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Sure To Grow - June 2009 hydroponic news

STG $1000 hydroponic supply contest update and How To videos launch

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SURE TO GROW HYDROPONICS TESTIMONIALS


“To all you skeptics out there wondering if STG mediums really works, Absolutely! the proof is in the potting! I use the CAP Ebb n Grow system and tried the Hail for the first time and was was very impressed. Like a ton of pebbles of my back impressed. I will never go back to hydroton!”

“Thanks for all the help you guys! Amazing tomato and pepper growth this year with Hail. We have produce before everyone else!”

“The wet weight in the hydroton was 117g, while Hail weighed in at 193g wet. The STG roots were for more fiberous and much bigger overall in the end. No question we will go with Hail from now on.”

“Everything is going just great! The plants are about three feet tall and the roots look nice and healthy. I can honestly say that STG Hail has thus far lived up to my expectations.”

“The STG Hail is working great. I had bought clay balls and lugged them into my grow area and washed and washed and washed and washed and washed.....and still the PH kept rising out of sight so I bailed on that idea and started to use the Hail, I will never go back.”

“The tomato cuttings did very well. Within 2 weeks the tomatoes grew to 10 inches!”
 Keeds Farm, CT. Product: STG GROW CUBES

“I was previously using burlap for my micro green production. Sure to Grow enables a more efficient use of channel space and an increase of 50% to 100% of production capability per channel… STG costs more than burlap but I feel the benefits of the STG media outweigh the higher cost.”
 Edward Dillon, Jr., Keeds Farm, CT. Product: STG GROW PADS

“I just planted again yesterday, using coco-mat on half my systems, and STG on the other half. … MAN!!! This stuff is great! What was approximately 45 minutes of cutting and adjusting and re-cutting with coco-mat, was done first shot in about 3 minutes with the roll. That is a HUGE savings on time… ”
 Josh Puchalski, MI. Product: STG GROW PADS

“For the past few years we have been growing microgreens using Pro-Mix. We encountered a problem with damping off disease this summer and switched to the Tencel mats. They have worked wonders. Our micros grow more evenly and the mats are much easier to work with than the dirt.”
 Freshwise Farms, NY. Product: STG GROW PADS
 
“We at Space Farm have switched to using Sure to Grow for all of the crops we grow. The difference can be seen from the germination to end use of our produce. We love the hardiness of the cubes themselves which makes planting much easier. Sure to Grow does not decay in our systems lowering maintenance time. Rooting is much faster with a larger mass emerging at a more uniform rate. Our customers like Sure to Grow as well because of the clean appearance of our lettuce. Sure to Grow provides a win / win situation for the hydroponic produce farmer.”
 Space Farm Enterprises, PA. Product: STG GROW CUBES

“Sure to Grow is a great hydroponic growing medium…. I just dropped the seeds into some mini cubes in a Waterfarm, added 1/4 strength nutrient solution, and let them do their thing…. I got probably 90% germination, which was great for having older seed stock.”
 Red-Icculus.com Product: HOBBY GROWERS

“After I placed the Daikon and Alfalfa sprouts (still in the STG pads) in the refrigerator (never misted again) at 37-40F for 3-4 days now, the pads were still very moist, the sprouts were as fresh and healthty as the first day of harvest….. I got very favorable results never seen before I am convinced about the STG.

 Again I must say I am impressed…… you have a winner!!!”
 William Lee, FL. Product: STG GROW PADS

“Trials of STG have gone very well in our lettuce raft. Germination and development are very uniform. STG cubes seem to be more resistant to thrips in their media dwelling stage when compared to oasis cubes. Looking forward to growing many full crops of lettuce using STG 1" cubes.”
 Lapham's Garden Center, MI Product: STG FLOOD & DRAIN MATS

“I've found the STG to be VERY good for rooting the plants -- their roots just go crazy and spread all throughout the fabric, which is really ideal for the stability and general well-being of the living walls…. I found STG to be excellent for propagating the cuttings for the walls, as well as with the root propagation of begonias.”
 Marissa Mandel, LLC, CA. Product: STG GROW PADS & ROLL

“I've been very pleased with how the STG media has performed. It's very much improved since the early versions of the product…. I really do like the STG media;
We've been trying it as an Aeroponic medium using both cantaloupe and tomato as sample plants. It's worked really well. We didn't know how it would react in an aeroponic environment; so we tested it the old fashioned way. I'm really pleased with the results. It's stable, strong, and working very well The STG has kept the water contained nicely. The top always stays very dry, and there isn't any sign whatsover of algae. It's really working well. Once it took root, the "small block" was placed into the center of a "larger block". The plant expanded into the larger block. Finally, we placed the entire larger block into a 6" net pot for the aeroponic unit. We simply filled the remainder with their "loose fill" version of STG. It plugged the gaps really well. We're pleased with the results”
 Hydroponic Hobbyist Product: STG GROW PADS & ROLL

“The STG has kept the water contained nicely. The top always stays very dry, and there isn't any sign whatsoever of algae. It's really working well. Once it took root, the "small block" was placed into the center of a "larger block". The plant expanded into the larger block. Finally, we placed the entire larger block into a 6" net pot for the Aeroponic unit. We simply filled the remainder with their "loose fill" version of STG. It plugged the gaps really well. We're pleased with the results.”
 Ben Yanis, Hydroponics Tuesday Products: STG GROW BLOCKS / STG GROW CUBES / STG GROW LOOSE FILL & ABSORBENTS

“My STG plants …in your 4x4 are still doing great. It's a real test of survival for many of the plants….In all the chaos, some/many 4x4's are only getting watered once every 2--3--5 days!!....Nothing in the STG 4x4's has died!! All look good….I have had many beautiful plants in the STG 4x4's----definitely show worthy.”
 Hobbyist, CA. Product: STG GROW BLOCKS / STG GROW CUBES / STG GROW LOOSE FILL & ABSORBENTS

“The Sure To Grow® product has been a real find for me at Bella Verdi Farms. I can’t tell you the amount of time and effort I have invested over the last 3 years trying to find a more effective and user friendly way to grow our micro greens. Your product is just what I had been hoping to discover. I only wish I could have invented it so I could keep all to myself the competitive edge I think it provides me as a grower. The advantages of the STG mats extend beyond the obvious fact that they are a great growing medium. I have a happier (not to mention, smaller) work force due to the ease of working with these mats as opposed to other growing mediums we have used.”
 Darrell Joseph (Owner/Founder), Bella Verdi Farms Product: COMMERCIAL GROWERS

“the micro greens sheets... rock. Seeds just blast out of there...”
 Michael Christian, American Hydroponics Company Product: COMMERCIAL GROWERS

“We feel that Sure to Grow is the way to go. I have made a movie of our trials, and the Sure to Grow blew away the burlap. The root system would not take hold of the burlap. The Sure to Grow developed a better root system and we were able to harvest micro-greens and baby lettuce in 19 days compared to 28 days with the burlap. The Sure to Grow did not "hold" our fertilizer. The burlap could get "crusty" and choke out the roots. The Sure to Grow performed like a champ and we will be using it in our greenhouse.”
 Commercial Grower, Jamaica. Product: STG GROW PADS & ROLL

“We recently had an unusual season of high heat and humidity that lasted several weeks without respite. These extreme conditions proved to be the perfect ‘testing ground’ for STG. While our other grow media crops suffered under the pressure of constant fungus issues, our STG beds continued to thrive. During this time we converted all of our grow beds over to your product. We haven’t looked back. Our yields are much more consistent, which is critical for production control, and we use 30% less square footage because of turnover efficiency. That’s 1/3 of our grow space that can be used for increased production and diversification. This new realization has left me stunned.;.. Seed visibility is handy for consistent planting densities. Other grow media sticks to new seedlings when they sprout. STG eliminates this problem, protecting the food crop from contamination.

Sure To Grow® is a unique product that we will continue to use. You have been of great service to us and we hold you in the highest regards.”
 Brian and Ann McCawley, McCawley Farms Product: COMMERCIAL GROWERS

“In the past 45 years, having been involved in Hydroponics/Aquaponics with hands-on experience and as a consultant, I have seen many mediums come and go. With the advent of Sure To Grow®, an exciting new development came onto the market. This product was different, and I was eager to experiment with it. I received different forms of STG from �” to 1” and received slabs as well, which I used for the tomatoes. All tests performed well. I immediately changed my system over to STG. I found that STG was easy to handle, and very clean—with no dust. First of all, I found I had quick germination and Sure To Grow™ held the nutrient very well. STG is easy to irrigate and with certain crops it can be used several times and is easy to dispose of. There are so many positives to STG; for instance, STG cuts crop turnover time by about 80%; it increases production because there is no residual on product from medium; and, the crops are clean as medium is not loose. In making cost comparisons, Sure To Grow® is cheaper to ship because of its lighter weight. Over all, this product is going to save the growers money and increase their production levels.

We have grown lettuce, arugula, basil, mint, parsley, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers very successfully with STG.

In the many years that I have been setting up greenhouses for clients, Sure To Grow® is the best medium I have used and I have begun contacting many of my clients who were using my tray system and informing them about STG. They also are reporting very positive results. I know without a doubt that many more will be changing as well in the near future. The economics are very encouraging and appear to be very competitive with other mediums.

Many thanks for introducing Sure To Grow® and giving me the opportunity to experiment with and test your product and be able to tell other growers what a great product you have produced. Congratulations! You have a winner.”
 Gordon Creaser Product: COMMERCIAL GROWERS

“I really like the mat's cleanliness. Before, I always had soil crumbs on my kitchen counter, but not anymore with the mats! And I love the ease of harvesting—I can pull up the whole plant, root and all (after the second growth) without making a soil mess! And, when cutting the first harvest, it's so much easier because when some sprouts escape my hands and fall onto the bed of grass stubs, it's easy to pick them out without the soil trailing after.

I tried an experiment...I washed the used mat in food grade hydrogen peroxide, hung it outside in the sun for two days. It still had some roots attached so I crumpled it up and rubbed it together vigorously. Most of the dried up roots fell off! Then I washed it again (by hand always) in the H2O2, hung it back outside for a day in the sun. I've replanted sunflower sprouts and they're doing great! I don't like single-use items that have to go into the landfill, so I was glad to get another use out of this mat. I'll try for a third use if it looks like it can be done. I'm anxious to get the biodegradable one as soon as possible. Great product!”
 Barbara, consumer Product: HOBBY GROWERS

“Thank you for introducing us to the Sure To Grow® mats. WE LOVE THEM! We grow wheatgrass, baby sunflowers, and pea shoots. We searched for months to find a soil-less medium that would work for us. The roots in the sunflower and pea shoots need to be grown in a medium that will support them. The product that we were using was being imported from another country into Canada. We then had to buy it from Canada and go through Customs. The company in Canada had a very large minimum, and always wanted the money before they would ship. It would take about four months to get the product. This was totally unacceptable to us.

The Sure To Grow® mats are made in America from recycled products. No worrying about Customs. No long waits to get the product. No waste in fossil fuels in shipping.

The best part is the Sure To Grow® mats are cut to size. The labor we save by not cutting them ourselves is priceless.”
 Kevin and Becky Keune, Makes Scents, LLC Product: COMMERCIAL GROWERS

“I have been looking for a growing medium to use for sprouting certain seeds that was different from baby blanket, which is made from shredded coconut shells. And I was unsuccessful until Sure To Grow® was invented. This product is amazing! It has allowed my sprouters to sprout very difficult seeds—such as arugula, watercress and flax—very simply. By wetting the Sure To Grow® mat and keeping it moist, these seeds do very well in a regular sprouter. There is no need to purchase a clay sprouter which is the typical growing medium for these seeds.

But the mats are also great for the regular seeds, such as alfalfa, clover, radish, broccoli, and cabbage. Because the mat holds so much moisture, you can honestly get away with rinsing your sprouts once each day instead of two times each day. My sprouts have also grown thicker and taller and I think that is because they are getting a more constant water supply by their contact with the mat.

My wheatgrass and barley grass growers have excellent crops of grasses with less mold because they are using less water and letting the mats keep up with moisture control.

The type of sprouters who have purchased these mats are just regular home-based people who grow their own sprouts, home-based wheatgrass and barley grass growers small commercial farmers who sell their sprouts at farmers’ markets. I also know a chef in a fancy French restaurant who has purchased this item. He grows sprouts for his salads and finds that the mats have helped him in time and effort.

I have been sprouting for over 21 years just using a regular manual tray sprouter. I don't like to purchase gimmicks and I don't want to carry any gimmicky items on my website. But the Sure To Grow® mats are anything but a gimmick. They truly do help to produce better sprouts as well as making sprouting even easier than it ever was before while controlling moisture release.”
 Sprout Lady Rita, Sprouthouse Product: COMMERCIAL GROWERS

“First, I'd like to thank you for including us in your trials of Sure To Grow® products. As Endless Summer is an N.F.T. hydroponic operation the early prototypes of your grow cubes have been both interesting and beneficial. We had grown exclusively in another manufactured grow cube product which had certain drawbacks.

First and foremost those cubes would tend to partially disintegrate and leave particulate matter in our system. In N.F.T. systems, keeping flow free from algae and other matter is crucial as well as time and labor consuming to correct.

Your grow cubes eliminate that problem. In fact as we bring on more of them I believe we'll observe a "cleaning-up" of our system. Sure To Grow® also has given us excellent germination and growth in the system. The cubes aerate well and roots extend into the gullies effortlessly.

We look forward to the new version to come with a more pronounced hole to add to our pelleted seed production.

I feel certain Sure To Grow® cubes will have a prominent place in our expanding operations.”
 Kirk Noll, Endless Summer Harvest Product: COMMERCIAL GROWERS