[digalotty]

ive also been following with interest,   on my holiday we vissited epcot ( disneys futuristic park )and they have a boatride attraction called living with the land, this takes you through all the stages from early days to modern times which brings you out into large greenhouses where they grow all types of veg using hydroponics, you can also book a walk round tour with the expets telling you how they do it.    

they have a tomato bush that fruited for 16 months,and they can grow 22000 lettuice a year in a space no bigger than a standard allotment .

in one section they are growing over large fish tanks, the plants condition the water and the fish give vital nutriants to feed the plants (maybe this could be nigels next project )

i have photos and if nigel doesn't mind i will dig them out later today and post them here

[Spana]

Have a look at this.  Its Paignton Zoo in Devon where they are growing food for the animals this way

EURY89IHOoY

[NigelB]

Oh, excellent! I'm really glad people are interested... I was starting to think I was talking almost to myself, and boring the rest of you to death..... 

JayG,
Yes! If, when I'm not looking, the plant gets so big I can't get out, the saw will make me a door, anywhere. 

Spana, you are most welcome to come and help! Bring biscuits! 

By all means post away Digalotty, I welcome any and all comments, pictures, and discussion.
It is quite a fascinating subject. Certainly it's far more interesting than I had at first thought.

Quote Digalotty:.........in one section they are growing over large fish tanks, the plants condition the water and the fish give vital nutriants to feed the plants (maybe this could be nigels next project ).......

Actually Digalotty, I may well consider experimenting with it myself..... As long as it's something that doesn't cost much... If anything.. 
 As it happens, I already keep a couple of fish in an open-topped plastic tank next to the greenhouse with the idea that they condition the water I feed to my Cacti...  It certainly works for them. Some have grown huge, and most of them flower regularly.
I swear by it, although I don't think I can prove it scientifically.

[nemie]

Yet to post here but am watching this one NigelB, not boring at all 

[mr Isaccs]

If I wore a hat Nigel I'd take it of to you
   The hydro plant is going great guns especially compared to the soil potted plants. I hope you get a glut of tasty red toms from it.

[digalotty]

here is the pickys 22000 lettuice grown here a year, double click photo for better view

[digalotty]

it will only let me post one at a time this is the tomato tree i was talking about

[digalotty]

sme nice cucumbers

[digalotty]

and here is the veg growing over the fish tank,  if you look bottom left you will see the fish

[mr Isaccs]

Wow what a tomato plant diggalotty, good times ahead then nigel eh

[mumofstig]

I've seen tomato vines grown like that, on trellis, in italy........mind you they have the weather.....not much chance here

Fascinating pics though, digalotty

[digalotty]

glad you like them , im hoping to go back in a couple of years and have the tour.

i forgot to mention this veg is used in some disney hotels

[woodburner]

... I was starting to think I was talking almost to myself, and boring the rest of you to death..... 

Gosh no!
The proof of the pudding, err tomato, will be in the eating, so I for one will keep checking on this thread.

[NigelB]

glad you like them , im hoping to go back in a couple of years and have the tour.

i forgot to mention this veg is used in some disney hotels

Wow! I had no idea!
Great photos Digalotty, fair doo's.
The tomato tree looks like it is growing in a huge bubbler too, while the lettuce look to be rooted in rockwool and fed by a circulating nutrient solution.
Keeping fish in the mix is something else though, and very clever to boot. The nutrients must be fish-friendly which is interesting indeed. If all this can be done 'organically' as well then I am completely sold on the idea. (As long as they pass the taste test.)

[digalotty]

the taste test is the big one , i hope you have grown the same variety standard so you can compare