Parsley and Cilantro 10/9

[MaryL]

This is a collection of herbs and peppers which will be appropriately split up in time.  2 of the herbs didn’t make it, and I’m left with what I think are 2 parsleys.  This is also where I’ve been starting the Golden Greek seedling, on the front left.  And I’m trying again with Shawn’s Sheepnose.  I think maybe the way the post office handled the mail did the seeds harm, but we’ll see if 3rd time’s a charm.

[Shawn]

I have a few more if you need another Mary

[MaryL]

Thanks Shawn.  I still have one more in addition to the one I just planted, so I’ve still essentially got 2 shots left.

Btw, I was wrong about the herbs - one is cilantro.  Yay. 

[Shawn]

One is better then none

[MaryL]

1 parsley and 1 cilantro in the rear of the garden are doing well and will have the unit to themselves once I move the peppers.  

[MaryL]

Solo herbs now.  Kind of surprised how small they are given they’re 2 months old.   Maybe the peppers stole nutrients.  Well, they’ll be indulged now. 



But it I did find lots of algae.  I’m not sure why.  So I did an R and R and add d a tbsp or 2 of hydrogen peroxide.  The only reason why I can think of is that the hole plugs don’t sit flush in the new machines so they let some light in.  But not much at all.  Sorry for the gross picture.

I found that as well... no place for light, yet algae  forming underneath.....tell me, did the advice for the leaking machine pan out?(no pun)

[MaryL]

I’m going to check now.  Except for getting water and snapping a few pics I haven’t been downstairs since Thursday morning.

[MaryL]

This is a really weird garden.  The cilantro has had a reddish tint from the get go, the parsley has had dried out stems, and now they’re both much worse.  The algae isn’t supposed to hurt it, but I can’t think of why else this garden has been such a bust.  

I think it’s best I cut my losses and start over.

[Shawn]

That is odd Mary.  Are they old seeds?  Maybe something got in the water?

[MaryL]

They could very well be old seeds.  I’m not sure, lol. I have so many and generally have not thrown any away.  

[Shawn]

I started putting dates on the packets when I get them.  

[MaryL]

That’s smart and I really should have been doing that, especially with the bazillion herb kits I’ve received from the company over the years.

Here is a last pic taken just now of the garden so you can see what I’m talking about. You can barely tell the plants apart. Parsley on the left, cilantro on the right. Both red, both struggling, the parsley drier than the cilantro.

[Shawn]

Something is going on there.  If it were mine I would be terminating, cleaning unit really good and trying again, but that is me,

[MaryL]

Dec 15, 2017 5:40:47 GMT -5 Shawn said:

Something is going on there.  If it were mine I would be terminating, cleaning unit really good and trying again, but that is me,

Yup, cleaned the dickens out of it last night.  It was filthy.  Tons of roots were stuck in the channels of the deck (I think from the Greek pepper that had been in there).  And of course all the algae I had mentioned above. I’m glad Mike taught us how to separate the deck and open it up, otherwise I never would’ve been able to get them out of there.


The only thing that really bothers me about the Harvests is that they are really hard to clean.  Partly because the basin is not a smooth surface (lots of crannies) and, as to the channels, you can’t leave the pump going with bleach solution for longer than 10 seconds at a time.  So there is still some algae in the spouts I can’t get off. 

[drbanks]

I usually put the two halves of the deck through the dishwasher, although the heated drying yellows the plastic.

That's not a thorough enough cleaning either, though.

[MaryL]

Dec 15, 2017 7:38:25 GMT -5 drbanks said:

I usually put the two halves of the deck through the dishwasher, although the heated drying yellows the plastic.

That's not a thorough enough cleaning either, though.

Well it sure would be easier, lol.  If I could remember to open the dishwasher door when the drying cycle starts I could avoid the yellowing.  I don’t trust myself to remember.

[drbanks]

usually there's an energy saver switch on the dishwasher to disable the heated drying cycle

[MaryL]

Oh right. I’ve never had occasion to use it before so never thought about it.  I’ll have to pull out the manual (if the button isn’t obvious).