HYDROPONIC DESIGN
Which System Is Right For You?

Ebb and flow, lettuce raft, NFT, Aeroponics! How do you know which one is best for your needs?

In our section "4 Simple Systems" in Simon's box at the
end of this page, we will give more detail to help you decide. But for
now, a quick introduction to the most basic, but still very popular hydroponic designs.

LETTUCE RAFT-
For lettuces, spinach, endive, other low-growing, small, lightweight
crops, a lettuce raft is simple, easy and economical. They just thrive
on this impressive setup! I have never had a lettuce crop fail on one
of these babies. You could start with this system and later add
individual pots for tomatoes, celery and peppers.

Baby romaine in one of my lettuce rafts

EBB & FLOW-
For a mixed bag; lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, you name
it, consider an ebb & flow planting bed. This is a very popular and
dependable unit, highly recommended for beginners as well as loved by
the pros. This system consists of a large flat basin filled with square
pots that have openings in the bottom to let the juices in. There's
room for 24 large pots in the 4X4 tray... awesome!

Young ebb & flow garden
You can pack a lot of produce into these flats

DUTCH BUCKETS- If
you wish to concentrate on the larger, individual potted crops, like
tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, beans, melons or squash,
a network of top drip pots (Bato or Dutch buckets) or the wick action
Autopots (below) might fit the bill.

Dutch Bato buckets, newly planted with
beans, peppers, tomato & eggplants

AUTOPOTS®- Autopots®
run themselves without a pump/timer, but are more expensive. They have
a patented "smart valve" which waters just the right amount (via
gravity feed). They can be left alone for long periods of time.

One Autopot module provides 2
large pots. See my cabbages?

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~If you only want to set up one or two
large pots, say for tomatoes or chili peppers, we also offer free plans
for a simple independent unit, the Bucket Bubbler.

You can use a combination of any of 2 of
these 4 simple systems at the same time. I just love my "split plan",
and use it often. It's half lettuce raft and half pots, on a PVC stand.
Right now I am growing 20 romaine lettuces (on my raft), 10 ebb &
flow pots (6 cabbages, 8 broccoli, a pot of onions and one of carrots).
I even piggybacked in an Autopot® on the side for two more cabbage plants. All this in a 4X4 foot space... what a food factory!

         Just getting started               Same garden... 13 days later!

K.I.S.S.

Are you any closer to deciding what type of hydroponics unit to go for? You don't have to decide just yet.

But here's my pick for an excellent and versatile starter unit:

Base
unit: 4X4 foot ebb and flow tray. Cheapest way to go; you can
easily add a raft. Try Stella's "split plan" with this setup.

Want a "hands-off" system that runs itself for weeks (But costs more)? Opt for Autopots®. Each 2-pot unit costs $50, though. Ouch! But there's no pump or timer to buy. These are the best pick for the "lazy gardener".

You can fit eight 2-pot Autopot® units
in a 4X4 foot base. If strapped for cash, you could start out with 4
double pot units (at $200) and add a 2X4 lettuce raft. Now that
would be sweet! Read more about these full-sized gardens here: U-BUILD-IT.

For more information about basic hydroponic design: lettuce raft, ebb & flow, Dutch bucket top drip & Auto pots®, GO NOW TO 4 SIMPLE SYSTEMS.

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