Latest Hydroponics News

Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper Now The Hottest Chilli In The World!!!

Many of the staff at 3 Counties love anything hot so some of us love the news that there is now a new chilli that is certified as the hottest in the world by the guiness world records! As soon as we get hold of some of these seeds we will keep you updated of the progress of them grown hydroponically and then more importantly how we handle the finished product! (Gulp!)

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When you can't spread out, spread up. That's what growers of everything from broccoli to strawberries are doing in a disused office block in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

The problem with cities is that whilst they have big populations that need feeding, there is usually very little space to grow food. Consequently produce is flown from all over the world and brought into cities by lorries. This causes much environmental harm due to fossil fuels being burnt for transport. Indeed, a typical UK supermarket trolley of food will have travelled a distance of 3,000 km before making it to your shelves at home. This is where vertical farming comes in. As previously discussed in a previous news post we explained how important vertical farming will be in the future and Manchester is where it all starts!

There are currently vertical farms working in Japan and Holland but to date, there is no multi-storey, indoor farming in an urban building which makes Wythenshawe's Alpha Farm a world first.

Alpha Farm will be attempting to grow fruit and veg such as broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, carrots and strawberries. According to the organisers, by the time the next Manchester International Festival rolls around in 2013 they hope to be harvesting some of the goods for everyone to try! Mmmm....

We sell a vertical cage system which is made up of 72 plant sites in vertical poles that make it possible to grow plants floor to ceiling! They can be found here.

Full Article can be found here.

I Never Promised You a (Hydroponic) Rose Garden

It is not just fruit, vegetable and herbs that can be grown using hydroponics. It is also possible to cultivate roses, the focal point of many an ornamental garden or floral display, with spectacular results. In fact, commercial growers of roses are increasingly using hydroponics, as the techniques involve less expense on labour, and are not dependent upon the idiosyncrasies of outside factors such as sunshine and rainfall.

The best results are probably gained by growing from cuttings, and then growing on using Nutrient Film Technique, although Flood-and-Drain can also be used. Many growers have had good results using perlite or coco coir as growing media, as these seem best for roses in terms of nutrient uptake. You can choose from shrub roses, climbing roses or more modern varieties, but be sure to employ a trellis if needed to support the stems of climbing roses.

Some tips for growing roses using hydroponics:

• When growing roses using hydroponics, maintain a neutral pH of between 6.5 and 7.5.
• High Intensity Discharge lighting systems can be too intense for many varieties of rose. Your plants will probably respond better to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).
• Just as you would in a standard rose garden, you should be sure to regularly prune your plants. The removal of dead flower heads and old wood will promote the growth of healthy new stems.

150w DIGITAL HPS LIGHTING SYSTEMS

We are now stocking cute-looking, but surprisingly powerful, 150w HPS Digital lighting systems. For all customers who currently have to use CFL lighting in their Secret Jardin DR60 Grow Tents, but would much rather be getting the yields of High Pressure Sodium lights! This hydroponic lighting kit comes with a Maxibright Digital Ballast, Euro reflector and Sunmaster 150w Dual Spectrum Bulb.

These terrific lighting kits are, as usual with 3CH, available at a great price - see below. Grab yours today!

http://3ch.co.uk/grow-lights/hid-grow-lights/maxibright-150-watt-digilight-system/prod_1150.html

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