jmheflin

Awesome build and write up. I used to work for a company called AEssense making automated aeroponic systems for commercial cannabis growers. They are still around and have installs all over the US. Many similar features to your NFT system. Cool stuff!

You are right about avoiding organic fertilizers. It is my understanding that traditional hydroponic greenhouses that use inorganic nutrients are still eligible for organic certification.

Cuttings are used to start every vineyard, even vineyards making wines labeled as organic. I don't think what I am doing would be different than that?

Yup, will revise. Thanks!

Thanks for these links!

Before I started graduate school, I worked as an engineer for a company making aeroponic systems. Great potential here. I will look in to chitosan as well.

Correct, young leaves are BIG carbohydrate sinks until they have expanded and begun to produce their own photosynthate. Pruning off new growth allows the plant to redirect carbohydrates into existing organs.

There are a few leaves around the grape cluster that supply sugar to the cluster. The rest of the leaves do not contribute to the growth of the cluster.

Great question!

You can keep dormant canes in the refrigerator for about a year before they start to degrade. After 2+ weeks in refrigeration, the canes can be rooted. It takes about 6 months from budbreak to harvest. This time is the same in the greenhouse as it is in the vineyard. If the vines are grown in a greenhouse where day-length and temperature are controlled, it is possible to harvest 2 crops a year @ ~6 months apiece. We just take the canes out of the refrigerator when we start a new batch.

You totally nailed it. I would just add that I am growing these vines for only 6 months before harvesting the fruit and discarding the cutting. They do not have time to put out really long roots. In addition, air pruning of the roots happens naturally when they run out of grow media, so they never get too long.

The basement grows were just to establish the proof of concept. My future grows will all be in a greenhouse. Hydroponics also uses far less water than traditional ag.

Grapes actually don’t need a winter dormancy period. They grow at the equator without it. I will probably set up to grow year round in the greenhouse, with supplemental lighting during the winter. I would have to make sure winter growing is economically feasible first, with the higher electricity needs.

This is a great idea. I will reach out to some. Thanks!

Thanks for your questions!

I have gotten fruit. About 50% of the cuttings I use produce fruit right now. I am still working to optimize the process. I throw the cuttings away after they produce fruit. More cuttings can be collected each year as canes are pruned in the vineyard.

Please see my response to metanoia! I addressed this there.

Hi! Thanks for the question.

I haven’t written anything, or really thought this far ahead yet. But $4/pound is close to what they sell greenhouse grown tomatoes for, and their yield/sqft is likely similar to what I could get. I do not suspect that the greenhouse will be located in wine country, as land is too expensive there.

Thank you! I have had many issues. I use a dilute bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution to clean the hydroponic equipment between grows.