Vinegar-Based Pickling:

Pickling is a great way to extend the life of the vegetables you grow.  It also happens to add a deliciously sour, tangy zing that’s fun to enjoy independently or as part of a dish.  “Quick Pickling” with vinegar is the easiest way of doing it.  The process uses the acidy of vinegar to preserve your vegetables.  Over time, foods pickled with vinegar will lose some of their nutritional value, but that doesn’t mean they won’t stay delicious and crunchy over time.

What Can Be Pickled:

You can pickle any fruit or vegetable you want.  Cucumbers and peppers...

Many people ask about growing different types of fruits and vegetables together, when growing with hydroponics.  When growing fruits and vegetables with hydroponics, you will generally grow fastest if you stay within the recommended PPM and pH range for individual plants (see below).  However, your plants will still grow well outside of those ranges.  The most basic impacts of growing outside of those ranges are:

• Less food production
• Changes to the taste of produce

We try to provide cherry tomatoes, herbs and lettuce when iHarvesters are just beginning to grow because it's a great way to learn...

Overview:

The type of white, fuzzy fungus that grows directly on your plants is most often referred to as ‘powdery mildew’.  It is a common fungal disease that impacts plant leaves and stems.  It’s different than the beneficial fungi you may see growing in your hydroponic media.  Powdery mildew attaches to your plants leaves and stems.  In most cases, it will not kill your plant, however It spreads rapidly and can have a negative impact on the growth and aesthetics of your plants.  Therefore, you will want to remove it.

Steps for Removing Powdery Mildew:

Step 1: Remove plant...

Occasionally, a small amount of white fuzz will show up on your growing media.  This is likely a beneficial fungi that grows naturally on both soil and hydroponic media.  It is part of a healthy ecosystem where moisture and organic material are present.  You do not have to worry about it negatively impacting you or your plants in any way. 

As your plants grow, the fungi will disappear from view.  But if you prefer, it is ok to remove it with your fingertip or a Q-tip.  You can also add a drop of hydrogen peroxide to remove it.

Keep in...

Introduction:

I am occasionally asked whether it is necessary to “flush” or completely change out the water in the iHarvest^TM.  Water in the iHarvest^TM never has to be flushed, however doing so may offer benefits.  For most users, I would suggest doing this very infrequently (perhaps every 6-12 months), unless they notice a change in the growth or taste of their fruits and veggies.

Science Stuff:

The reason you may want to flush the water in your hydroponic garden is because your plants will sometimes uptake more of one nutrient than another.  Over time, this can...

Starting your seedlings:

If you purchased a seedling starter kit at IGWorks.com starting your seedlings will be easy.

• Assemble the kit and place it on the heating mat
• Place 1-3 seeds in each rapid rooter pod
• Make sure the pods are nice and wet, but that water does not pool up in the kit
• Watch your seedlings grow, and place them in the iHarvest when they’ve sprouted

If you didn’t purchase a seedling starter kit, don’t worry.  You can make your own...

Read the article