Cost per pound can't be calculated until I know I'm producing maximum
yields. The vines are still young. Each year will produce a greater yield.
Eventually the yield will max out proportionatley to allowable root size.

Cost per vine to set up depends on which system you want to use. There are
several configurations for hydroponics. I am currently working with a static
bubble system. That is a system where the roots are suspended in nutrient
solution constantly bubbled with oxygen.

12 vines are being bubbled by 6 pumps ($16 each; Wal Mart), plus hoses and
reservoirs (minimal costs, $3 for a pail, a buck for hoses, etc). Then
there's auxiliary hardware for electrical wiring, trellising, etc. It's
nickel and dime, but can add up. The greatest cost is the nutrient solution.
Nutrient solutions are concentrated and diluted in water to parts per
million. Maintaining pH and solution concentration requires a pH meter which
varies according to what kind you buy, and an EC meter, which measure the
electrical conductivity of the solution; that is, the concentration of
mineral salts in the water.

Some costs are one-time, others, like nutrients, are regular.

It's the nutrient that requires change every two weeks. Aside from that,
there are other more economical systems like flood and drain: Reservoirs
fill and drain on a timer. The roots are kept wet, but not submurged.

I could go on, but there are countless variations on the same theme.

Can you grow 200 vines? My vineyard is designed for the small scale home
winegrower who can't or doesn't want to grow grapes in soil. However, there
are two vineyards I've hear of doing it large scale. One in Kenya, growing
table grapes, and another in Israel. The website for the one in Israel is:
http://hydroponics.homestead.com/index1.html

Jeff

"J F" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Jeff Chorniak" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Africus Rex has undergone a major, major change in grape growing, as you
> > will see. Even so, the chage has increased health in the vines in spite
of
> > the garbage weather we've had this summer. Autumn weather has been
> > extraordianry for ripening conditions.
> >
> > Check out: www.africusrex.com
>
> Hi Jeff,
>
> What is the final cost per pound of grapes using this method?
>
> What is the cost per vine to set up the system?
>
> Will the cost scale down if you planted a larger number, say 200?
>
>
>