First crack at Kratky [1/4/2021]

Over the last few weeks I have been constructing my make-shift grow tent set up for (some of) my Kratky containers.  I constructed a sort of "tent" on some chrome shelves last weekend and wanted to see how it went over the week before reporting...

Here is the general set-up:


20210124_174313 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

20210124_174119 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


The mylar tenting does insulate some, but not a lot (not nearly as much as the tenting for my AG machines). This is because (most likely) it is against a concrete wall that is cold and in the middle of the cold basement (as I have documenting endlessly here). Right now it is sticking about about 63 to 65 degrees. Not ideal, but things are working. As documented in my garden threads, the first whisper of buds are starting to set.

I had tried to drape some Mylar over the light (making a closed system), but it did not do anything for the temperature so I removed.

Though I am not crafty, and this took me forever to concoct, I felt/feel like I had some good ideas. I used Velcro tape strips to adhere to the posts of the shelving unit and the back of the Mylar they are on every post. I also made a a front that removes/folds over/folds down so I can check on the plants. Had I done this all at once and knew in advance what I was doing rather than making it up as I went along, I think it could have made it slightly more functional. I am planning to repeat on a second unit with greens under a grow bulb.

The eggplant is still growing very slowly, but it is growing so I will count it as a win.

The cucumber is still growing slowly as well. Once I transplanted it a few weeks ago, the leaves started to unfurl more, but they are starting to curl some again:

20210124_174735 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

I may have been too aggressive with the nutrient blend mix...not really sure. I see some fuzzies that can maybe become buds/flowers...question is, they are under the large leaves. Should I cut them off to "expose" to light or leave? I have never grown cucumbers so really have no idea. The progress feels very slow, but maybe not. For the last few weeks I had placed a small wire grid next to it to see if it would vine out and grab onto it (it says will need to be trellised) but no takers (as of yet). the plant is supposed to be about 12" tall and up to 48" wide (at full maturity). These were free seeds and so a total experiment for fun. I do love the whiff of "cucumbery" smell I get when I pass it. I love cucumbers! My mom says it is because she ate them a lot when she was pregnant with me and in fact ate a large plate of them the day I was born (6 weeks early).

Yeah I am skeptical of how well they will do indoors. I read an article where someone grew them in buckets (but in soil) indoors with success so figured worth a try. These are parthenocarpic and can grow large, but best picked smaller so am intrigued.