Please take a look at the Flex Farm Assembly Manual and the Flex Connect Assembly Guide for proper assembly instructions. The Flex Farm’s patented design unlocks a combination of hydroponic methods, biomimicry, & modularity for an explosion of plant growth & energy savings. Each Flex Farm has 144 full lettuce head planting spaces, as you will be planting the seedlings in a checkerboard pattern. Every Flex Farm has a corresponding rotation group as designated in the growing schedule for optimal rotation management.
Flex Connect Pump & Light Settings:
Pump: on 24/7
Lights: on 18 hours & off 6 hours per day
Transplant and Harvest Instructions
When transplanting, ensure you are planting in the checkerboard pattern. Each Rockwool plug should be flush with the planting space and every planting space should always either have a plant or a panel plug.
After transplanting, check the tanks and remove any rockwool, leaves, and/or roots that may have fallen into the tank. This will help ensure optimal water flow throughout the Flex Connect.
Follow the Water Health and Flow Maintenance guide to ensure your water stays balanced and flowing properly for optimal plant growth.
Harvest the full heads of lettuce on the 28th day in the Flex Farm (completes the 6-week cycle).
Things to Note:
When Harvesting, it is easiest to have one bin for disposing of the roots and rockwool and one bin for the heads of lettuce. It is easiest to twist off the rockwool and roots right at the head.
You can compost the roots and dispose of the rockwool in the garbage (it takes more than a few years to decompose).
Always harvest from the bottom of the Flex Farm to the top. This avoids dripping water on the plants. For freshness, it is best to store the lettuce moisture-free and wash it before you prep and serve.
Certain lettuce varieties and ambient growing conditions MAY result in harvestable lettuce before 28 days. The key to optimal production is to maintain a consistent cycle. If you need to harvest early, make sure to still transplant according to your rotation schedule. This keeps your whole production on schedule. If you find your lettuce is ready to harvest at 3 weeks in the Flex Farm, you can upgrade from 4 to 3 rotation groups (ex: for a 12 Flex Connect, you have 3 rotation groupings of 4 Flex Farms - harvesting every 3 weeks (5 weeks total from seed to harvest)).
Harvest Safety: Turn off the water to the Flex Farm using the ball valve on the Vertical Irrigation Line. Turn off the light tower. Use food safety practices when harvesting (gloves, etc.). Turn the water and light tower back on after transplanting.
After harvest, ensure the lettuce is placed in a refrigerator or cooler between 32-40 degrees if it is not being processed immediately. If processing occurs within 30 minutes of harvest, there is no need to immediately refrigerate the product. Immediately after processing, place the product in a cooler or refrigerator.