Salads and herbs from DIY hydroponic systems

Pupils in the subject "technology in practice" made severeal hydroponic systems in wich they grow different herbs and salads"

We used the method in these videos to make the towers:

Part list: 

Growing system:

We used a plastic barrel, minimum 40l, a gardenhose, a pvc pipe (150 mm, 2m), PVC pipe big enough for garden hose and a pump for hydroponic systems, lifting height approx 2 m.

extra lighning.

Planting: 

plastic pots with holes, 7,5 cm or 5 cm diamater

seeds

Nutrients for hydroponics

Experiences with growing  salads in hydroponic tower

Picture 1: Salads 8 days, picture 2: salads 22 days, picture 3: salads 29 days

Harvest after 6 weeks gave approx 600 grams of salad for 0,25 m2. With the possibility of 8 batches a year, 1 m2 could produce somewhere between 15 and 19 kg  salad a year. 

The lower plants grew slower due to lack of light.

The 40l bucket should be replaced by a larger one - after week 4 the system needed refilling quite often.