresh salads 52 weeks of the year. In the south of Spain, thousands of hectares of arable land are covered with greenhouses, and inside those green-houses, the under-employed of Africa and Eastern Europe labor at low wages to help deliver those hothouse veggies to the colder cities of the North. It’s an industry worth €2 billion annually to Spain, making it unlikely that it will go away any time soon.
But is it any different here in the U.S.? In any supermarket, even the beautiful, packed-with-organic markets, the acres of sparkling produce include lots of fruits and vegetables
import-ed from hundrimport-eds, if not thousands of miles away. Generally, that produce is harvested by farm work-ers making a lot less than
minimum wage in any of the countries the veggies and fruits are destined to end up in. MY
(Source: www.treehugger.com)
Finding a Polyamine
Way to Extend
tomato Shelf life
Tomatoes spend so much time on shelves and in refrigerators that an estimated 20 per cent are lost to spoilage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
31 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
PRODUCT
spotlight
YOUR GUIDE TO THIS MONTH’S HOTTEST ITEMS
Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store.
Baseline liquid From vital landscaping
Baseline Liquid is an incredible, stand alone compost tea (in a bottle). It is a great microbial inoculant, as well as an excellent source of humic, fulvic and ulmic acids. Baseline Liquid will increase your beneficial micro-organisms, which will strengthen your plants’ immune systems and fight disease, pests and pathogens. When using Baseline Liquid you will notice the plant’s ability to uptake nutrients will increase, and therefore need less NPK based fertilizer to achieve better results. Baseline Liquid can also be added to an existing nutrient program and as an ingredient in compost teas or extracts. Visit an indoor/outdoor garden shop to learn more.
new 55 Gallon drum now Available at
Authorized Hydrofarm Retailers
Hydrofarm’s high quality multi-pur-pose 55 gallon blue drum comes with a solid natural cover and bolt ring closure. These drums are brand new and have never been used; they are undrilled and are excellent for stor-age purposes, reservoirs or even re-verse osmosis systems. These drums have a 55 gallon nominal capacity and a 57 gallon actual capacity with a wall thickness of 2.2 millimeters. They are made of a high molecular weight high-density polyethylene and FDA-approved resin. For more information visit an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.
new From nutriculture - EF100 low
level Ebb and Flood System
From Europe’s #1 hydroponic system manufacturer comes a new
take on the tried and tested four by four ebb and flood table. The EF100 system features a four by four table set directly on a low level, 22 gal-lon reservoir. At just nine inches tall the system offers maximum headroom
under lights, allowing plants to grow big. The table features strengthening ribs for ultimate stability and security when using heavy pots and growing media. The EF100 is one of the most flexible systems on the market. You can set floods on a timer to suit the lifestage of the plants. EF100 is a great vegging system for large scale growers and the ideal full cycle system for smaller scale, one lamp growers. For more information visit your local indoor gardening shop.
Botanicare launches Hydrolite™ Grow Media Amendment
Botanicare’s popular nutrients and fertilizers provide commercial and urban growers with valuable, long-lasting nutrition resulting in vigor-ous yields. Now, Botanicare® has developed Hydrolite™, a new grow media amendment that works like a plant’s nutrient storage bank, help-ing manage the availability of nutrients essential for plant growth.
Hydrolite is a highly porous, non-toxic and reusable aggregate grow media composed of natural crystalline structures that acceler-ate growth by optimizing root oxygen levels through absorption and release of nutrients as needed by plant roots. Available in 12 quart and one cubic foot bags in four to six millimeter and 15 to 20 millimeter stones. Ask your local indoor gardening shop for Hydrolite today.
33 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
PRODUCT
spotlight
Expedite Filtration With the Small Cone Kit
From Boldtbags
The Boldtbags Small Cone Kit speeds up filtration with the total micron lining and tapered construction. They’re made with the same full micron spectrum as the regular Boldt-bags. Available in three, four and eight bag kits, the small cones fit standard five gallon buckets. Order Boldtbags’ Small Cone Kit from your local gardening shop today.
Maverick Sun Puts its Biggest Foot Forward
Size does matter. The long awaited Big Foot Reflector is
here for 2011.The Big Foot is designed to give a big eight
by eight foot footprint. The Big Foot features a 44 by 31 inch computer designed reflector system that will give users great cross pene-tration between plants. Designed for medium to large grow spaces. Hinged with heavy duty safety chains to easily change lamps and clean your reflector. Completely air tight for controlled en-vironment grow rooms. Comes in six and eight inch ducts. The rubber silicon gasket gives years of quiet operation and no air leak. Glass and cord included. Visit your favorite gardening shop for more information.
Bucket-less Filtration With
Boldtbags Suspension Kit
The Boldtbags Suspension Kit is es-sential for easy bucket-less filtration using five, 20 or 32 gallon bag sets. Military-grade nylon webbing and reinforced stitching guarantee its strength. The three foot extensions simply connect to the grommets of Boldtbags, with a nine foot length to secure over your leverage of choice. Order Boldtbags’
35 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
PRODUCT
spotlight
Your guide to this month’s hottest items.the new SunBlaster t5Ho lamps
The new edition Sunblaster T5HO lamps have been reengineered incorporating the most advanced on-board electronics in the indus-try. T5HO lamps are now driven at optimum temperatures, lowering heat production and extending lamp life. These improvements ensure every SunBlaster T5HO provides maxi-mum performance and light output. Plus, pair the new T5 High Output Lamp with SunBlast-er’s NanoTech T5 Reflector and you have the most advanced T5HO lighting system avail-able today. The end result? Bigger, healthier plants faster. Even we were amazed by their combined performance. Ask for the SunBlaster T5HO Lamps from your favorite indoor gar-dening store today.
Clear Royale From Microbrewed Fertilizer
Clear Royale is a premium flush-ing product designed to aid in the correction of over feeding and salt buildup in your grow-ing medium. The Microbrewed Fertilizer Company uses a special blend of chelating and sequester-ing agents that are combined in a formula to give our Clear Royale a claw-like effect that actually binds to minerals and allows you to flush them out. This specially blended solution al-lows other mineral ions to stick to its unique structure and carries them out of the plant or growing medium. When Clear Royale is used in a more concentrated form it is a perfect product to clean emitters, pumps and other grow-ing equipment. Visit your local indoor gardengrow-ing store for more information.
one ounce Pump dispensers
Let us offer you a world of convenience with our one ounce Pump Dispensers. Offered in two sizes, simply attach the dispenser to your favorite one gallon or 2.5 gallon jug of nutrients or liquid plant food and pump away. A single pump dispenses one ounce of liquid. It’s as simple as that! Constructed from polypropylene and stainless steel for durability and maximum chemical compatibility, these dispensers offer a threaded body for easy disassembly and sanitary cleaning. These one ounce Pump Dispensers offer you the ultimate in flexibility for providing your plants with the perfect amount of liquid nourishment. Visit your favorite gardening shop for more information.
Gaia Green Joins Greenstar’s line-up
Greenstar Plant Products is always thrilled to promote organic products as a great alternative to the many chemical products currently on the market today. Gaia Green is an exciting addition to our organic fertilizer offerings. Gaia Green Products Ltd. has been manufacturing a complete line of premium organic fertilizers and soil amend-ments since 1990. Their fertilizer blends are formulated using the finest organic and mineral inputs to ensure a complete balance of nutrients, resulting in the ultimate in plant vitality. All products are free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. All Gaia Green Fertilizers are environmentally friendly, acceptable for organic certification and GMO free. Gaia Green’s top sellers include All Purpose 4-4-4, Power Bloom 2-8-4, Gla-cial Rock Dust and Living Soil. For more information visit your local indoor/outdoor gardening store.
37 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
PRODUCT
spotlight
Your guide to this month’s hottest items.For xtreme Gardening® odors use odor-x Carbon Filters
Brite-Lite’s Odor-X carbon filters are made from RC-48, the largest granulate size of Australian activated certified carbon. Anything smaller adds weight and reduces airflow. With lightweight aluminum bases and tops and a slim, compact design, handling, installation and adjustments are a breeze. All Odor-X filters include a custom fit, high-quality pre-filter. Competitively priced and available in a large variety of sizes, the Odor-X eliminates all types of odors. If you want an odor-less grow space, ask for the Odor-X brand of carbon filters from Brite-Lite. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information.
vital Fish Hydrolyzate new From vital landscaping
Our Vital Fish Hydrolyzate is an incredibly affordable and versatile nutrient. It is rich in omega fatty acids with a very high oil content. This fish oil is an incredible food for beneficial micro-organisms in the soil. Having a balanced microbial population is obtainable when using a compost tea or biological extraction program. Our Vital Fish Hydrolyzate also has a 2.0–0.5–0.3 NPK, which provides nutrients that are readily available to your plant. You feed the microbes, which in turn makes the NPK more available for the plants to absorb. Visit your favorite in-door/outdoor garden shop for more information.
oakton Enhances 6+ Series Handheld Meters
Redesigned and even easier to use, these compact meters are an economical choice for testing the quality of wastewater, surface water, ground water or drinking water. The updated 6+ Series meters offer fast and accurate results in a light, compact design. The Oakton pH 6+ Meters feature up to five point push-button calibration with auto-buffer recognition and easy-to-use display of pH, mV and temperature. The Ion 6+ Meters offer a direct readout of ion concentration, with pre-programmed ion calibration points. The CON 6+, TDS 6+ and SALT 6+ Meters supply auto-ranging conductivity or TDS with temperature measurements. The DO 6+ Meters have a low-maintenance, galvanic probe that requires no warm-up time. Visit an indoor gardening retailer to learn more.
Hudson Bak-Pak® Four Gallon Sprayer now at
Authorized Hydrofarm Retailers
The Hudson Bak-Pak® four gallon sprayer has many professional grade features including an extra large fill opening to prevent spills and a braided power sprayer style hose. The sprayer also boasts an extra long 20 inch spray wand a bonus nozzle system with four spray settings (single cone, double cone, single fan, double fan) and a large poly shut-off valve that’s com-fortable and thumb operated for ease of use. Perfect for all your bigger jobs, the sprayer has a powerful piston pump that allows for left or right handed use. For more information visit an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.
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41 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
PRODUCT
spotlight
Your guide to this month’s hottest items.Sun Blaze® t5 very High output (vHo) Fluorescent
lighting Fixtures
Sunlight Supply®, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the new Sun Blaze T5 Very High Output (VHO) Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures. These four foot fixtures come in four and eight lamp configurations. Each fixture includes wire hangers and can be installed for vertical or horizontal operation. Both fixtures offer a 12 foot power cord and an on/off switch for easy operation. The eight lamp model offers two on/off switches to allow the user to run four or eight lamps at one time. Free pre-installed Spectralux 6500° K VHO Lamps are included with each fixture. VHO lamps offer 7,200 lumens at 95 watts each. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information.
Frosty Mug i.P.A.
Frosty Mug I.P.A. from Microbrewed Fertilizer is a craft brewed formulation designed to give our cus-tomers a noticeable edge in overall finished quality and an increase in yield. This high end flowering booster uses natural plant stimulants to maximize the aroma and intensify the taste of fruits. Frosty Mug dramatically increases sugar produc-tion and noticeable results can typically be seen within three to four weeks from flower formation. The end result is a premium product with a savory taste. Frosty Mug combines perfectly with our flagship high powered Black Magic Extra Stout. A synergy is realized when the high energy value of the Black Magic is combined with the un-common flowering stimulators found in our Frosty Mug. Visit your local gardening shop for more information.
the new nanotech t5 Reflector
by SunBlaster
SunBlaster Lighting engineers used the most advanced reflective surface available for this reflector. Made possible only through the ap-plication of nanotechnology, this revolutionary reflective surface has the ability to capture lost light (99 per cent), and simultaneously convert that light into the brightest, most brilliant light we have ever produced. The metallic crystal layer within the reflective surface helps spread the T5 light across the plant canopy diffusing it deep into the plant foliage. The NanoTech T5 increases lumen availability up to 300 per cent. The NanoTech T5 Reflector is made exclusively for the New SunBlaster T5HO. Order the Na-noTech T5 Reflector from your favorite indoor gardening retailer today.
vital Earth 1-1-17 Kelp new From vital landscaping
This soluble kelp extract is an amazing multi-functional ingredient that is a must for every gardener’s tool box. It can be used as a stand-alone foliar spray. It is a necessary ingredient in compost tea, and a perfect addition to your regular fertilization schedule. Ascophyllum Nodosum is a species of kelp found only in certain regions of the Atlantic Ocean. It is an in-credible microbial food and also an extremely soluble source of potassium. Your plants will respond to the application of this kelp immediately. Simply add the dry kelp powder to your
43 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
PWx240S Sequenced Power
Expander From Solatel
Control six 1,000 watt, 240 volt lamps with the PWX240S Se-quenced Power Expander from Solatel. A six foot, 10 gauge pow-er cable connects to 240 volt 30 amp spow-ervice. The six foot triggpow-er cord plugs into 120 volt controller or timer (not included) drawing very little current. Trigger switches current from power cable to outlets. Outlets are sequenced with 20 second on and five second off delay between pairs. This reduces power line problems. Visit your favorite gardening shop for more information.
Pure Food Gardening introduces Brand new
Microclone Rack tray
The Microclone Rack Tray fits into standard chrome and steel racks and holds prop trays neatly in rows of as many as four per shelf. Fluorescent fixtures, especially T5s, fit naturally in the plant shelves. Until now, growers watered and drained trays by hand. Clone trays can now be removed, replaced and moved with ease. The Microclone Rack Tray is 45 by 25.5 inches to fit all common rack units. The Rack Tray has a flat bottom and thin raised ridges for plenty of drainage and easy cleaning. Dual drain wells in the two front (or back) corners allow for optional drain/watering systems. A single shelf or an entire rack can be outfitted with rack trays, drain fittings and tubing for easy-drain watering. Ask your local indoor gardening shop to carry the new Microclone Rack Tray.
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by Lee MccaLL
Boosting the
Bloom
I
n “building the veg” (february 2011) I dem-onstrated how vigorous rooted cuttings could be encouraged to evolve into powerhouse adolescents with strong structure and flawless foliage. This article will take us to the next level—we’ll see how these same plants can now tran-sition, stress-free, into flowering, supplemented withonly the highest quality nutritional elements engineered to stimulate overall fruit/flower mass and essential oil pro-duction. The end result, if carried out correctly, should be strong insect- and disease-free plants that possess healthy, dense foliage and plenty of potential fruit sites, and that will eventually yield heavy, copious harvests of high-quality, prime-grade produce.
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Transition
The initial transition from vegetative growth into flowering may induce stress on certain varietals and hybrids. Grow room factors such as ventilation, carbon dioxide enrichment and lighting may influence various growth patterns as well. Flowering is often autonomous in many different crops, though, and these types may not exhibit shock symptoms from light deprivation, transplanting or switching base nutrients from grow formulas to those intended for flowering/fruiting/blooming.
Initial root health is always a major contributing factor to what will be produced as a final product. Ensuring there is plenty of room for root expan-sion once a plant is induced into the flowering phase is imperative for allow-ing it to grow and mature, as bigger roots are needed to support the mass quantities of blooms and foliage that are produced during crop flowering cycles. If root growth is restricted, growth is stunted and yield may ultimately suffer.
Growers using container gardening techniques with soil, coco or soilless mixes may benefit from conducting the initial (seedling or cutting) vegetative growth cycle in smaller volume contain-ers (one half gallon to one gallon), and later upgrading to larger ones as needed for mature (three to eight week-plus) plants that become root bound. Once a plant is root or pot bound, overall growth is slowed dramatically. A variety of aeration containers are available in both fabric and injection molded types to prevent root circling, the main cause of root binding. These containers promote feeder root growth through root prun-ing, a technique that uses air to singe off root tips as they pierce through the fabric walls or into open pockets in the injection molded containers. As the root tips die off from the air, the resulting effect is dramatic feeder root stimulation. This technique is similar to topping and
cropping plants in order to achieve more tops and fruiting sites.
Transplanting may be performed the same day that the crop is induced into
flowering, or delayed so that the plant has time to adjust and settle into its ‘new home’ prior to beginning the bloom phase. Hydroponic growers mak-ing effective use of grow blocks, hydro-ton, silica rock or PET-1 as their choice of grow medium may achieve much larger plants and yields with much less grow medium in comparison to soil or soilless grow substrates. Depend-ing on the style
of system and method implemented, transplanting may also be completely unnecessary. For example, many DWC (deep water culture) and aeroponic systems are engineered to harbor small and large (six foot-plus) plants with-out having to transplant at all, due to self-contained reservoirs able to hold adequate amounts of nutrient
solu-tion over a given period of time. In drip irrigation and the occa-sional flood and drain system, four
inch and six inch grow blocks will usually accumulate prolific root masses over the course of a two to four week veg cycle.
“Depending on the style
of system and method
implemented,
transplanting may...be
completely unnecessary.”
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These root bound blocks may be placed on grow slabs, coco coir mats or PET-1 mats in order to allow the roots extra room for growth and to provide simultaneous protection from light and direct air. Mesh-bottom containers and net pots full of other grow mediums may also be placed on rooting mats in order to promote the same effect as grow blocks.
A mycorrhizal inoculant or a compost tea heavy in beneficial bacteria, nema-todes and protozoa should be incor-porated in order to promote rapid root growth and healthy disease-free foliage and to deter transplant shock. Granular forms of Mycorrhizae are recommended for soil, coco and soilless container
gar-dening applications, and powder forms are available for
hydroponic systems. Always use a
de-chlorinator and a
sediment filter on the water source to preserve the activity and concentration of all microbial inoculants and teas. Tap water may not render these ‘live’ addi-tives completely useless, but the chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals found in municipal water supplies will definitely ensure the possibility that the additive or inoculants being utilized might not perform to their fullest potential.
Finally, shower the garden with a high quality seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) supplement when inducing the switch from veg into bloom. This luxuriant sea plant has been known to encourage fruit site development and bud sets in many crops—compared to controls without treatment—when first introduced into a flowering regimen. Many plants will triple in size once set into flowering as long as they are given desirable conditions and adequate space for the roots and foliage to grow into.
Bulking with P/Ks
In weeks two through eight of the flowering stage it is impor-tant to be consistent and ensure that the crop does not fall victim to pest and mildew infes-tations, nutrient overdoses or de-ficiencies as their root masses grow.
Any one of these important factors— along with others—could be responsible for the failure of what might have been a bumper crop. Bloom-boosting products that incorporate plenty of L-amino acids and high-to-low ratios of phosphorous and potassium to nitrogen will fuel weight gain and aroma in blooms and stimulate sugar production in leaf tissue. ‘Carbo-loading’ is always beneficial dur-ing heavy fruitdur-ing phases. For growers using beneficial inoculants, these simple and complex sugars boost the levels of microbiological activity in the rhizo-sphere as they act as a food source for the micro-organisms. In sterile hydroponic
“Organic options may be
derived from raw materials
like sugar cane, fruit
ex-tracts, molasses or malt.”
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applications, carbohydrates will enhance flesh density of the produce grown and encourage flavonoids, the metabolites in plants responsible for coloration that also act as antioxidants. Carbs are found in many different natural and synthetically pro-cessed forms. Organic options may be derived from raw materi-als like sugar cane, fruit extracts, molasses or malt. ‘Synthetically treated’—but not necessarily inorganic—products comprised from deoxyribose, lyxose, ribose, xylulose and xylose are some of my favorite products for bulking up produce and adding weight to the end result. Super-concentrated synthetic P/K boost-ing powder additives are also very popular for incorporat-ing into the feedincorporat-ing durincorporat-ing the last weeks before harvest. High percentages of phosphorous and potassium such as a 0-50-30 mix will encourage ripening and last minute bulking in flowers, fruits and vegetables. These additives ‘trick’ the plant (so to speak) by overdosing its system with high amounts of P/K. This effect encourages early flower set when used in the transition weeks of the flowering stage and stimulates essential oil production in the last weeks. Many of these formulas are extremely concentrated, sometimes calling for as little as one teaspoon per five gal-lons of nutrient solution. Organic guano-based additives will provide similar effects with lower
concen-trations of N-P-K, an option which might
appeal to those who wish to garden completely free of synthetic additives and chemicals.
In terms of atmospheric conditions, make sure that there is boosting the bLooM
“Synthetically treated’—
but not necessarily
inor-ganic—products...are some
of my favorite products for
bulking up produce and
add-ing weight to the end result.”
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always plenty of fresh air exchange and control over intake and exhaust of the growing space: the ability to control these factors allows the grower complete automation for fine-tuning crop production. CO2 enrichment is also always a plus if available. Whether using compressed gas in bottles or propane/natural gas generators, aim for approximately 1,500 PPM around the plants. Even inducing these conditions in the garden just once a day will benefit your crop—CO2 enrichment will generally increase factors such as growth and overall weight by upwards of 15 per cent. And although not mandatory to achieve incredible results, the introduction of CO2 never hurt anything if properly set up and utilized.
Conclusion
In conjunction with simple routine maintenance— like regularly replacing grow lamps, keeping the
grow room clean and above all being consistent— the information found in “Building the
Veg” and “Boosting the Bloom” should prove to be a useful reference
to increase your ability to execute bumper crop produc-tion. Moving forward, always conduct controlled experiments with plenty of documentation so that all influential factors can be recorded to determine any gains or losses from new techniques or products thrown into the mix. The information you record over the years as you learn from your mistakes and figure out what works and what’s a waste of time and money will be your most important tool as a grower—and one you might just be asked to pass down to your kids or grandkids one day! MY
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ALONG WITH WASABI THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER JAPANESE HERBS AND
VEGETA-BLES THAT ARE QUICK AND EASY TO GROW INDOORS AND JUST A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL.
Fiery green wasabi paste is well known to many a sushilover, and its flavor and heat can become almost addictive. This exotic and expensive Japanese herb has a reputation as being difficult to grow, requiring high-quality cool run-ning water, specific conditions and just the right climate to thrive. In reality, however, wasabi is an almost perfect crop
for hydroponics, as in its natural habitat it grows on stony riverbanks and is considered to be semi-aquatic. Hydro-ponics set-ups that include flowing nutrient (which can be chilled if necessary), coarse-grade growing mediums and control over the environment are just about ideal for this eastern delicacy.
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GroWING WAsABI
Wasabi japonica, also known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the crucifer or mustard family, which
contains other common-ly grown plants such as watercress, cabbage, cauli-flower, broccoli, mustard and horseradish. Wasabi has the typical mustard or horseradish heat, but it also has a subtly differ-ent and distinctive flavor, which is released from the stem tissue when
it’s prepared or grated for eating fresh. The flavor of freshly grated wasabi is far superior to that of the processed product sold in ready-to-use tubes, but fresh wasabi stems are an expensive (often over US$100 per pound!) item with a limited shelf life. It is also thought that wasabi contains the cancer-fighting isothiocyanate compounds common to the cruciferous family, many of which may have medicinal and pharma-ceutical applications.
growing Japanese
Misome plants growing in an NFT system.
“Fresh wasabi needs to be
eaten within 20 minutes of
preparation, as the volatile
compounds released by
grating dissipate rapidly.”
Both the leaves and smaller, lower-quality stems of the wasabi plant can be processed into a paste, while the
larg-est, higher-quality and thicker stems are usually sold whole, with three to four top leaves still attached. Fresh wasabi needs to be eaten within 20 minutes of preparation, as the volatile compounds released by grating dissipate rapidly. Since fresh wasabi has such a limited shelf life, wasabi lovers want to be able to harvest a suitably sized stem from their hydroponically grown plants and be consuming this within an hour in order
to get the greatest kick of flavor from the distinctive volatile compounds before oxidation occurs.
hYdroPoNIC sYsteMs For WAsABI
For a small wasabi system growing just a few plants, the ideal set-up is one that replicates the natural environment wasabi plants evolved in. Wasabi prefers condi-tions similar to those we might provide for orchids or ferns: a cool shady area with good air movement under and through the plant’s foliage, and moderate humid-ity levels with no direct sunlight or bright overhead lights. For those growing indoors this means that wasabi is a crop that doesn’t need a lot of expensive high-in-tensity grow lamps, and production under compact fluorescents is usually ideal. Think of the conditions under a dense canopy of well-developed trees on a moist, cool riv-erbank, and that’s what wasabi will thrive in. Wasabi prefers temperatures in the 50 to 68°F range, as conditions warmer than these result in leaf wilting during the day and reduced growth rates, with the plants tending to decline as a result of tempera-ture stress. Wasabi prefers a rela-tively low EC in the nutrient of 1.0 to 1.2, or slightly lower during warmer weather. Standard grow or vegetative nutrient formula-tions are usu-ally fine, although this is a crop that needs regular com-plete solu-tion changes every week for optimum growth. It seems that wasabi is one of those crops that
59 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
produces a lot of organic root exudates, which accumulate in recirculating systems, and growth seems to be boosted when the nutrient is replaced regularly.
ProPAGAtIoN oF WAsABI
Once there are mature plants in the system, propagation is rela-tively easy—mature plants usually produce a number of small off-shoots around two to three larger main stems. These can be gently cut or pulled away from the main plant and planted up for new stock. Many of the young wasabi plants or plantlets being sold are grown from these offshoots when the main stems have been har-vested. Wasabi can also be grown from seed, although this can be slow and unpredictable as the seed is dormant at harvest and needs a period of cool storage before germination will begin.
“For a small wasabi system growing
just a few plants, the ideal set-up is one
that replicates the natural environment
wasabi plants evolved in.”
Red and green perilla or `sushi herb’.
“Perilla is raised from seed, but the seed
must be relatively fresh as viability falls
with age and older seed may have low
germination rates
.”
Wasabi plants can also be raised in tissue culture, which is particularly good for preventing some of the fungal pathogens which can be transferred when offsets are used for propagation.
Large-grade wasabi stems suitable for harvest develop over an 18 to 24 month period; however, smaller stems and leaves can be harvested before that for immediate use, and will still have that distinctive wasabi flavor—although not the same degree of heat as a mature stem. As the older leaves develop and age they fall from the stem of the plant, leaving a leaf scar, and it is this increasing length of leafless stem that is the harvestable portion of the plant. Stem thickness ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 inches, and length at harvest is usually at least 5.9 inches.
other JAPANese herBs ANd GreeNs
Fast-growing greens such as mizuna, mibuna, misome, kom-atsuna and mustard are all well suited to the same hydro-ponic systems and conditions that are used for lettuce and other salad crops. Generally these greens are all incredibly growing Japanese
61 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
Wasabi plants at 10 months old.
fast growing—producing dense clumps of attractive green foliage within a few weeks—and are a nice complement to have alongside wasabi. Perilla, also known as shiso, or the sushi herb, is available in attractive green and reddish purple forms with its appearance resembling that of ornamental coleus plants. Perilla is an essential Japanese herb commonly used as a garnish of whole leaves, sprouted seeds or seedling leaves with cooked dishes, pickles and raw fish. The flavor of perilla is similar to basil, although often milder, with over-tones of cilantro.
Unlike many other Japanese greens, perilla is not cold-tolerant and requires warm conditions and reasonably high light levels for maximum color development. Temperatures in the 64 to 79°F range produce good growth rates, and in Japan the crop is produced in winter in greenhouses with heating and artificial light. Perilla is raised from seed, but the seed must be relatively fresh as viability falls with age and older seed may have low germination rates. Seedlings for hydroponic systems can be grown in much the same way as basil transplants; in grow cubes or small pots of media with between two to six seedlings per cube being sown.
Perilla crops grown hydroponically also need a higher EC than would be used for most herbs: EC levels of 1.6 to 2.0 help
Mature wasabi plant showing main harvestable stem and small off-shoots, which are used to propagate new plants.
develop and maintain intense red coloration and help keep the plants compact and well flavored. In Japan, perilla is commonly grown as a seedling crop and cut at the 35 to 40 day stage, but plants grown for home use can be cropped for longer, so that the edible flowers can also be used in Japanese cuisine.
Other intriguing Japanese vegetables include the radishes, which hold a special place in Japanese cuisine and have mul-tiple uses. Daikon, aomaru, koshin and minowase are all large radish types that can be grown hydroponically, and generally the flesh is succulent, crisp and well flavored if grown rapidly. The long white daikon radish is a large plant, with the root reach-ing over two pounds in weight in many cases, and is best suited growing Japanese
“In good growing conditions, smaller
Japanese radishes can be harvested
in as little as 50 days from
sow-ing, and can then be used grated,
steamed, pickled or stir fried for a
63 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
sources of information and plantlets: www.richters.com
www.mountaingardensherbs.com/specialties.html www.cityfarmer.org/wasabi.html
Harvested hydroponic wasabi stem ready for use. to large, deep media beds of coco fiber
or similar material, which won’t restrict the expansion of the root. The smaller, round green- and purple-fleshed Japa-nese radishes take up less space and will grow well in temperatures of 61 to 79°F at shorter day lengths or lighting cycles, as the plants are prone to going to seed (bolting) if long days are encountered. In good growing conditions, smaller Japa-nese radishes can be harvested in as little as 50 days from sowing, and can then be used grated, steamed, pickled or stir fried for a distinctive hot/sweet flavor.
We are no longer restricted to growing growing Japanese
Japanese radishes make a great condiment. Young wasabi plantlets being propagated from seed.
those plants and vegetables suited to the climate and the soil of the area we live in—indoors we can now create pretty much any growing environment a plant is likely to need. Now we are able to
replicate the conditions of a cool, shady Japanese mountain stream, where we can grow succulent wasabi and fresh exotic greens as well as ferns and many other beautiful and relaxing plants.MY
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STRONG STEMS,
HEALTHY PLANTS
bY MATT LEbANNiSTEr
The three main culprits of weak or stretched
stems and ways to toughen them up.
There are many variables that must be considered when setting out to grow consistently healthy plants. When growing indoors, gardeners must take responsibility for meeting all of their plants’ needs. However, having the right knowledge can give indoor gardeners a big advantage over outdoor growers, because while traditional outdoor gardeners are more or less at the mercy of their local soil and weather conditions, indoor growers have the ability to maximize crop potential by customizing the growing environment to meet their plants’ specific requirements.
69 Maximum Yield USA | April 2011
