Grower Today

Category: Tips & Guides

  • The Easiest Guide On When To Pick Basil Leaves

    The Easiest Guide On When To Pick Basil Leaves

    This guide on when to pick basil leaves will help you discover the right time to pick these herbs when growing them at home.

    Basil is a type of herb that is found in the Mediterranean region. It is from the plant family called Lamiaceae, which makes it closely related to other herbs such as mint and sage.

    When growing basil at home, you can use the leaves for cooking purposes or just for aesthetic appeal. When harvesting your leaves from this herb, it is important that you only harvest when your leaves are vibrant in color and when they have a nice smell.

    When To Pick Basil Leaves

    Knowing when to pick basil leaves is important to get the best flavor possible. The right time to pick basil leaves is when they are a deeper green in color and when they have a distinct smell. It is advised that you do not pick basil when it is flowering as this will stop the growth of the plant.

    Helpful tips when trying to determine when to harvest your leaves from the basil.

    • The best time to harvest basil is when the plant has turned around its development cycle so it can now create new flowers. You can identify when this happens by looking at the stem where the new sprouts grow from. Once these sprouts have started growing, it’s a sign that harvesting will help promote more leaves to grow.  Pick young leaves off your plants for aesthetic purposes
    When To Pick Basil Leaves
    • If you just want beautiful-looking leaves on your crops for selling purposes, then picking young leaves when they are smaller and when they have a nice green color will help you achieve this.
    • On the other hand, if you want to harvest basil when it is fully mature then allow the plant to grow until it has started producing flowers. Once these flowers start appearing, you can pick them and use them as garnishes or in various recipes for their distinct taste and smell.

    Read more about How Much Bone Meal Per Tomato Plant?

    When is Basil Ready For Harvest? – When to Pick Basil Leaves

    If you are growing basil for cooking purposes, when is it ready to harvest?  It takes about 50 days from planting for basil to be ready for harvesting.

    Basil seeds can take a few weeks to germinate so when growing seedlings, you will have to wait about 8-9 weeks before harvesting them. The basil plant will be ready to harvest when it is about six to eight inches tall.

    Another method that people use when harvesting basil is when the leaves are just starting to branch out. Harvesting basil at an early stage means that you don’t have to wait for too long before your crop is ready to be harvested. You can either pick off individual leaves or cut down the entire stem of the plant if it’s grown big enough.

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    How To Pick Basil Leaves So it Keeps Growing

    When to pick basil is now clear. But how to harvest basil so it keeps growing more is still a question to many gardeners.

    When harvesting basil leaves, choose to pluck the leaves from the top part of the basil stem. This is the part of this plant that is most flavorful.

    If you can see flowers developing on the stems, then leave some leaves on there. Note that even if this looks like new growth on the stems, it is still not ready for harvest.

    If you want to preserve your basil for several weeks, then using stem cuttings will help you achieve this. Harvest the basil when there are flowers on your plants. Then, put the stem and put it in water until new growth emerges from the stems.

    You can use some kind of rooting hormone when doing this method to get the best results when growing new basil plants.

    Remember when harvesting basil leaves, don’t forget to pick the stems off your plant. In addition, also make sure you don’t break or cut these too close to your main stem when doing so. This will only cause the plant to lose stability and when this happens, it will no longer produce new shoots when harvested.

    What Leaves To Pick Off Basil When Harvesting?

    It is not only important to know when to pick basil leaves, but also what leaves to pick. You can pick basil leaves when they are young and when they have a nice green color. 

    When the plant has flowers starting to grow on its stems, it’s best not to remove them so you can harvest basil for longer periods. This will help preserve some of your plants when growing new ones.

    Harvesting the leaves both when they are young and mature helps the basil plant to continue growing.

    Take-Home On When To Pick Basil Leaves

    When to pick basil leaves is now clear among other essential details. As long as the plant has both flowers on its stems when harvesting, it will keep growing new shoots when you harvest the leaves properly.

    If you notice the leaves starting to branch out when harvesting, this means that your plant can continue growing more even as you harvest. You can harvest basil from your plant for a long period without exhausting it if you had provided it with the right growing nutrients.

    You will also need to carefully pick the leaves without damaging the plant so that it continues to produce more leaves for days to come.

    FAQ’s

    Do basil leaves grow back after you pick them?

    Yes, the leaves will grow back when you harvest them when they are young and when they have a nice green color.

    Where should I cut my basil?

    If you are cutting the entire plant when harvesting, then cut it close to the main stem so that you don’t damage it.

    When should you pinch basil?

    Basil should be pinched when the plant is just starting to grow in readiness for harvesting.

    How do you pick basil leaves so it keeps growing?

    When harvesting basil, pluck the leaves from the top part of the plant when they have a nice green color. Make sure you don’t break or cut these too close to your main stem when doing so. Harvesting the leaves when they are young and when they have a nice green color helps the basil plant to continue growing when harvesting.

  • Growing Lettuces In Pots – 7 Useful Care Tips!

    Growing Lettuces In Pots – 7 Useful Care Tips!

    Growing lettuces in pots is possible if you currently don’t have a garden to grow them in. It comes with several advantages and is a great option for gardeners of all skill levels.

    Lettuce is an all-time favorite crunchy vegetable that we all love in our salads, burgers, sandwiches, and everything in between. Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. Anyone can successfully grow this plant whether in the garden or in containers.

    Growing Lettuces In Pots

    Can lettuces be grown in pots? Yes, it is possible to grow lettuce in containers. You can grow them indoors during wintertime or when the climate conditions are not favorable for growing them outside.

    Planting lettuce in containers is straightforward. Simply add your potting mix to the container of your choice and leave a few inches from the top of the growing medium to allow for your plants to develop.

    Growing Lettuces In Pots

    You can plant at least one to two lettuce plants per pot for maximum productivity. Ideally, your pot should be at least six to twelve inches in diameter.

    From sowing seeds to harvest, this plant takes about one month to mature. Once mature, the leaves are ready for harvesting by simply pinching the leaves.

    Lettuce leaves are full of nutritional benefits as they contain potassium, iron, calcium, and vitamins A, B6, and C.

    Read more About What Does An Artichoke Plant Look Like?

    How Deep Do Containers Need To Be For Lettuce?

    Growing lettuce in pots requires good drainage and a well-draining growing medium. To provide the perfect growing conditions that this plant needs, you can create a beautiful garden by growing lettuces in containers.

    Start by adding soil into your container followed by an inch layer of coarse sand or gravel then finishing by adding the growing medium. Loose, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter, such as compost and peat, works as the best growing medium for lettuce. The growing medium should be moist but not wet and you can add fertilizers when planting your lettuce plants.

    Growing lettuces in pots requires deep containers that have a depth of at least 8 inches to accommodate growing lettuce plants. Their width can be about 8 inches as well, but it is up to you to choose the width you like. You can use plastic, clay, or wooden pots depending on the kind of look you are going for in your garden.

    Ensure that your pots have holes in the lower side for proper drainage. Excess water after watering your lettuce plants can cause root rot if they stay stagnant for too long.

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    Care Tips for Potted Lettuce

    Growing lettuces in pots will need you to provide them with good that includes;

    Tip #1: Provide full sun exposure, at least six hours daily

    You should, however, protect your growing lettuce from overheating as this can cause slow growth and spoil the leaves.

    Tip #2: Provide a well-draining growing medium

    Your growing medium must be able to hold the right amount of moisture so that your growing lettuce can take advantage of it. Do not overwater them, but at the same time do not allow the growing medium to dry out completely.

    Ensure your pots have good drainage. Since lettuce plants need a moist growing medium, excess water tends to accumulate in their pots and starts rotting their roots if not drained properly. Provide holes at the bottom side of the container for proper drainage.

    Tip #3: Consistent watering

    Keep the growing medium moist but not soggy or wet to encourage deep root growth. You can monitor its moisture by sticking your finger into the growing medium. If it feels dry then you should water them again.

    Consistent Watering Lettuces in Pots

    Tip #4: Fertilize it

    Add your fertilizer when you plant them to encourage faster growth. If you are growing them in containers, it is best during a liquid fertilizer every week during the first month. You can also use organic manure to fertilize your growing medium before planting your lettuce. Organic manure has more nutrients than a regular growth medium.

    Tip #5: Avoid temperature shock

    If you are growing your lettuce in containers outdoors during springtime, avoid exposing them to temperature shock. If the light conditions change from sunny to cloudy, ensure that they have quick access to shade by moving their pots accordingly.

    Tip #6: Protect them from disease

    If growing lettuce outdoors, avoid placing them too close to other plants because this can lead to disease issues such as mildew.

    Tip #7: Harvest when ready

    This is one of the best parts because you get to enjoy fresh homegrown lettuce leaves! The harvesting technique depends on which type you are growing (head or leaf) but generally it involves cutting off mature leaves by slicing them off with a sharp knife.

    You’ve finished growing your lettuces! Now it is time to eat them up… But remember… they need to be washed before eating because lettuces contain natural protection mechanisms against predators that function even if picked. It is recommended not to wash them too much though, but just enough for any dust or debris off the leaves. Once clean they’re ready for consumption! Bon Appetit!

    Lettuce growing in pots is a great way to have fresh lettuce year-round, even when growing seasons are not so favorable for growing outside.

    You can easily grow lettuce in pots with the tips provided above, but you will need to pay more attention to keeping its growing medium moist. Without this consistency of maintaining medium moisture, your lettuce may suffer from root rot or other issues that can lead to poor growth.

    Conclusion

    Growing lettuces in pots are quite simple and provide many benefits and the luxury of growing almost anywhere without worrying about pests or diseases that may affect your garden.

    You can easily move them outside when the growing season starts or bring them inside when growing seasons end – thus extending your growing season. With good lighting and proper moisture growing lettuce in pots is easy!

    FAQ’S

    How do you keep potted lettuce alive?

    You can ensure growing lettuce in pots by having consistent moisture in a growing medium. Water them when the growing medium is dry so the growing lettuce has the water it needs to survive.

    Does lettuce need full sun?

    Lettuce growing in pots requires partial sun. The partial sun generally means a few hours of indirect sunlight per day. If growing your lettuce indoors, be sure to use a window sill that receives bright light throughout the day.

    How do you harvest lettuce so it keeps growing?

    You can harvest growing lettuces by cutting off leaves that are ready for eating. If growing in pots, be sure to take care not to harm growing lettuce roots/medium when harvesting, as the growing lettuce is likely potted.

  • What Does An Artichoke Plant Look Like?

    What Does An Artichoke Plant Look Like?

    What does an artichoke plant look like and what features does it have that will cause you to identify it easily?

    Artichokes are a much-loved delicacy that most Americans love to eat. However, what many do not know is that it takes a lot of time and commitment to grow your artichokes. It can take up to 85-100 days for artichokes to be ready to harvest. But once mature, it will produce what looks like a big purple and green center bud with little yellow flowers.

    It takes at least one year before what comes out of that bud is edible. However, it takes even longer than that if you want really large artichokes!

    What Does An Artichoke Plant Look Like?

    How do you identify an artichoke plant? Identifying an artichoke plant is easy because of its very unique look.

    An artichoke plant starts as a baby bud and grows into what looks like a large green bush with spiky leaves. When fully grown, the center of the plant will have what looks like a big purple bud with little yellow flowers on it.

    An Artichoke Plant Looks Like

    When this flower bud blossoms, something might come out of it that looks like an artichoke! If you leave the baby buds on the plant, what you will be left with is what looks like a purple and green center.

    It can take up to one year before what comes out of that bud is edible. However, you will need to wait longer than that if you want really large artichokes!

    How Long Does It Take To Grow An Artichoke?

    If you intend to grow your artichokes, don’t be shocked if they take too long to grow. The total growing time for artichokes can be up to 180 days.

    When started from seed, how long does it take for artichokes to germinate? It takes at least 10 to 21 days to germinate.

    Once germinated, give them some time to grow some more before transplanting them. It can take up to 60 days until they are ready to be planted outside.

    Transplant them at least two weeks after the last frost date has passed and the soil has warmed up. Once transplanted, artichokes will take about one year. Most artichoke plants are ready to harvest within 80-100 days. If you want to grow really large artichokes, it will take even longer!

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    How Many Artichokes Do You Get From One Plant?

    How many artichokes you get from one plant varies by the time your artichoke plant starts producing buds? There’s a chance that what comes out of the artichoke flower is a tiny thing no bigger than a broccolini. It can take up to three years for this size to grow.

    However, if you want something in between, maybe the size of a regular store-bought one. The number also depends on how long it takes the plant to grow what looks like a big purple bud with little yellow flowers.

    A full-grown artichoke plant produces at least 10 to 20 mature artichokes for a period of two to three weeks during the artichoke flower’s blooming period.

    So bottom line, the number of mature artichokes you can get from one plant varies.

    For example, you could get as many as five to ten if the plant takes less than 20 months. However, most artichoke plants provide six to nine buds per plant.

    Some artichoke plants will produce smaller buds that are more numerous. This will happen if it takes less than 10 months to grow the big purple bud with little yellow flowers.

    Final Thoughts On What Does An Artichoke Plant Look Like

    So what does an artichoke plant look like? Once you identify what does an artichoke plant look like, you can also learn how long it takes to grow this plant.  These flower-like edible buds are beautiful to look at as you await them to grow to maturity. Though a much-loved delicacy, artichokes take a long time to grow, however, they are worth the wait.

    So next time you think of growing your artichokes, be patient enough to allow them to grow to maturity. When you practice patience, you will surely enjoy a good crop from the sumptuous artichokes.

    Want to share recipes that you can make from artichokes so we also get to try them? Let us know in the comments below.

    FAQ’S

    Where can you buy an artichoke plant?

    You can buy a young artichoke plant from your local nursery. It’s also possible to purchase a young artichoke plant that looks like it has a big purple bud with little yellow flowers from online nurseries.

    What does an artichoke plant look like?

    The best way to tell what an artichoke plant looks like is by its leaves. They look similar to what you’ll find on an asparagus plant because they are fern-like and delicate looking. Another way that you can identify what an artichoke plant looks like is the center of the bud – it is purple and green.

    What do artichokes look like when they bloom?

    One way to tell what looks like what an artichoke flower looks like is by the sounds they make. When you touch them, they sound similar to how silk feels when you rub your hands against them. 

  • Ebb And Flow Hydro Systems

    Ebb And Flow Hydro Systems

    Hydroponics gardens are excellent ways of growing different plants without soil and ebb and flow hydro systems are one type of hydroponic system. Ebb and flow hydro systems are fairly easy to use if you have the right knowledge and you can set them up easily.

    Ebb and flow hydro systems are a versatile hydroponic system that is widely recognized and they are also regarded as flood and drain systems.

    Understanding the principle of ebb and flow system setup is a great way to go about building, using, and maintaining this hydroponic system.

    In this article, you will find out how to set up an ebb and flow system, the advantages and disadvantages of it, the best growing medium to use for this system, and so on. So, let’s delve in and discuss more on the ebb and flow hydro system.

    Ebb And Flow Hydroponic System

    As we mentioned, the ebb and flow hydro system is a type of hydroponics system and it is also referred to as a flood and drain system.

    This type of hydroponic is a versatile system as it can accommodate containers or pots of different sizes. They can even be customized to grow just about any kind of plant and achieve great results.

    How Do You Set Up An Ebb And Flow Hydroponic System?

    The setup of ebb and flow may vary depending on how you wish to customize your setup. However, you should know that all these different set up works under the same concept.

    The main components to set up an ebb and flow system are plant tray, timer, nutrient solution reservoir, and submersible pump.

    ·         Plant Or Flood Tray

    This plant tray is a big and shallow container. It is also referred to as the flood tray. This is where the plants are placed in pots that are perforated and filled with growing medium. The flood or plant tray is always flooded by pumping nutrient-filled water from the reservoir below.

    So, the nutrient-filled water flows from the pot below up into the plant’s root. Then the water is drained back outside and this allows the root of the plant to become dry and receives oxygen. Then after this, the tray is flooded again and the mechanism continues.

    ·         Reservoir, Timer, And Submersible Pump Action

    Directly below the flood or plant tray, you will find the reservoir. The setup from the reservoir connects to the flood tray through a drain tube or fill tube. The drain tube is connected to the submersible pump with a timer. This timer help control the flow of water up into the flood tray.

    Then the power of gravity allows the tube to be pulled back out and drained into the reservoir once the plant tray has been flooded. So, the water is reused as this mechanism is repeated time and time again.

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    This nutrient-filled water from the reservoir can be reused for up to a week. But the nutrient-filled water will need to be changed so to maintain and renew nutrients for the plants.

    Customization of your ebb and flow hydro system is possible with the timer and submersible pump. It allows you to control the length and frequency of watering according to your garden or plant needs.

    Check Out When To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms – Guide On The Best Harvest Time

    What Is The Best Grow Medium For Ebb And Flow?

    When it comes to the best-growing media to be used in your ebb and flow hydro systems, any grow media is actually great to be used. Anything from coco coir to Hydroton, perlite, Rockwool, oasis cubes, and so on.

    What Is A Major Advantage Of The Ebb And Flow System?

    We have discussed the setup of ebb and flow hydro systems. Now let’s delve into the advantages they offer:

    • Affordability: this type of hydro system is pretty affordable and efficient. It is a low-cost hydroponic system that can save you money especially if you build it yourself.
    • No expertise is Needed: you don’t need to be an expert to set up the ebb and flow hydro system. This is in comparison to other complex and expensive hydroponic system that usually requires the knowledge of an expert. Hence, it is easy to build a hydroponic system.
    • Easy Operation: the operation of this hydroponic system is also pretty easy. Just make sure optimal nutrient solution is always available to your plants.
    What Is A Major Advantage Of The Ebb And Flow System
    • Abundant Nutrient Supply for Plants: additionally, your plants get abundant nutrient supply because of the flood and drain concept. Your plant or grow tray is frequently flooded with nutrient-filled water. This is beneficial to plants such as strawberries that need heavy loads of nutrients.
    • Little to no Technical Assistance or Supervision: again, this hydro system doesn’t need too much supervision and maintenance. Therefore, little to no technical assistance will be required. When it comes to using these ebb and flow hydro systems, your chances of achieving great success with plants that don’t do well in other hydroponic systems are increased. For instance, you can grow plants such as beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other media to large-sized plants.

    Read more about Vertical Hydroponics System

    What Are The Disadvantages Of Ebb And Flow?

    Even though ebb and flow hydro systems offer great benefits, there are still some cons to this hydroponic system. They include:

    1. Possible PH Fluctuation: There is the possibility of pH fluctuation if the system fails. It may cause water to overflow into the containers and consequently flood the pants in your flood trays. Hence, this causes unbearable pH that can have harmful effects on your farm.
    2. Possible Power Failure: Any equipment failure that may be due to power failure can cause your system not to operate. Thereby causing system failure.
    3. Possible Breakdown of The System: Your ebb and flow system may break down due to any little mistake. This is why you need to be extra careful with setting up your system. The most common breakdown experienced by most growers is with their pumping machines.
    What Are The Disadvantages Of Ebb And Flow

    Conclusion

    Ebb and flow hydro systems are easy to use hydroponic and they are also cost-effective. This hydroponic system is versatile and customizable. Hence, this makes it an excellent choice for hobbyist hydroponic rowers.

    FAQ’S

    How Do You Set Up An Ebb And Flow Hydroponic System?

    The set up of ebb and flow may vary depending on how you wish to customize your set up. However, you should know that all these different set up works under the same concept.
    The main components to set up an ebb and flow system are plant tray, timer, nutrient solution reservoir, and submersible pump.
    • Plant or flood tray
    This plant tray is a big and shallow container. It is also referred to as the flood tray. This is where the plants are placed in pots that are perforated and filled with growing medium. The flood or plant tray is always flooded by pumping nutrient-filled water from the reservoir below.
    So, the nutrient-filled water flows from the pot below up into the plant’s root. Then the water is drained back outside and this allows the root of the plant to become dry and receives oxygen. Then after this, the tray is flooded again and the mechanism continues.
    • Reservoir, timer, and submersible pump action
    Directly below the flood or plant tray, you will find the reservoir. The set up from the reservoir connects to the flood tray through a drain tube or fill tube. The drain tube is connected to the submersible pump with a timer. This timer help control the flow of water up into the flood tray.
    Then the power of gravity allows the tube to be pulled back out and drained into the reservoir once the plant tray has been flooded. So, the water is reused as this mechanism is repeated time and time again.
    This nutrient-filled water from the reservoir can be reused for up to a week. But the nutrient-filled water will need to be changed so to maintain and renew nutrients for the plants.
    Customization of your ebb and flow hydro system is possible with the timer and submersible pump. It allows you to control the length and frequency of watering according to your garden or plant needs.

    What Are The Disadvantages Of Ebb And Flow?

    Even though ebb and flow hydro systems offer great benefits, there are still some cons to this hydroponic system. They include:
    1. Possible PH fluctuation: there is the possibility of pH fluctuation if the system fails. It may cause water to overflow into the containers and consequently flood the pants in your flood trays. Hence, this causes unbearable pH that can have harmful effects on your farm.
    2. Possible power failure: any equipment failure that may be due to power failure can cause your system not to operate. Thereby causing system failure.
    3. Possible breakdown of the system: your ebb and flow system may break down due to any little mistake. This is why you need to be extra careful with setting up your system. The most common breakdown experienced by most growers is with their pumping machines.

    What Is A Major Advantage Of The Ebb And Flow System?

    We have discussed the set up of ebb and flow hydro systems. Now let’s delve into the advantages they offer:
    1. Affordability: this type of hydro system is pretty affordable and efficient. It is a low cost hydroponic system that can save you money especially if you build it yourself.
    2. No expertise is needed: you don’t need to be an expert to set up the ebb and flow hydro system. This is in comparison to other complex and expensive hydroponic system that usually requires the knowledge of an expert. Hence, it is an easy to build a hydroponic system.
    3. Easy operation: the operation of this hydroponic system is also pretty easy. Just make sure optimal nutrient solution is always available to your plants.
    4. Abundant nutrient supply for plants: additionally, your plants get abundant nutrient supply because of the flood and drain concept. Your plant or grow tray is frequently flooded with nutrient-filled water. This is beneficial to plants such as strawberries that need heavy loads of nutrients.
    5. Little to no technical assistance or supervision: again, this hydro system doesn’t need too much supervision and maintenance. Therefore, little to no technical assistance will be required. When it comes to using these ebb and flow hydro systems, your chances of achieving great success with plants that don’t do well in other hydroponic systems are increased. For instance, you can grow plants such as beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other media to large sized plants.

    What Is The Best Grow Medium For Ebb And Flow?

    When it comes to the best growing media to be used in your ebb and flow hydro systems, any grow media is actually great to be used. Anything from coco coir to Hydroton, perlite, Rockwool, oasis cubes, and so on.

  • When To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms – Guide On The Best Harvest Time

    When To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms – Guide On The Best Harvest Time

    Do you know when to harvest oyster mushrooms? In this guide, you will learn or find out how and when you can correctly harvest oyster mushrooms.

    One mushroom variety that is commonly loved by most gardeners is oyster mushrooms. When it comes to growing oyster mushrooms, it can be a fairly easy thing to do so far you have the right knowledge on how to go about it.

    So, once you’re done growing your oyster mushroom, the right time to harvest is also important to know. This is so you harvest them properly and you don’t keep them past their due date.

    So, in this article, we will be looking into when to harvest oyster mushrooms. So, keep on reading to know more about the harvesting period for oyster mushrooms.

    When To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms

    Getting to know when to harvest oyster mushrooms is pretty important so you don’t keep them past their due date harvest them too early.

    So, the stage we gardeners are always anticipating when growing our oyster mushroom is the harvesting period. We would like to know when to harvest oyster mushrooms.

    Once, you’ve successfully introduced your spawn and inoculated it into the growing medium of your choice, then your mushroom should begin to fruit.

    When To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms

    The fruiting stage is the phase to look out for as this is the stage you should start getting ready to harvest your oyster mushrooms. This is because as fruiting begins, things tend to move very fast so far you are maintaining nicely hydrated fungus.

    So, fruiting usually commences once the substrate has been entirely colonized by the spawn. This fruiting you see is the last surviving response of the mycelium.

    During this fruiting period, you should begin to notice your mushrooms growing bigger every hour. Therefore, it is imperative you keep a close eye on your mushrooms and start preparing to harvest your oyster mushrooms. This is so your mushroom doesn’t grow too big and dry.

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    How Do You Know When Oyster Mushrooms Are Ready?

    So, to know when to harvest oyster mushrooms, there are some physical characteristics you should notice.

    Once you notice your oyster mushrooms are starting to flatten out at the top of the edges or they begin to turn upwards, then it’s time to harvest. They should be harvested at this point and harvesting should not be delayed so they don’t start to drop lots of spores.

    Although, this stage may be quite confusing to judge particularly if it’s your first time growing oyster mushroom. But with frequent practice and the right guide, you should become familiar with it.

    Additionally, if you see that your oyster mushrooms are growing larger, then harvesting time is set. Also, if they are beginning to dry out or they are dropping lots of dust, then it’s time to harvest. Drying out is a sign that the oyster mushroom has been left to grow longer and should have been harvested sooner. But you can still go ahead and harvest them.

    Furthermore, when you buy a complete mushroom kit, it usually comes with instructions for you to know the particular time frame for picking your oyster mushroom. You can follow this time frame and work on it.

    You can also make an estimate of when your oyster mushroom should be ready depending on the conditions your mushroom grew under.

    Read more about When To Plant Bush Beans

    How To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms

    When it comes to harvesting your oyster mushroom, you should aim to harvest the edge of the mushroom cap once you see these caps have begun to flatten out. These mushroom caps can be twisted with your hands or you can cut the cluster off with a sharp knife or scissors.

    How Long Do Oyster Mushrooms Take To Grow?

    Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow and they are fast growers. They can grow as fast as 20 days or they may take some weeks. However, how fast they grow usually depends on the type of species you’re growing and the process by which you choose to grow them.

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    Here are a few things to consider you should know about how long your oyster mushroom may take to grow:

    • If you’re just buying a complete mushroom grow kit and just fruiting, then it can take around 10 days for the mushroom to form.
    • The type of oyster mushroom species you choose can also determine the period length they tend to grow.
    • If you are using a low nutrient regime, then it may take longer to grow.
    • Using a high nutrient substrate on the other hand can increase your yield and fruiting can happen faster. However, a high nutrient plan requires sterilizing media, and a lab is required for inoculations.
    • Some substrate can also determine how fast your oyster mushroom can grow. Some of these substrates include straw, toilet paper, woodchips, etc. These substrates can take around 3 to 5 weeks to grow. But using substrates such as logs for instance can take about 6 months or more to grow.

    How Many Times Can You Harvest Oyster Mushrooms?

    You can harvest your mushroom about 3 times before the mycelium fruit is exhausted. And you can get a new flush of mushrooms approximately every 10 days for 5 to weeks depending on the variety of oyster mushrooms.

    How Do You Store Oyster Mushrooms After Harvesting?

    Now that we know when and how to harvest our oyster mushrooms, then let’s get to know how to store them.

    So, after harvesting your oyster mushroom, you should wrap them in a damp paper towel. Then put them in a brown paper bag. Once you do this, it will stop them from drying out.

    How Do You Store Oyster Mushrooms After Harvesting

    Then you should keep your wrapped oyster mushroom at the bottom of the fridge with other vegetables. This part shouldn’t be as cold as other parts of the fridge.

    When To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms Conclusion

    Oyster mushrooms are great-tasting mushrooms that you and your family can eat and they are very healthy. Harvesting these mushrooms is pretty easy and we have given you some good tips on how to go about it. So, do well to look through our guide.

    FAQ’S

    How Long Do Oyster Mushrooms Take To Grow?

    Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow and they are fast growers. They can grow as fast as 20 days or they may take some weeks. However, how fast they grow usually depends on the type of species you’re growing and the process by which you choose to grow them.
    Here are a few things to consider you should know about how long your oyster mushroom may take to grow:
    • If you’re just buying a complete mushroom grow kit and just fruiting, then it can take around 10 days for the mushroom to form.
    • The type of oyster mushroom species you choose can also determine the period length they tend to grow.
    • If you are using a low nutrient regime, then it may take longer to grow.
    • Using a high nutrient substrate on the other hand can increase your yield and fruiting can happen faster. However, a high nutrient plan requires sterilizing media, and a lab is required for inoculations.
    • Some substrate can also determine how fast your oyster mushroom can grow. Some of these substrates include straw, toilet paper, woodchips, etc. These substrates can take around 3 to 5 weeks to grow. But using substrates such as logs for instance can take about 6 months or more to grow.

    How To Harvest Oyster Mushrooms

    When it comes to harvesting your oyster mushroom, you should aim to harvest the edge of the mushroom cap once you see these caps have begun to flatten out. These mushroom caps can be twisted with your hands or you can cut the cluster off with a sharp knife or scissors.

    How Do You Know When Oyster Mushrooms Are Ready?

    So, to know when to harvest oyster mushrooms, there are some physical characteristics you should notice.
    Once you notice your oyster mushrooms are starting to flatten out at the top of the edges or they begin to turn upwards, then it’s time to harvest. They should be harvested at this point and harvesting should not be delayed so they don’t start to drop lots of spores.
    Although, this stage may be quite confusing to judge particularly if it’s your first time growing oyster mushroom. But with frequent practice and the right guide, you should become familiar with it.
    Additionally, if you see that your oyster mushrooms are growing larger, then harvesting time is set. Also, if they are beginning to dry out or they are dropping lots of dust, then it’s time to harvest. Drying out is a sign that the oyster mushroom has been left to grow longer and should have been harvested sooner. But you can still go ahead and harvest them.
    Furthermore, when you buy a complete mushroom kit, it usually comes with instructions for you to know the particular time frame for picking your oyster mushroom. You can follow this time frame and work on it.
    You can also make an estimate of when your oyster mushroom should be ready depending on the conditions your mushroom grew under.

    How Many Times Can You Harvest Oyster Mushrooms?

    You can harvest your mushroom about 3 times before the mycelium fruit is exhausted. And you can get a new flush of mushrooms approximately every 10 days for 5 to weeks depending on the variety of oyster mushrooms.

    How Do You Store Oyster Mushrooms After Harvesting?

    Now that we know when and how to harvest our oyster mushrooms, then let’s get to know how to store them.
    So, after harvesting your oyster mushroom, you should wrap them in a damp paper towel. Then put them in a brown paper bag. Once you do this, it will stop them from drying out.
    Then you should keep your wrapped oyster mushroom at the bottom of the fridge with other vegetables. This part shouldn’t be as cold as other parts of the fridge.

  • Grow Room Cost Calculator

    Grow Room Cost Calculator

    Do you have a grow room where different sizes of plants are grown in a controlled environment? If the answer is yes. Then a grow room cost calculator is important for proper planning. So, let’s discuss grow room cost calculator.

    A typical or a commercial grow root setup is fast becoming a thing in the United State. Electricity will surely be required in your grow room. So, calculating the cost of electricity for your grow room and other things to be used is essential so you can understand how to run your system and so you don’t go out of budget.

    It may be pretty confusing calculating the cost of electricity that your grow will consume. But with the right knowledge, you can work your way around it.

    So, this is why we would be discussing grow room cost calculator so you can plan your indoor garden properly.

    How Much Would A Grow Room Cost?

    The cost of your grow room usually depends on some factors. You need to factor in all the equipment and supplies to determine the cost you will be using inside your grow room. But you can read below to have a brief idea of the cost of a grow room.

    How Much Would A Grow Room Cost

    How Much Does It Cost To Start A Growing Operation?

    Before you begin making serious plans to start a grow room operation, you need to ask yourself how much the cost for a grow room operation is. It is a very crucial question so you can make proper plans.

    Answering this question may not be so easy or straightforward, but we would give you some clue as to the estimated cost so you can be enlightened on this.

    Now when it comes to estimating the cost of grow-room operation, there are some things or factors that need to be considered when establishing the operation cost.

    Factors such as light, temperature, ventilation, irrigation, climate control, and so on should be considered. This is because all these things need to be artificially controlled.

    However, an average estimate for a grow room cost operation for a large-scale operation is around 42 dollars per square foot. But this estimated cost can vary in many ways and this depends on the type of facilities and cultivation methods.

    Take for example; when we are referring to the start-up cost per square foot for a greenhouse, it is around 50 dollars. Then for an indoor grow room cost on the other hand is around 75 dollars per square foot. But outdoor cultivation is the least expensive at around 10 dollars per square foot.

    But let’s generally look into more details on some factors that can determine the cost of grow room so that you can make proper plans.

    How Much Does It Cost To Start A Growing Operation

    Grow Room Cost Calculator: Some Factor To Determine Cost

    • Light

    Grow lights are essential for an indoor room cost calculator. So, when it comes to grow-light. We have two most common types and they are light-emitting diodes (LED) and high-intensity discharge (HID). LED grow lights usually cost more while HID is moderately priced.

    However, HID grow light emits lots of heat and can increase the cost of your climate control. LED on the other hand doesn’t generate too much heat. They only tend to be more expensive. However, LED grow light may consume more electricity thereby making you save more money eventually.

    • Climate Control And Temperature

    You need to have an upper hand regarding the climate control of your grow room. This is because climate control tends to have a good impact on the well-being and profit of your plants. This is particularly important when it comes to temperature. Air circulation and humidity are also other climate conditions to factor in.

    Therefore, you should put things in place such as fans, air conditioners, and so on.

    • Irrigation

    Even hand watering can be used in your grow room; making use of an ideal irrigation system will make things much easier for you. Also, the ideal irrigation system will deliver the appropriate amount of water to each of your plants.

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    Grow Room Electricity Calculator

    Grow room cost calculator can be estimated using the formula:  Cost of electricity x Number of hours x Watts/ 1000) = Total cost

    So, let’s look into each part of the equation above to determine how to get our values for the equation.

    • Cost Of Electricity

    The cost of electricity is mainly what you pay for your electricity and this is mostly found in your electricity bill. The cost of electricity is measured in kWh.

    • Number Of Hours

    You will need to run your electrical appliance in your grow room. This needs to be estimated.

    For instance, most growers like to keep their grow light on for about 18 hours. Then switch the grow light off for about 12 hours just to give the plant some rest. This is to achieve a light and dark phase for your plants.

    On the other hand, some growers can opt to keep their grow lights all through 24 hours every day because it helps speed up the vegetative phase.

    • Watts

    With the different electrical appliances, you have in your grow room, they all will draw some number of watts from the wall. These electrical appliances include grow-light, rotating fans, exhaust, and so on. All these electrical appliance wattage needs to be calculated. Grow room cost calculator needs their values to estimate the cost of your grow room.

    So, after obtaining all these listed above values, you can input them into the equation. Then divide it by 1000 just to convert the number of watts to KiloWatts (kW).

    Number Of Hours

    Do Grow Lights Use A Lot Of Electricity?

    The electricity used by your grow light usually depends on the type of grow light used. The most common grow light known to indoor growers are light-emitting diodes (LED) and high-intensity discharge (HID).

    Even though LED grow lights are usually more expensive than HID, LED grow light usually consumes lesser wattage compared to HID grow lights.  LED also offers bright light with lesser wattage. HID on the other hand consumes more wattage and doesn’t give much brightness,

    Grow Light Cost Calculator – Additional Say

    You can calculate your grow light cost by knowing the amount of time you will be running your grow light. You should note that different stages of the plant phase (vegetative, flowering, and fruiting) require different light duration.

    Then figure out the actual wattage your grow light consumes from the wall to determine the grow light cost.

    FAQs

    How Much Would A Grow Room Cost?

    The cost of your grow room usually depends on some factors. You need to factor in all the equipment and supplies to determine the cost you will be using inside your grow room. But you can read below to have a brief idea of the cost of a grow room.

    How Much Does It Cost To Start A Growing Operation?

    Before you begin making serious plans to start a grow room operation, you need to ask yourself how much the cost for a grow room operation is. It is a very crucial question so you can make proper plans.
    Answering this question may not be so easy or straightforward, but we would give you some clue as to the estimated cost so you can be enlightened on this.
    Now when it comes to estimating the cost of grow room operation, there are some things or factors that need to be considered when establishing the operation cost.
    Factors such as light, temperature, ventilation, irrigation, climate control, and so on should be considered. This is because all these things need to be artificially controlled.
    However, an average estimate for a grow room cost operation for a large-scale operation is around 42 dollars per square foot. But this estimated cost can vary in many ways and this depends on the type of facilities and cultivation methods.
    Take for example; when we are referring to the start-up cost per square foot for a greenhouse, it is around 50 dollars. Then for an indoor grow room cost on the other hand is around 75 dollars per square foot. But outdoor cultivation is the least expensive at around 10 dollars per square foot.
    But let’s generally look into more details on some factors that can determine the cost of grow room so that you can make proper plans;

    Do Grow Lights Use A Lot Of Electricity?

    The electricity used by your grow light usually depends on the type of grow light used. The most common grow light known to indoor growers are light emitting diodes (LED) and high intensity discharge (HID).
    Even though LED grow lights are usually more expensive than HID, LED grow light usually consumes lesser wattage compared to HID grow lights. LED also offers bright light with lesser wattage. HID on the other hand consumes more wattage and doesn’t give much brightness,

  • Hydroponics Medium Types

    Hydroponics Medium Types

    Let’s talk hydroponics medium types. Hydroponics medium is one of the types of growing medium that may be used for growing plants. A growing medium basically involves any solid material which may be fibers, sponge, pebbles, shreds, or barks. These materials are used to hold nutrient solutions and then slowly released to plant roots.

    So, when using the hydroponic system, the grower does not depend on soil to support plants and supply nutrients. You would rather depend on a selected hydroponic media to provide support for the roots and maintain water content.

    While there are different systems of hydroponics you should know about, these systems work on the basis of suitable materials. This means that the growing media you chose for growing your plants will be as important as the system you use them in.

    The hydroponics growing medium involves the selection of a wide variety of growing media to be used. This is a guide on how to use the hydroponic growing media and the hydroponics medium types are also discussed. The strength of the different growing media is also discussed.

    Before we delve into the major hydroponics medium types, let’s discuss what the medium of hydroponics truly means.

    What Is The Medium Of Hydroponics?

    The growing medium of hydroponics involves a system where the plant growing medium takes the place of soil. The medium does not act as a nutrient provider like the soil but serves as a support to keep the plant upright. Virtually inert materials are used as a growing medium.

    The Hydroponics growing medium basically involves a simple soil-less material that is largely porous. This feature makes it possible for moisture and oxygen to be well circulated to the root system of the plant. Where a non-porous hydroponic material is used, there will be a need for more watering.

    The use of hydroponics growing medium and continuous watering of plants with ordinary water will not yield fruits. For you to get any meaningful result, you must water the plant with nutrient-filled nutrients. This is because, unlike the soil, the hydroponics medium lacks nutrients for growth.

    Although it cannot be said that one hydroponic growing media is better than another, some are easier to use. There are however a lot of factors that must be considered when picking a growing media. The system with which you will use it, and how it’s designed are big factors to consider.

    The goal of a hydroponic system is basically to keep the roots of plants moist- not saturated nor soggy. Where the growing system allows for too much water, the roots will suffocate from lack of oxygen. This would very easily lead to root dying or rot.

    Major Hydroponic Growing Media

    The following are the major types of hydroponics growing media:

    ·         Coconut Coir

    Also referred to as coco coir; it is made from the outer husk of coconuts. Coco coir is a byproduct made from the rough, brown, fibrous husks of coconuts. It is an entirely organic material that holds water exceptionally well and allows for proper aeration. It is also an eco-friendly material, completely renewable, and can easily be composted when no longer needed. Most users use it alongside other media like perlite for best results.

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    Hydroponics Medium Types
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    ·         Rockwool – Hydroponics Medium Types

    This is a fascinating material for hydroponic growing media for plants. This material is created by melting rock and thereafter spinning it into fibers. The Rockwool fibers are thereafter compressed into cubes of different sizes used for hydroponic plant growing.

    This media has good water retention abilities and excellent aeration. The drawbacks of this media are that it is not environmentally friendly and it has high pH content. The dust from the fiber may also cause a serious irritant to the eyes.

    ·         Expanded Clay Pellets

    This is one of the most used hydroponic media used in recent times. It is made by expanding clay so as to form round balls of porous material. The clay pellets have the advantage of having a neutral pH level, being reusable, and releasing almost no nutrients to the soil.

    ·         Rocks And Gravel

    Natural rocks gravel processed from rocks such as perlite and vermiculite are also used as growing media. They have the advantage of being cheap, readily available, and drain very well. The downside however is that they are heavy and hold very little water. This makes them very undesirable in systems where the root relies on some water.

    ·         Perlite – Hydroponics Medium Types

    This is one of the most common growing media. Perlite is usually made from volcanic glass. When the volcanic glass which normally contains tiny pockets of water is subjected to high temperature, the water expands.

    This expansion creates thousands of tiny pores from which perlite is gotten. Due to the small size of the perlite, it is used to add drainage, water, and air to a plant growing medium.

    Major Hydroponic Growing Media - Perlite

    Hydroponic Growing Medium Alternatives

    If you are not interested in using hydroponic growing media, you may consider the use of hydroponic alternatives. Below are some growing alternatives:

    • Sawdust: the use of sawdust has recorded some success as a hydroponic growing medium alternative. There are lots of factors that come into play in determining how well this works. The type of wood used and how pure such wood was are a few. Also, there is a high possibility of sawdust being contaminated by diseases or pathogens.
    • Rice Hulls: this is the byproduct of the rice milling process. This process usually involves the use of the coating of unprocessed rice which has peeled off. This alternative is usually used in places where rice processing is largely a practice.
    • Sand: sand is another widely used alternative to the hydroponic growing medium. One major con with the use of sand is that it lacks the ability to retain water and it has very poor aeration abilities. Sand is usually packed together making it difficult for roots to be exposed to air. It however has the advantage of being readily available.
    Hydroponic Growing Medium Alternatives

    Hydroponics Medium Types Conclusion

    Hydroponics Medium is a system as you have seen above that can be used for plant cultivation. It largely involves the absence of soil when growing plants. It offers plants the advantage of media with water retention abilities and excellent aeration.

    Some of the major hydroponic media and their alternatives are discussed above. If you are interested in trying out this method of plant cultivation, this should be a good guide for you.

    FAQ’s

    What Is The Medium Of Hydroponics?

    The growing medium of hydroponics involves a system where the plant growing medium takes the place of soil. The medium does not act as a nutrient provider like the soil but serves as a support to keep the plant upright. Virtually inert materials are used as a growing medium.
    The Hydroponics growing medium basically involves a simple soil-less material that is largely porous. This feature makes it possible for moisture and oxygen to be well circulated to the root system of the plant. Where a non-porous hydroponic material is used, there will be a need for more watering.
    The use of hydroponics growing medium and continuous watering of plants with ordinary water will not yield fruits. For you to get any meaningful result, you must water the plant with nutrient-filled nutrients. This is because, unlike the soil, the hydroponics medium lacks nutrients for growth.
    Although it cannot be said that one hydroponic growing media is better than another, some are easier to use. There are however a lot of factors that must be considered when picking a growing media. The system with which you will use it, and how it’s designed are big factors to consider.
    The goal of a hydroponic system is basically to keep the roots of plants moist- not saturated nor soggy. Where the growing system allows for too much water, the roots will suffocate from lack of oxygen. This would very easily lead to root dying or rot.