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I have 3 hydroponic machines (AeroGarden) with compact fluorescent grow lights growing tomatoes (4th of July/4oz fruits) and both Tom Thumb head lettuce and leaf lettuce, right now. I have been doing this for 2 years. The tomatoes are fast (50 days) and have set fruit. The leaf lettuce is also fast. The miniature head lettuce is only a couple of weeks old, is in dirt and seems slow to me, so far, but it is growing. I have miniature sweet red pepper seeds I will plant in dirt in January.

Initial hydroponic machine investment (3 units over 2 years)$500, which seemed a good investment after we exited the market and went to cash. Kit with sponge pods=$40 initially/$12 for refills of 21-3 crops). The plastic cages for the sponges are recyclable and I am experimenting with getting 2 crops out of the sponges themselves by picking out the roots, washing the pods well and microwaving for 30 seconds to kill whatever I missed. I will be using one of the recycled pods in my next lettuce planting to see if it works. Lights good for 2 crops or more, each set and $14-$20 to replace per machine. I use the included nutrients to start and Miracle Grow once past the initial growing stage. Only Miracle Grow in the dirt containers. Electricity costs are about a total of $5/month for 3 hydroponic units and one dirt unit (2-24 watt grow tubes and 2-75 watt extra lights) For a dirt grow, I set up a shelving unit with the interior shelves taken out, the lights there are on chains so they can be raised/lowered, the clamp lights can be moved up and down the support posts. Because I rely on wood heat and only a little propane as backup morning and overnight, I draped the shelving unit with 2 mylar space blankets. This keeps the interior temperature at about 68. I add 15 minutes of ceramic heater use early morning and just before the lights go out in the evening (lights are on 16 hrs/off 8 hrs). I have one 15-watt heated pot (Logee’s online/$50) and the tomatoes in there are doing wonderfully, but the other one is doing ok, too, just a tad slower. The rooms with the hydro units can be lit with just the grow lights (60-65 watts), so other illumination is not needed. I also hung a piece of mylar behind the large hydro unit in my kitchen, which helps throw the illumination to the front of the plant.

I started this as therapy. I really think the grow light illumination is helping my S.A.D. and I know that tending the plants is helping my general outlook. Seeing the price of fresh produce this past year helped me expand the project. I wanted us to have fresh produce at reasonable cost. I also have a 40-year-old calamondin orange tree that is very hardy, takes neglect and abuse in stride and produces 75-100+ little sour oranges/year. It spends the summer outside. I use the fruit for marmalade and add it to cranberries or use it in marinades/dressings.

Miniature seeds are available, along with lots of information at

http://www.containerseeds.com/index.html

I am planning an area for miniature beets and round carrots in a south window. If I wait until after New Year's, I think I may not need lights for the root veggies.

Last winter/Spring, we had cherry tomatoes and lettuce from two of the hydro units. While I am sure this year's crops, using my own seeds instead of preplanted seed pods and real tomato fertilizer instead of the weaker nutrient tablets, will be better tasting (they already have 5x the yield/plant in set fruit), it is an ongoing experiment.

I will use the starter tray kit available from AeroGarden to start my garden this Spring. I usually purchase plants from Burpee and love them, but the price has gone way up and I have been impressed with the sturdiness and rapidity of growth in the hydroponic units compared to regular dirt cells/warming pads.

Most of all, this is fun! Everyone who sees them is inspired to do it themselves and I have produce to share, since there are only two of us. I can store the harvest in Green Bags, so it lasts while the next crop is growing.

Next might be the attached small greenhouse, but I have some space issues. A friend has done the same as your NoDak friend and I am waiting to see what her costs are. Meanwhile, I am producing veggies inside the house.