it all starts in the germination area with lettuce seeds to plant them workers use a steel tray connected to a vacuum hose the trait has 276 holes and the vacuum sucks a seed in to each one next they take a phone block with corresponding holes called an away sis and position it into the tray a quick flip deposits a seated to each hole of the oasis of the seas are coded in Clay Clay holds in moisture to nourish the seat but also breaks apart easily to lift the seat sprout on the way to the greenhouse the seats get there first watering then workers set them afloat The pool of water is about 30 cm deep technicians continuously monitoring manipulated levels of oxygen and fertilizer that's the key to hydroponic growing the water is never discarded just talked up to replace what's the plants drink and what evaporates on the first day they water the seeds frequently within a couple of days the seedling start to appear they water and fertilize them by about the fourth day there's some significant sprouting action again again they water and fertilize the plants the first leaves and merge on about the seventh day in the summer on about the 11th day in the winter the winter growth way to slower because there's less son at this point it's time for the first in a series of transplants workers transfer the lettuces from the 276 plants away sis to a Styrofoam board that holds more plants 288 they set the boards a float in the nursery zone out about the 13 Daymark in the summer the 20 day mark in the winter transplants number two this time to a less crowded Styrofoam board that holds just 72 plans this give the plants more lights and more room to grow. Workers use a hook to avoid damaging the roots a plant needs healthy route to absorb water water and nutrients The last transplant happens on about the 26th day in the summer the 45th day in the winter now the lettuces go from the 17th to plant board to board that holds just 18 by now the plants how long route so they're harder to manipulate The lettuces go into the production zone the last move before harvesting these pools are bigger so automatic machines move the boards around this hydroponic system produces 500 plants per square meter almost 5 times a year old field growing lettuce and it's safer to there's no need here for pesticides or fungicides because it's all indoors fertilizer can contaminate the environment by about the 45th day in the summer the 75th day in the winter the lettuces are finally ready for harvesting workers cut off the yellow leaves at the base then either cut off the route sore wrap them around the stem depending on how this crap will be sold then they vacuum cool each lettuce for longer Shelflife.