Question 1

How do I calibrate the EC meter?

Accepted Answer

Calibration solution for EC meter will be needed. Ideally purchase the solution from your EC meter supplier.
To make your own EC calibration solution: Mix 7.4 gr of KCl (potassium chloride) in 10 liter of distilled water. The solution's EC is 1.4 mS/cm.

Follow calibration procedure as detailed on your specific EC meter.

Question 2

What is the target relative humidity (%RH) in the greenhouse?

Accepted Answer

Ideally the %RH will be 65-85%. Low %RH is preferable over high %RH. If humidity is higher than 85%, use air circulator and open side curtains (if available) to create air movement over the plants.

Question 3

Can we use industrial fans for better air circulation?

Accepted Answer

It is possible to install additional fans. However, the fans should be installed properly and specifically for your greenhouse needs.

Question 4

Is there a specific distance between the channels that needs to be maintained?

Accepted Answer

The distance between the channels, when seperated, should be 5 cm.

Question 5

Should I occasionally replace all of the water in the systems?

Accepted Answer

The source water used for growing includes some elements which are consumed by the plants in small amounts. in this way some of the elements are building up in the system and might eventually reach critical values. Replacing the water in the system with fresh water once a month will reset the system.

Question 6

When should I check the water quality?

Accepted Answer

We recommend checking the water quality for EC and Ph parameters daily. The nutrients concentration in the system should be checked once in two weeks.

Question 7

How many hours a day should I run the fan?

Accepted Answer

We recommend running the fan 24 hours a day for best air circulation in the greenhouse.

Question 8

How do I know the water is running properly in the chanels?

Accepted Answer

Monitoring the water flow at the watering tubes exit is a must and it should be checked daily. The water valve at the exit should be 400-500 ml/minute.

Question 9

How often should the filters be cleaned?

Accepted Answer

The filters at the ends of the gutters should be checked and cleaned daily.

Question 10

How often should I add fertilizer?

Accepted Answer

Fertilizer should be added every time fresh water is added to the system.

Question 11

How do I add the fertilizers and where?

Accepted Answer

Dissolve fertilizers in a bucket of water and then add to the water tank.

Question 12

What should the water volume measured at the exit of the tube be?

Accepted Answer

The water flow at the exit of the tubes should be at least 400 ml/min.

Question 13

The water flow at each growing table stops every 3 minutes. Is that ok?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The watering intervals will help to reduce the appearance of algae and increase oxygen supply to the roots.

Question 14

What should the space between the channels be?

Accepted Answer

When planting, the channels should be brought together without gaps, for more efficient work. As the plants grow, they will need more space, so then the channels should be spaced with 5 cm gaps between them.

Question 15

Is it OK to mix the plant protection treatment with water and then store it for a day or two?

Accepted Answer

In many pesticides it is not good. To be on the safe side, never do it.

Question 16

What is the best way to store the seeds?

Accepted Answer

Seeds should be stored in a dry and cool place.

Question 17

Can I grow root vegetables in TAPKIT?

Accepted Answer

No, the growing gullies of the NFT system are not designed for growing root vegetables.

Question 18

Can the styrofoam trays be reused?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the styrofoam trays can be reused. In order to prevent potential disease contamination, clean and disinfect the trays before reusing.

Question 19

Can other substances be used for seed coverage?

Accepted Answer

Other water absorbing substances such as peat, perlite, vermiculite and rice hulls can be used to cover the seeds.

Question 20

Why is it important to not overwater the seedlings?

Accepted Answer

Overwatering the seedlings can create ideal conditions for disease outbreak and fungi spores.

Question 21

Can I add another net for better shade?

Accepted Answer

The shading net supplied by TAP creates 40% shadowing. If crops begin to show burn signs due to the climate in the greenhouse during the hot season, adding another net may help.

Question 22

Can I put more seeds in a cell for a better yield?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the number of seeds per cell is possible in order to increase the yield only if the quality of the crop is not compromised.

Question 23

Can treated seeds be used for NFT?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

Question 24

How should I label the seedlings?

Accepted Answer

Labeling the seedlings is important to maintain order and organization in the growing process. The label should state the name of the crop, the seeding date and the number of seeds per cell.

Question 25

When should I start applying the spraying program?

Accepted Answer

Start spraying regularly from the first growing cycle. Apply the program to the nursery and to the growing channels.

Question 26

How do I know if spraying is damaging my crops?

Accepted Answer

To insure that spraying does not damage the crops, the first application of each product should be tested on a small area (a few plants from each crop). Only 48 hours later, if no damage has occurred, can you safely spray the entire crop.
 
Examples of spray damage to pack-choy leaves.

Example of spray damage on red basil leaves:

Example of green mizuna damage from spraying:

Example of rocket damage from spraying:

Question 27

What time of day is best for spraying?

Accepted Answer

Spraying should take place in the cooler hours of the day. Spraying during the hot hours may cause burns.   
 
Example of burn damage on corriander leaves:

Question 28

There is algae on the floor. What can be done against it?

Accepted Answer

Algae is caused by water exposed to sunlight. If possible, eliminate the source of the water, which will cause algae to dry out. Algae can be treated with chlorine or hydrogen peroxide.

Question 29

Is it possible to use the same water without changing it?

Accepted Answer

Is it possible to use the same water without changing it?

Question 30

Why does my rocket (arugula) look watery? Is it OK to harvest it?

Accepted Answer

The lines disappears with the rising of the temperature in the greenhouse. It is OK to harvest when it disappears.

Question 31

What affects the growth rate of my watercress plants? It seems different from the previous crop that we already harvested.

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size of the plants you wish to cut. When compared to the first harvest, on the next harvest you should have some bigger stalks and some new and small. After the first harvest the plant will already have well developed roots, so some stalks will grow faster and bigger and eventually the plant will flower.

Question 32

We can't find all of the active ingredients in the spraying program. Can we use others?

Accepted Answer

Yes, of coarse. Just follow the instructions on the label. Always try a new treatment on a small scale first to see there is no damage to the crop. The evaluation of the damage should be after 72 hours.

Question 33

Do I have to use 442 styrofoam trays for seedlings?

Accepted Answer

No. You can use others types of styrofoam trays, too. 442 trays are well suited for TAPKIT's needs and for the germination chamber.

Question 34

Which plants can I grow in the TAPKIT?

Accepted Answer

There is a wide variety of plants that could grow in the TAPKIT. Such as basil, rocket, lettuce, coriander and many others. We invite you to consult with TAP agronomists.

Question 35

How many seedlings will I need every week?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your growing plan, percentage of channels used, growing length and the size of the target product.

Question 36

Which kind of peat moss do I need?

Accepted Answer

You can use Klassmann Dielmann 402 peat or any other peat that is suitable for young plants and seedlings.

Question 37

How much water is needed for seedling irrigation before germination?

Accepted Answer

Enough water to give the seedlings good water coverage with minimum drainage is required.

Question 38

How long should be the roots be at the germination stage?

Accepted Answer

The roots at the end of the germination stage should be up to 3 mm.

Question 39

The sprouts grew very long after germination. Why is this and can I plant them?

Accepted Answer

The plants were left at the germination stage for too long. It is not recommended to plant them if they are too long, because these plants will be disordered. These seedlings should be trashed.

Question 40

How do I know if the plantlets have enough water?

Accepted Answer

The plantlets should be checked at least two times a days: in the morning and at mid-day. During very hot days, they should be checked more frequently. The peat should always stay moist.

Question 41

It is summer and the temperatures are high all day and night. When should I transplant?

Accepted Answer

The transplantation should be done in the morning and not during the hottest hours of the day.

Question 42

Can I water the seedlings before transplanting instead of submerging them in the tub?

Accepted Answer

It is recommended to submerge to seedings in the tub and not to water from above. Wet plants are more sensitive to infestation.

Question 43

Why is pak-choi planted in every other hole?

Accepted Answer

Lettuce of all kinds and pak choy are planted in every other hole creating a chess-board pattern. This provides the plants with enough space to grow without overcrowding, which will lead to competition for light and eventually to big differences in plant size. Also, high planting density will make it harder to spray the plants evenly.

Question 44

What will happen if the cotyledons of the planted pak choi are inside the hole?

Accepted Answer

The base of plants might get stuck inside the hole while growing.

Question 45

My plants aren't getting water and collapsed. Can they recover?

Accepted Answer

Wilting may cause irreversible damage. The severity of the damage depends on the duration of the water outage and the climate of the greenhouse.

Question 46

How can I recognize downy mildew?

Accepted Answer

Examples of downy mildew on rocket leaves:

Question 47

How can I recognize leaf miners in my crops?

Accepted Answer

Examples of leaf miners on pack-choy:

Question 48

How can I recognize aphids on my crops?

Accepted Answer

Example of aphids on pack-choy:

Question 49

How can I recognize iron deficiency in my crops?

Accepted Answer

Example of iron deficiency in basil:

Example of iron deficiency in kale:

Example of iron deficiency in rocket:

Question 50

What is tip burn and what should I do about it?

Accepted Answer

Cause:
Tip burn occurs when the top edges of the leaves—usually the younger ones—turn brown and curly.Tip burn in lettuce and many leafy greens is caused by lack of calcium uptake within the plant, from the nutrient solution to the leaf tips.The cause is either lack of calcium in the nutritional solution or reduced transpiration due to high humidity and high temperature.
 
Solution:
1. Check and re-balance nutritional solution.
2. Lower humidity—the ideal relative humidity for most crops is lower than 80%.
3. Increase air flow over the leaves to help plants transpire and move calcium to the affected tissues.
 
Examples of tip burn:

Question 51

I have dirt, plant residue and algae buildup in my channels. What should I do?"

Accepted Answer

Cause:
This is caused from substrate washed off the plantlet plugs, algae growth and root parts cut during harvest.
 
Solution:
Generally speaking, washing the gullies after every harvest is not mandatory, but when there has been a heavy load of waste, you should follow these steps:
1. Take the channel's end out of the gutter so that the dirty water will not recycle back to the water tank.
2. Use fresh water hose to flush the waste accumulated inside the channel.
3. If needed, use pull-through with brush-end or cloth to help scrape the waste away.

Question 52

What should I do about soft rot?

Accepted Answer

Soft rot is translucent and smelly, affecting the stems, the roots or the base of the leaves.
 
Cause:
Soft rot is caused by several types of bacteria, most commonly Pectobacterium carotovorum (previously called Erwinia carotovora), Dickeya dadantii (previously called Erwinia chrysanthemi), and certain species of Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Clostridium.
 
Solution:
Once soft rot bacteria have infected plant tissue, there are no treatments. Immediately remove and discard infected plants or plant parts away from the TAPKIT. Then, add hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to the water to reach 6 ppm (XXX liter of hydrogen peroxide to full water tank).
 
Example of stem rot in amaranth:

Examples of soft rot in pac-choy:

עברית

TAPKIT Growers Club

Ask the Expert | FAQs | Forum | Water Analysis | Tutorials | Best Practices

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calibrate the EC meter?

What is the target relative humidity (%RH) in the greenhouse?

Can we use industrial fans for better air circulation?

Is there a specific distance between the channels that needs to be maintained?

Should I occasionally replace all of the water in the systems?

When should I check the water quality?

How many hours a day should I run the fan?

How do I know the water is running properly in the chanels?

How often should the filters be cleaned?

How often should I add fertilizer?

How do I add the fertilizers and where?

What should the water volume measured at the exit of the tube be?

The water flow at each growing table stops every 3 minutes. Is that ok?

What should the space between the channels be?

Is it OK to mix the plant protection treatment with water and then store it for a day or two?

What is the best way to store the seeds?

Can I grow root vegetables in TAPKIT?

Can the styrofoam trays be reused?

Can other substances be used for seed coverage?

Why is it important to not overwater the seedlings?

Can I add another net for better shade?

Can I put more seeds in a cell for a better yield?

Can treated seeds be used for NFT?

How should I label the seedlings?

When should I start applying the spraying program?

How do I know if spraying is damaging my crops?

What time of day is best for spraying?

There is algae on the floor. What can be done against it?

Is it possible to use the same water without changing it?

Why does my rocket (arugula) look watery? Is it OK to harvest it?

What affects the growth rate of my watercress plants? It seems different from the previous crop that we already harvested.

We can't find all of the active ingredients in the spraying program. Can we use others?

Do I have to use 442 styrofoam trays for seedlings?

Which plants can I grow in the TAPKIT?

How many seedlings will I need every week?

Which kind of peat moss do I need?

How much water is needed for seedling irrigation before germination?

How long should be the roots be at the germination stage?

The sprouts grew very long after germination. Why is this and can I plant them?

How do I know if the plantlets have enough water?

It is summer and the temperatures are high all day and night. When should I transplant?

Can I water the seedlings before transplanting instead of submerging them in the tub?

Why is pak-choi planted in every other hole?

What will happen if the cotyledons of the planted pak choi are inside the hole?

My plants aren't getting water and collapsed. Can they recover?

How can I recognize downy mildew?

How can I recognize leaf miners in my crops?

How can I recognize aphids on my crops?

How can I recognize iron deficiency in my crops?

What is tip burn and what should I do about it?

I have dirt, plant residue and algae buildup in my channels. What should I do?"

What should I do about soft rot?