Planting the seeds in your aquaponic garden is much easier than planting seeds in the ground. All you do is put them in a netting pot and wait for them to start growing.
However, there is one little aspect you must know before placing the seeds: the ideal moment when the seeds should be planted.
The Right Time
Many people place the fish in the tank the same day they place the seeds in the pots. This is the worst way of approaching aquaponics. If you do this, they will die quickly since there are no nutrients in the water which they can feed on. However, once the fish are in the tanks, they will start excreting into the water.
These excrements contain ammonia, which bacteria transform into nitrites and then into nitrates. Therefore, the right time to place the seeds in the pots is when the fish wastes have turned into nutrients. Once the process of decomposing and transforming ammonia is over, the water will be ready to support the plant seeds.
The Process
The entire process takes three months or less. During this time it is wise not place any seeds in the pots, because the seeds will die. One can speed up the process by inserting nitrates into the water before the fish excrements transform into nutrients, but many people do not like to interfere with nature. Either way, monitor the amount of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in the water, so you always know the quality of your water for both fish and vegetables.
Planting the seeds at the right time is essential if you want good crops and healthy fish, so always monitor the quality of the water, before and after planting. It is the only way to ensure good crops.