Fork Farm’s latest hydroponics system, the Flex Acre, builds on the Flex Farm design to support higher‑volume growing in a scalable way. In this post, we’ll walk you through the planting process step by step, so you can feel confident getting your own Flex Acre up and running.
The planting journey begins with seed germination in a rockwool tray. This step is crucial for establishing root development in the seedlings, allowing them to properly take root in the root chambers. Begin by soaking the rockwool with warm water and planting one seed per hole. There are about 200 holes per rockwool flat, so you’ll need about 200 seeds total.
Once all of the seeds have been planted, place the clear covering the nursery tray. This creates a greenhouse effect by trapping moisture and heat, which accelerates seed germination and encourages growth. Spritz the seedlings 1-2 times daily until sprouts become visible.
Once sprouts are visible, remove the plastic covering and let the tray rest on the light tower with the lights on for 16 hours a day, until rockwool is barely visible from the top. You can always transplant as soon as you have green leaves above the rockwool hole. The entire germination process takes about 1-2 weeks.
After 2 weeks have passed, your seedlings are ready to plant! Check the PH and nutrient balance in the Flex Acre to make sure the levels are correct for proper growth. Prepare the Flex Acre for planting by removing all the black foam plugs from the root chambers. Using a shovel or cutting tool, divide up the rockwool into cubes. Separate individual rockwool sections so that there is one seedling per root chamber. For lettuce, plant the rockwool seedlings in every other space to allow room for the lettuce to grow. For other plants like cilantro and basil, seedlings can be planted in every space.
Your plants are ready to grow in the Flex Acre! Similarly to the Flex Farm, PH and nutrient levels will need to be checked 1-2 times a week. Adjust as needed according to the grow guide which can be found on Farmative. Happy farming!
Project Examples
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