Miracle Cilantro

[MaryL]

The day before Thanksgiving, 11/21, I had put a bunch of old cilantro seeds into a damp paper towel and ziplock. I then went on holiday and sometime after my return I found only 2 tiny sprouts amongst them, which I transplanted to a garden entitled “Thanksgiving Herbs” along with basils.

For some reason (laziness perhaps?), though I expected nothing, I left the rest of the seeds in the paper towel, and ignored them for weeks. Until 2 days ago, December 18. Lo and behold there were a TON of sprouts in that paper towel, and miraculously none had molded. They had been sprouting for awhile so most if not all of the roots had grown through the paper towel, so I began the painstaking process of extracting each of them, hoping not to damage the delicate roots. Did I need to extract each of them, and plant all of them? No, but I was kind of tickled at what had happened. I couldn’t throw any away.

In all, I extracted and planted 19 cilantro sprouts! They won’t all make it, but here we go! 15 in the starter and 4 in a Harvest along with 2 other mystery herbs also started 11/21.

Can you make out all the sprouts on the towel and plastic bag?

[Shawn]

Wonderful news Mary.  And I like your Slim

[MaryL]

I post this as advice to not do what I did. I left the cilantro in the starter too long. They got too mature for what the starter is meant to do. They became crowded and unhappy and they were impossible to extract without killing them.  So, onward and upward.

[MaryL]

Oops, I forgot to include this pic of the regular cilantro garden that did do well.

[Shawn]

Time to clean the starter and start fresh

[MaryL]

And I recently trimmed transplanted that into a regular Harvest because the Slim got algae.  I don’t know why I get so much algae. Maybe it’s because light gets into the white machines.

[Shawn]

Mar 6, 2019 13:28:59 GMT -5 MaryL said:

And I recently trimmed transplanted that into a regular Harvest because the Slim got algae.  I don’t know why I get so much algae. Maybe it’s because light gets into the white machines.

Ok I have had Algae issues with the new harvests as well.  I wrote to them after I did a test.  Light DOES get in thru the white decks and there are hole and spaces for the light to get in.  I now add 1 TBL of peroxide a week and it is helping.

I plan on getting that flexible spray to try (the ones in the tv commercials).  I want to use it on the underside of the deck or at least try it to see if that helps.

I wrote to AG about it and they said to use the peroxide.  I will report back to them again however.

[MaryL]

It’s a bummer because I invested heavily in the white units because I thought they looked tidier on the counter. Only to be plagued with algae. I think I bought 5 white units in all.

I will be more consistent with the peroxide since you do it weekly. I can see how that would help. I was afraid because once I was sloppy with the peroxide, overdid it and killed the plants. (Must actually measure, Mary, lol).

[Shawn]

Mar 9, 2019 12:15:41 GMT -5 MaryL said:

It’s a bummer because I invested heavily in the white units because I thought they looked tidier on the counter. Only to be plagued with algae. I think I bought 5 white units in all.

I will be more consistent with the peroxide since you do it weekly. I can see how that would help. I was afraid because once I was sloppy with the peroxide, overdid it and killed the plants. (Must actually measure, Mary, lol).

I now keep a small bottle of peroxide and a measuring tablespoon near my white deck units.  I did write AG and gave them suggestions to avoid light getting in as well.  We will see what they say.  But as of now I add 1 T per week.

[MaryL]

Ok I just added a tablespoon to each of my white gardens.  Thank you.

[MaryL]

The cilantro went downhill fast. I just checked the roots and they’re all gross.  It may be un-redeemable.  The basil looks good though.

[Shawn]

Your basil always looks great.