Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
8-gallon reservoir. As solution is used up by the plants from the lower res-
ervoir, an automatic float valve will draw solution from the upper master
reservoir. This system is fine for growing vine crops such as tomatoes and
peppers. The nutrient controller system costs about $70 and a complete
8-Pak system costs $525.
General Hydroponics has a somewhat larger unit called EuroGrower.
This system consists of eight plastic Dutch Bato Bucket pots (Figure 7.6)
that sit on top of a 40-gallon reservoir. The dimensions are 4 feet 7 inches
long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet tall. Each Bato bucket has a siphon drain fit-
ting that maintains a water level of about 1 inch at the bottom of the pot.
It drains the pots to the underlying reservoir. A submersible pump in the
reservoir feeds the plants with a drip irrigation line to each pot. The pots
are filled with a mixture of Grorox and coco coir.
Vegetables and flowers grow well in this system. It is priced at $525.
There are also larger systems for growing vine crops such as tomatoes
(Figure 7.7).
FIGURE 7.6
The “EuroGrower” consists of 8 Bato buckets of 8 gallons each
sitting on top of a 40-gallon reservoir. (Courtesy of General Hydroponics,
Sebastopol, California.)
