Are you interested in gardening but your favorite plants don't grow well in your climate? Do you want to eat organic veggies all year round without busting your household budget? Are you wondering if there's a beginner-friendly alternative to hi-tech hydroponics systems? Read carefully because you're going to learn something new right now. You've probably heard of hydroponics, a way to grow plants without soil by providing them with liquid nutrients. It almost sounds too good to be hydroponics lets you grow anything in any climate without even using a drop of pesticides. However, a quick internet search for hydroponics can be utterly discouraging. You'll probably find pictures that look like stills from a sci-fi movie, and you'll quickly see that hydroponic equipment can easily cost thousands of dollars. As a beginner, how are you going to operate all that hi-tech equipment? And do you really need to invest thousands just to grow some lettuce? Well, here's the honest truth. Hydroponics doesn't have to be expensive or complicated - you can set up a fully functional system for as little as $80. And you can literally grow your favorite veggies in mason jars. This book will show you how. But what if you're a complete newbie? Well, this book is written for people just like you - it patiently explains every step and carefully helps you avoid typical pitfalls. Even if the only plant that survived your current gardening skills is a plastic flower, you'll nail hydroponic gardening on the first try! Yes, you've read it the Kratky method isn't just the easiest hydroponics method - it's also much easier than conventional gardening! No guesswork, no tedious maintenance, no digging around in dirt - that's why the Kratky method is also known as the "set-it-and-forget-it" method. As long as you know which end of a plant should be facing up and as long as you follow the instructions closely, you'll be harvesting your favorite veggies in no time - without the hassle of weeding and watering, and without spending a fortune on equipment! Are you ready to get started?
B. A. Kratky is a horticulturist at the University of Hawaii. He developed this easy method of hydroponics. I found the book interesting and it provided an overview of the various methods in use today. The audiobook format was adequate for what I wanted; a quick overview and introduction of this method. If I wanted to try this method, I would prefer the written format of the book. I was surprised there are so many different methods of hydroponics. I understand hydroponic are starting to make inroads into commercial farming. Years ago, I used the drip method with some success and was curious about the Kratky method.
I read this as audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is three hours and twenty-seven minutes. Joe Wosik does a good job narrating the book. Wosik is a voice-over actor and audiobook narrator.
This book was a nice introduction to the Kratky Method (KM) of hydroponics, but if you are looking for more of a step-by-step guide, you're going to have to research that on your own. This book is more about the nuts & bolts of hydroponics, and the different tools you will need for the KM, but not a seedling to harvest type of guide.
I never thought that there was another way to plant! This book does a great job introducing readers to what hydroponics is and why the Kratky method is the best l, especially for those who have never tried it before. It’s informative and easy to follow from explaining the process of hydroponics, the types of plants used for this method to the assembly of this mechanism to make sure your hydroponic plants thrive. This is a great read for anyone interested in planting indoors without the mess.
I’ve skim read a few books on hydroponics looking for a more beginner’s guide. This one fit the bill as it doesn’t spend forever on the science or on building a market-garden-sized infrastructure. It’s simple but also goes into enough detail about the plants you can grow, pests that may occur and so on to cover all bases that a beginner may need to know. I have a kitchen side based kit that was bought for me and this book provided the info that ones on “proper” hydroponics couldn’t.
This book was very good. For someone who has never had a green thumb and even managed to kill a cactus, I liked how the author broke down the types of hydroponic gardening, and how they made it very clear that anyone can do it. The book didn't seem to drag on, and got to the point.
I started using a hydroponic garden last year that uses electricity and pumps which lead me to discover the Kratky method of growing method. This book contains a ton of great info to get you started. I've already compiled a list of the things I need to get going!, this is worth the read!
This book was informative while still being easy to understand. It explains the 6 types of hydroponic gardens. Then it gives the pros and cons of the Kratky method. I recommend for anyone thinking of getting into hydroponics.
Quite comprehensive but at times remains at a superficial level of details. A good entry level manual but must be ‘completed’ with further reading if you want to develop beyond the ‘it’s just an hobby’ phase.