Richard bray

Transplanting
After 2-3 weeks, seedlings will be ready to transplant into your aquaponic system.
If you are using a media-filled bed, you can plant the seedlings directly into the media as long as the roots are long enough to reach the water. If you are using netted pots with a soilless media, transplant the seedling into the pot, fill around it with the media, and place it into the system.
Drip systems and wick systems help seedlings transition easier, because they bring water up into the root zone. However, most seedlings will acclimate easily after they have a few sets of true leaves and a few inches of root growth.
55
Maturation
Once the seedlings are transplanted, they will stay in the aquaponic system until it is time for harvest.
During this time, it is important to maintain the correct water temperature, air temperature, light levels, and nutrient levels for your plants and fish. Keep a log of daily and weekly tests to learn how your system responds to adjustments and external forces.
Harvest
Most plants are able to be harvested within a few months of transplanting, and many can be harvested on an as-needed basis. Staggered planting dates will result in staggered harvest dates, which will result in a more consistent, reliable harvest over a longer period of time.
Plants go through two phases of photosynthesis; a light-dependent reaction during the day that creates ATP, and a light-independent reaction at night that creates carbohydrates. In general, the best time to harvest produce is early in the morning when the plant is transitioning out of the light-independent reaction.
During this time, the plant is full of water (turgid), and also sweeter. As a result, it has a longer shelf life and a crisp, sweet flavor.
Make sure you have seedlings ready to take the place of plants you pull out of the system. Pulling large amounts of plants from the system can throw off the ecosystem if they aren’t replaced with new material.
Once you have chosen which plants you want to grow, you will know the basic growing conditions your system needs to maintain; primarily, water temperature. Most systems need to maintain 65°-80°, but this can vary depending on your crop. Water temperature will be one of the primary factors that determine which fish will thrive in your system.
57