|
|
Post by pocketz on Feb 19, 2019 13:47:41 GMT -5
Hello everybody! I am new to both the forum and gardening in general. My name is Justin, I go by the nickname Pockets in life and online. I'm a 25 year old dude from Massachusetts, I live in a basement that has been renovated into a studio apartment so proper weather and light is not easy to find so the fact that I am able to take up this hobby excites me! I started from brand new on February 4th, filled the tank with cold water, and two capfuls of nutrients for the Aerogarden Harvest (7 pod) I got from Kohls. I planted three pods of a salad mix I got from Lowes. I believe I have romaine growing in the middle and left back pod. and what looks like some sort of kale? in the back right. Front left is peppermint and front right is catnip, with chamomile in the middle left slot. Here is the whole garden. Note the giant lettuce with personal space issues.I have a few questions as I am paranoid about killing everything. First, I have heard the "two capfuls every two weeks" is risky. I just added more food yesterday for the first time. Instead of just adding it I emptied the bowl and added brand new cold water and then added two capfuls just like starting a new farm on day one. Is this a bit much or should I do this every feed cycle? Second, my middle lettuce is getting huge and is starting to touch catnip, at two weeks is it too early to trim a leaf or two? It is also going to get in the way of the chamomile Back left pod, I think has two different sprouts?
Is this Kale? It was in a mix and the pouch said nothing about kale.Closer look at the big boi in the center. Any tips or should I just let it grow for longer
Thanks to anybody who reads this far. I appreciate any help, criticism, or tips!! |
|
Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267 
|
Post by Shawn on Feb 19, 2019 14:14:51 GMT -5
Hello and Welcome Justin (aka pocketz), I am happy you have found us. I hope you find helpful information on the forum as well as what myself and others can assist with. I am going to try to answer what I can from your questions 
That is the great thing about Aerogardening, you do not need the outdoors or windows to do it!
Most 6, 7 and 9 pod gardens they say to add the 2 capfuls (8ml) of nutrients. I myself find that is too much for greens and some herbs. For my lettuce I usually add 6ml. Invest in a cheap plastic syringe (like an oral medication one that is in ml's). I find it helps. For most of my herbs I will add 6ml as well.
As for the dumping of water, we usually refer to that as an R&R (rinse and refill) or D&R (dump and refill). This can be done every other feeding, so once a month. Just dump the water out, rinse the bowl and refill with fresh water. Of course if you have a larger unit that you can not or do not want to take the deck off, you can get a siphon. AG have a hand one, I find the battery operated only to work better for me. This is the one I have but you can find them cheaper. Also with a Harvest I think they are manageable enough that you would not need one, but I can be wrong LOL.
I have never grown anything but Romaine, so to be honest I do not know what that is growing LOL. But if you want to snip a leaf off to try it and see if you like it why not? Usually for my romaine, it is at week 3 or 4 that I do a first snip. You can check out what others are growing in the Garden Patch section as well as the Vegetable section.
I hope I was able to help you some.
Please post any questions or comments you have. We are happy to help if we can. Also, read thru the different threads and post if you wish to comment or ask a question.
|
|
|
|
Post by clumsythumbs on Feb 20, 2019 16:29:18 GMT -5
Hello everybody! I am new to both the forum and gardening in general. My name is Justin, I go by the nickname Pockets in life and online. I'm a 25 year old dude from Massachusetts, I live in a basement that has been renovated into a studio apartment so proper weather and light is not easy to find so the fact that I am able to take up this hobby excites me! I started from brand new on February 4th, filled the tank with cold water, and two capfuls of nutrients for the Aerogarden Harvest (7 pod) I got from Kohls. I planted three pods of a salad mix I got from Lowes. I believe I have romaine growing in the middle and left back pod. and what looks like some sort of kale? in the back right. Front left is peppermint and front right is catnip, with chamomile in the middle left slot. Here is the whole garden. Note the giant lettuce with personal space issues.I have a few questions as I am paranoid about killing everything. First, I have heard the "two capfuls every two weeks" is risky. I just added more food yesterday for the first time. Instead of just adding it I emptied the bowl and added brand new cold water and then added two capfuls just like starting a new farm on day one. Is this a bit much or should I do this every feed cycle? Second, my middle lettuce is getting huge and is starting to touch catnip, at two weeks is it too early to trim a leaf or two? It is also going to get in the way of the chamomile Back left pod, I think has two different sprouts?
Is this Kale? It was in a mix and the pouch said nothing about kale.Closer look at the big boi in the center. Any tips or should I just let it grow for longer
Thanks to anybody who reads this far. I appreciate any help, criticism, or tips!! Hey pocketz, welcome! I wil echo what Shawn has said. I started a salad garden mid-January. I have added nutes twice, with a R&R at the seconding feeding (am 1 week away from a 3rd feeding). I did the standard 2 caps in my Bounty at initial set up, and did about 2 caps at 1st feeding (a bit spilled so slightly less). I felt that it was too much, as some of the edges were coming in 'fried' looking. Last week, at the 2nd feeding, I only put 6ml. Things are looking good-- still some burned edges, but not sure if this was older leaves or from the recent feeding. I will probably do 4 ml (1 cap) next week and then depending on how things go add a few more ml a few days or a week later. My lettuce has grown well and I have done 2 major harvest in 37 days (ready for a third) and some snipping here and there. A lot of the lettuce and greens (kale included) come in mixed. My kale has at least 2-3 different varieties. This is fine. It sounds like you may have used your own seeds? Or did I misread the line about "pouch said nothing about kale". From the photo and it being quite early, I cannot say if that is Kale. Although it does not look like mine. And looks more like one of the loose leaf lettuces. That large lettuce (?) in the middle right is getting big. I think you can clip those huge leaves, I don't see a problem. It seems snipping and giving room just encourages more growth and fullness, so I think it is a win-win. The lettuce does seem to get crowded, but I think this is fine...so long as things are getting enough light. You can see my garden here if you want to see any comparison or frame of reference. My experience is still quite limited, but what I am loving about these AGs so far is that even far from perfect, things look, taste, and smell great. I *totally* get the paranoia of killing everything. These things are pretty resilient! |
|
|
|
Post by pocketz on Feb 22, 2019 10:40:03 GMT -5
Thank you to both Shawn and clumsythumbs for the advice! This is an update from February 21st that I wrote and never posted! To clear it up a bit, I used my own seeds, and it was a mix. I did some research and the brand is very well known for having low quality control when it comes to mixes. So its just a guessing game at this point, although it does make my first growing experience fun, as it forces me to extend my knowledge. I've decided to tone it down a bit, and next feed cycle will only add 6ml and will see how that goes. As far as the garden goes, I left everything as it was for a couple days and came back to this.I have spent the two days trying to figure out what I've got growing and this is a layout of what I think.  Note the question mark. I read a review for the seed mix I bough and a few others say they have gotten collard greens in the mix which is not advertised. Romaine is coming in well. Turns out it was two plants before. I pruned it to one.Catnip looks so good aside from the selfish arugula!Chamomile doesn't look so hot right now. It needs some light for sure!Peppermint is finally getting there, stretching out his first little arms. I'm really hoping this one pulls through!Now for the most exciting plant in the garden, the mystery plant! I still think it's red kale but it is a blind guess on my end. This will be fun to watch! It's definitely time for me to pluck a couple of the arugula leaves and make some light for the catnip and chamomile, they need it desperately. I plucked the three most obstructive leaves from the arugula. the plants look like they will have room for a couple of days at least.Overall it was a very educational week! I'm gonna go munch on my leaves and play some video games, satisfied with my work! |
|
Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
|
Post by Shawn on Feb 22, 2019 10:51:12 GMT -5
You have done a great job at detailing everything. I also like your "chart"  
The only plant I know is the romaine. Maybe you can move some around and put that kale in the right back hole and turn it so that the longer leaves hang off the sides? Just a suggestion. Otherwise I am glad you are enjoying the learning process and having fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by pocketz on Feb 22, 2019 11:04:14 GMT -5
You have done a great job at detailing everything. I also like your "chart"  
Thanks, it's very original don't you think! hahaha |
|
|
|
Post by clumsythumbs on Feb 22, 2019 11:30:35 GMT -5
Thank you to both Shawn and clumsythumbs for the advice! This is an update from February 21st that I wrote and never posted! To clear it up a bit, I used my own seeds, and it was a mix. I did some research and the brand is very well known for having low quality control when it comes to mixes. So its just a guessing game at this point, although it does make my first growing experience fun, as it forces me to extend my knowledge. I've decided to tone it down a bit, and next feed cycle will only add 6ml and will see how that goes. As far as the garden goes, I left everything as it was for a couple days and came back to this.I have spent the two days trying to figure out what I've got growing and this is a layout of what I think. Note the question mark. I read a review for the seed mix I bough and a few others say they have gotten collard greens in the mix which is not advertised. Romaine is coming in well. Turns out it was two plants before. I pruned it to one.Catnip looks so good aside from the selfish arugula!Chamomile doesn't look so hot right now. It needs some light for sure!Peppermint is finally getting there, stretching out his first little arms. I'm really hoping this one pulls through!Now for the most exciting plant in the garden, the mystery plant! I still think it's red kale but it is a blind guess on my end. This will be fun to watch! It's definitely time for me to pluck a couple of the arugula leaves and make some light for the catnip and chamomile, they need it desperately. I plucked the three most obstructive leaves from the arugula. the plants look like they will have room for a couple of days at least.Overall it was a very educational week! I'm gonna go munch on my leaves and play some video games, satisfied with my work! Great detective work pocketz!! I also love the chart. I need to do something like this in my upcoming gardens. I have my salad garden going and really have no memory or idea which is which among the lettuces. I know the Chinese Cabbage(2) and Kale, but rest am like....can't recall. Not that it matters ahah. I am currently growing a Kale mix (from AG) pod, and it definitely takes the mix literally, as there are at least 3 different kinds. I am not much good at identifying kale in its growing form, but as a prolific eater of Kale, I can say that even standard kale, looks really purplish when it is young, and turns more green and pale later. That being said, I am inclined to agree that is could likely be Russian Red Kale, based on the purple veins running into the leaves. Although even then, there are different looks and varieties of Russian Red (or at least what I have bought at the store over the years that passes itself as such). The Romaine will likely be prolific, although I don't think you need to prune down the plants, or at least that is my understanding, although no harm in having done. My mint took A LOOONG time to take off, but now that it has it is really going, so give the little guy time and he will be spreading his wings (perhaps more than you'd like....  ). The arugula is looking quite nice! Glad things are growing and looking great!  |
|
Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
|
Post by Shawn on Feb 22, 2019 11:56:55 GMT -5
I posted a couple templates here |
|
|
|
Post by clumsythumbs on Feb 22, 2019 12:36:29 GMT -5
I posted a couple templates hereOOOOH! Score! Thanks Shawn! |
|
Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
|
Post by Shawn on Feb 22, 2019 12:44:46 GMT -5
I posted a couple templates hereOOOOH! Score! Thanks Shawn !
LOL, let me know if oyu need anything else.
|
|
|
|
Post by joe645 on May 5, 2019 18:22:53 GMT -5
I have some 24 lettuce sprouts going in my outside gardens. Location: Las Vegas, so the summer is rapidly approaching in the high 90s already. My concerns are feeding. I have read that in the warmer months the plants tend to rely on water more than nutrients. Both totes maintain 14 gal of water. Any suggestions as to amount of nutrients to add every 2 weeks in their present stage, or just use label instructions? Also, just how critical is PPM, EC and PH readings with Lettuce?
|
|
|
|
Post by clumsythumbs on May 20, 2019 12:12:06 GMT -5
I have some 24 lettuce sprouts going in my outside gardens. Location: Las Vegas, so the summer is rapidly approaching in the high 90s already. My concerns are feeding. I have read that in the warmer months the plants tend to rely on water more than nutrients. Both totes maintain 14 gal of water. Any suggestions as to amount of nutrients to add every 2 weeks in their present stage, or just use label instructions? Also, just how critical is PPM, EC and PH readings with Lettuce?
I would imagine the primary issue would be keeping them cool enough so as not to bolt? I know lettuce likes cooler water, and is more likely to bolt when the water/temps get too hot. I do not know if they would use more nutrients in warmer/hotter weather? I do not have experience with the PPM, EC, PH issues; but the primary lesson I have learned from the folks here are: 1. It depends a lot on your water; so if you have the ability to measure those things, you can;2. 2. Lettuce and herbs are quite forgiving, so many have decided not to bother...until or unless issues arise, and then people might start to deduce what is going on. 3. Lettuce generally can do ok with lower levels of nutes. Good luck and let us know how they progress...especially as it gets hot! |
|
