Page 28 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2025

around late October to early November.
From the cells the plants are then
transplanted into 9cm (3”) pots, with water
of an EC of 1.2 and a pH of 5.8. From this
point on they are left on a feeding tray
(Alwyn also uses a Easy2grow kit placed in
the bottom of an old gerbil cage!). Control
of the watering is all important and are
fed only from the bottom of the tray using
the Easy2grow system. The pots are lifted
regularly to ensure that the pots are not too
wet if we feel they are, we turn the system
off for a day as we are striving to drive the
root system downwards to the bottom of
the pots. At this stage the tomatoes, chillies
and cucumbers will have a dose of Calmag
(Calcium nitrate) solution. As our water
has an EC of 0.7 we add Calmag / Calcium
nitrate to an EC of 1.0 and then Easy2Grow
liquid plant fertiliser feed which makes the
solution up to a range of 1.2 to 1.3.
When the roots are emerging from the
bottom of the pots and are well developed,
they are then potted up in 2 litre deep
square pots. The reason for square pots
is that the depth of the pot is the same as
the 8.50 litre AutoPot. The other advantage
being that the root tips tend to gather in the
corners and are driven down. When using
a round pot the roots will formulate around
the pot in circles. The EC at this stage will
be at 1.4 with a pH of 5.8, again they are fed
from the bottom only and are still grown
under lights with the air temperature of
13⁰C (55⁰F)
When the roots have developed strongly
and can be seen emerging from the bottom
of the pot, they are moved on to their final
AutoPot system. Tomatoes and cucumbers
grow well in 8.5 litre pots while I use either
15 or 25 litre AutoPots for my leeks and
onions. Once in their final pot, the cucurbits,
tomatoes, chillies and Aubergines will be
given a further dose of Calmag as above
with the final EC being 1.6.
Once everything has been planted, we
turn the system on ensuring that all the
reservoirs fill up. If all is working fine, they
28 Simply Vegetables
are then left on for 24 to 36 hours, at which
point the system is switched off as each pot
should be fully saturated. Three pots will
be selected from the system to feel their
weight. After 2 to 3 days these pots are
lifted again, if they have become noticeably
lighter turn the system on, if not check
again in another 2 to 3 days. Continue to do
this for about 14 days, the purpose is again
to drive the roots system down. Once the
root system is down, the system is then left
on continuously.
FINAL EC READING THAT WE USE
Over a period of a few weeks all of these
plants will have the EC in their water
reservoir gradually increased to the
following as they fully develop:
Onions 1.6 to 1.8
Leeks 1.8
Tomatoes 2.4
Cucumbers 2.0
Aubergines 2.4
(allow 2 branches to form.
Take first set of flowers off)
Chillies & Peppers 2.2
(Take all the first flowers off)
When the tomatoes, chillies etc are
fully cropping, the water reservoir is
supplemented with a monthly feed of
Calmag which will help to prevent Blossom
end rot on the fruit. During a prolonged
period of really hot weather, lasting more
than a week, we drop the EC levels as
follows:
Onions 1.4
Leeks 1.4
Tomatoes 1.8
Cucumbers 1.8
Aubergines 1.8
Chillies & Peppers 1.8
The exception to the above is Celery,
when they are young plants, they have a
weekly dose of Calmag to an EC of 1.0 and
then add A and B nutrients which takes it
up to 1.2 to 1.3. When the celery plants are
in their final pots once a week, we will add
Calmag to an EC of 1.6 and then add A and
B nutrients to take the EC up to 2.4.
Using the different systems available,
apart from the Tap Roots, our last display at
the Chelsea flower show was grown using
AutoPots and Canna Products in a peat
free growing medium without soil.
HINTS/TIPS
Place the reservoir about 4 inches above
the system.
In Summer we fill 2Ltr drinks bottles (e.g.
a Coke Bottle) with water and place in the
freezer. Then in the morning place them
in the water reservoir. This is to keep the