For several reasons I put off cleaning the aquarium gravel for 19 days.  The plants looked BAD for 2 days and when I cleaned the aquarium I found a dead goldfish that was NOT floating.  38 cents per fish.  LESSON – My small system needs the fish tank garvel siphoned each week.  I now have 5 goldfish getween 2 and 2 3/4 ” and I wonder if that might be too many for this size tank.

I hope that sharing might help others.  The first pic below is my Windowfarm on 5/26/12 one day after the emergency passed.  The plants look very stressed to me.

PICS show the nylon cord I am using now. 

The nylon is crocheted, less expensive, strong, no rust, will not scratch the hanging rod. a little harder to get the S hook into than the metal chain.  SUCCESSES – all plants are growing – especially the 2 tomato plants that I had to prune back several times.

I did experiment and bought a plant that has some small tomtoes on it – rinsed off the roots and planted it in the clay pellets.  The tomatoes grew a little larger and ripened into pretty red and I had to force myself to not eat them too soon.  YUM YUM  Now on 6/10/12 there are only 2 left.  There is a problem with the blooms not opening out for me.  The other plant with no tomatoes flowered but the leaves did not bloom out.  2 pots have 2 week old seeds in the pic and they are still growing great today as I write this.

My curley parsley from my first window on the north is still ok after the emergency (not great but ok).  The basil is looking a bit wrinkled, but they are still growing.  The mint plant is pale but growing like crazy and is hugging the light bulb.  you can see outside the window that I have a nice yard and woods around me.  But at 73 and a walking problem I can no longer work outside.  This windowfarm is amazing!  Almost no weeds here!  WHeeee!!!  Different experienc from soil gardening.

The Curley parsley, spearmint, and tomato planys, had leaves that died and I trimed them back.  Pics below show the metal brackets I made and tied my crhcheted cord on.  The other pic has the crocheted brackets I used an S hook to hold the crocheted cord to.  Today on 6/10/12 their are no metal brackets.  I put up all crochet.  My personal preference.

MANY THANKS to everyone who helped me understand – to numerous to list.  But this site is about helping each other.  Wonderful sharing.  If anyone wants crochet directions, let me know and I can post them.  I have 63 years of crochet expeience.  There is clutter in the farm but son john said it is in progress and just let you all see.  A new third column is waiting for plants, but I will have to install a stronger rod before I put it up.  This learning experience has been an adventure of delight for me.  Learning is an adventure.  SO MUCH MORE to share, but I will wait and tell you later.  Sylvia Manchester Indiana USA