Patio Choice Yellow Hybrid Tomatoes

[clumsythumbs]

Machine: Ultra

Planted: 11/30/2020

Sponges: Park Seeds

Seeds: 3 pods; 2 seeds  in each. I plan to keep whichever 2 prove the mightiest.

2020-12-02_10-41-49 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


I grew this over Summer and transplanted. I really liked the plant and the tomatoes. However, they took a long time to really get going and produce, so I felt like I am not done with it.  The plant grows to 18" but got bigger outdoors in a container. The fruit is closely clustered on pretty soft branches. I am curious to see how it holds up in an AG. I suspect they may ripen faster with the lights closer. 

The fruit are sweet and tangy. Not too sweet, but not really "tart". The skins are thin, but they cut well (like in half...) without exploding.  I really liked them. 

Here is what they looked like in pots over summer:

20200918_111138 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

20200904_164758 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


I am curious to compare size, taste, and output in AG versus containers. I am going to have to figure someway to stake/support them early on as they get heavy with fruit and the branches were not especially "strong".... excited for these in the mid-Winter/early Spring (lol).

[clumsythumbs]

Day 7:

Saw the first seedling today...took off the dome! We will see if the other 2 germinate. 

20201208_113411 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

[Sher]

I will look forward to following their progress.

The outdoor plant looked well shaped and well behaved.

[clumsythumbs]

Day 14~

All three pods have germinated. My plan is to keep two of them at far ends of the unit and move one to something under a grow light. I am still researching alternate systems and what sort of set up I need/can work with what I have. Some family members have also told me to "hold" off as my siblings maybe are going to buy me some supplies for xmas. I put 2 seeds in each pod and the first pod had 2 germinate. So these seeds seem to germinate well. 


I also got my order from "Seeds 'n Such" last weekend. In the 4 empty holes of this Ultra I planted 2 fairytale eggplants. The order came with "free" seeds... a "unicorn tomato hybrid" an "alpha beita cucumber". I planted one pod of each. I do not think these are meant for hydro or container gardening, so will be moving them all nonAG set ups once they get going. The eggplants I plant to move out as well.   

[clumsythumbs]

2020-12-14_01-07-46 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


This is the first to germinate and grow... looking nice at 14 days!


2020-12-14_01-08-12 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

[Sher]

It looks cute, and very healthy.

I just wanted to say again how happy I am that you are back to posting.

[clumsythumbs]

The alpha beit cuke germinated in 1 day! As this was a free / mystery seed, I was reading up on it this morning. Grows to 12" to 48" high and 18" wide. I already knew was going to transfer out of the AG machine, but curious to see how I am going to manage this 

[clumsythumbs]

Day 35 ~


All is going well here! 

This is my hodgepodge garden. As displayed, this shows 3 patio choice yellow hybrid tomatoes (back side and front center). They were all planted same day, but you can see they have grown at their own rates. 

The big gal in front  and the medium guy to the back right have been moved to a container, for my first Kratky experiment. (See Below). Also in the mix is a unicorn tomato (front left) that will eventually get transplanted out. To the front right is an alpha beita green bean that will also get moved to a container. Note on this one: it germinated really fast, but has been slowly growing since. In the back centers are two fairy tale eggplants. One has been moved to another Kratky container (again see below). This second will stay in this machine.

Eventually this machine will have one tomato and one eggplant. 



2021-01-04_02-11-47 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

Yellow Patio Choice in Kratky (5-gal) container under lights:

2021-01-04_02-30-45 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


transplanted Fairytale eggplant to Kratky container:

2021-01-04_04-03-35 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


I am going to make a separate thread for the Kratky transplants, but for the sake of genealogy and continuity, documenting here!

[Sher]

The Patio Choice has a very nice form. And I am interested in seeing  how your Kratky transplants grow.

BTW, the eggplant gets so big, it might be all one Bounty can handle.

[clumsythumbs]

Jan 4, 2021 16:20:54 GMT -5 Sher said:

The Patio Choice has a very nice form. And I am interested in seeing  how your Kratky transplants grow.

BTW, the eggplant gets so big, it might be all one Bounty can handle.

Yeah... I was not sure. I had seen others seem to be successful with 2 dwarf eggplants, so figured I would see   if need be will move stuff as/if it out grows machines! 

[clumsythumbs]

Day 42~


So this motley crew of plants in this Ultra are...

1 patio choice yellow hybrids [the other 2 having been transplanted to 5-gal Kratky]; 2 Chiogga beets; 1 unicorn tomato; 1 of the Gilfeathers; and an beit alpha cucumber.  


This is the only machine who ppm/EC were in normal ranges; I did not do an R&R.

While things are growing, the tomatoes are going slow (likely due to the temp) and the cuke is growing leaves but not really growing "up". Also, the cuke leaves are VERY curled I am seeing [see 2nd photo]

20210112_124104 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

20210112_124158 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


I have never grown cucumbers, so not sure what they look like early in life...My plan is/was to move to its own Kratky container. This is a normal sized cuke that can grow very large and needs to be trellised. But I was waiting until it got bigger....also waiting to figure out the ongoing grow light situation. It is green and beautiful and smells like a just sliced cucumber (for what it's worth).

Here are the transplanted tomatoes:

20210112_140322 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

They have gotten taller over the last few days (note: they are temporarily under a grow bulb that is...substantially above them...so maybe this is "stretching", for the light. I am not too upset as when I grew the plant in containers over summer, it got "bunched" in terms of fruit later in its cycle).  Notice the very different sizes (planted same day).

I am supposed to get my new grow light tomorrow so hopefully tomorrow or Thursday, can get that set-up and these moved to a stronger and more appropriate light (but I am pleasantly surprised about what is happening here).

The eggplant...is also SLOWLY growing, but has also started to get perky the last few days:


20210112_140404 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


It is still really small for being about a month old. The other eggplant pod is...somewhere around, but dying out. I may replant these when I get the room (or seed start outside of machine).

Maybe with increased temps of the last few days, it will start going. It IS drinking water, so there is that. It is also a slight possibility it does not want to grow because it is mad I have not given it its own thread....

[Sher]

Not giving it its own thread is probably the real cause!

[clumsythumbs]

This garden also perked right up with the addition of nutes on Tuesday.  Compare that to:


2021-01-14_12-58-44 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


The tomatoes have grown/are standing up tall and proud; the cucumber leaves are unfurling; the beetroot leaves are perky and standing up.

I will continue to keep an eye on them, but may need to consider feeding more often for a bit.

Also as a teaser: the eggplant and cuke *may* be getting their own threads in the next few days. Maybe. (Probably). I wanted to wait until the cuke grew taller before transplanting, but the leaves are spreading and I suspect it may be asking for more space. The eggplant is also growing and getting perkier (it has not been fed as it is in a Kratky) but the addition of CalMag and the heat boost seems to be helping it. I am likely going to start some seeds today or tomorrow; an eggplant being one. The 2nd that germinated seems to be dying or not going to grow. I have seen the eggplants can be tricky for some folks, so I want 2 plants to assure that I get some eggplants and that it is enough. My fiancé and I love eggplant and that is who the eggplant(s) are dedicated to.

My replacement grow light finally came yesterday. I hung it today and am working on putting together a set-up I am very excited about (assuming I can manage to make it work with my less than nimble, clumsy fingers). Once it is set-up, will post photos If this set-up works, I am going to do some greens under a grow bulb using a similar set-up. This has been a LONG TIME coming. I had started on this idea before Christmas!! The basement risks quickly getting taken over by plant life and my amateur set-ups. One can dream!

[Sher]

I am so glad everything is doing better, clumsythumbs. And I am delighted to hear that your habitat improvements are making such a difference.

Your Kratky projects look great!

What kind of light did you decide on?

[Shawn]

Happy yo hear all are doing good.  It is nice to see all different projects people are growing

[clumsythumbs]

Jan 14, 2021 16:48:45 GMT -5 Sher said:

I am so glad everything is doing better, clumsythumbs . And I am delighted to hear that your habitat improvements are making such a difference.

Your Kratky projects look great!

What kind of light did you decide on?

Thanks! I decided to go with the Roleadro 1000W. Amazon had a $20 off coupon so it was a good bargain; several online reviews have rated it one of the best values every year the last few years. I was really torn between going with the Mars Hydro that I know is good quality and a good value (but would require me fronting more) versus using the credit I had and buy this one    I sort of figure as things go along, I likely will upgrade/buy more/expand, so this is a good place to start.  

Thanks for your input and help! 

[clumsythumbs]

Also... the guys at both hydro stores I have visited recently said flowering plants will never set flowers until I "flip" the light schedule. I assumed they meant adjust to a different schedule. I was a bit confused as in the AG the light schedule is always the same. Is this true? I know most grow light manufacturers suggest a 12on/12 off for flowering stage, but I assumed you would switch to this when they start to set flowers? 

Given my other qualms with their advice and general apathy I took it with a grain of salt. 

[ERR0R1755]

Jan 15, 2021 9:56:25 GMT -5 clumsythumbs said:

Also... the guys at both hydro stores I have visited recently said flowering plants will never set flowers until I "flip" the light schedule. I assumed they meant adjust to a different schedule. I was a bit confused as in the AG the light schedule is always the same. Is this true? I know most grow light manufacturers suggest a 12on/12 off for flowering stage, but I assumed you would switch to this when they start to set flowers? 

Given my other qualms with their advice and general apathy I took it with a grain of salt. 

That is definitely true for the plant-that-shall-not-be-named which has been cultivated to depend entirely on light, but most plants will start to flower if they are well grown and then start to receive some type of stress. Reduced light is one form of stress and the one that plants expect in nature, but from what I've seen it isn't necessary. Old age is another form of stress.

All of my AeroGarden's and grow tents are 16-on/8-off, and so far everything except my lavender has flowered fine, and I think the latter might just be a plant that flowers in the second year.

[Sher]

The light sounds great, clumsythumbs!  So glad you found a good light for a good price!

Yes, they were definitely talking about that other kind of buds.

Your flowers should bloom their little heads off under that light!

 

[clumsythumbs]

Day 55 (ish):

We have flowers starting to form on 2 of the 3 of these patio choice (the ones in Kratky buckets; the AG one still waiting).

20210125_103527 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

20210125_103515 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr



Overall, there are looking healthy. They are growing straight and pretty bushy. They seem to be doing fine under the grow light and taking to the nutrient mix.


20210124_174119 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


20210124_174138 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

The shorter to the right in white is the just transplanted Unicorn Hybrid Tomato. I think I waited too long to transplant. The bottom of the mainstem (where it just comes out of the AG pod) is much thinner and therefore weaker than the rest. Due to the issues getting the grow light set-up, I could not transplant it until this past week. Hopefully it will strengthen up and be able to support itself. Even this one is starting to show some fuzzy areas that will become flowers. We will see how fast they grow and ripen. When I grew the patio choice over the summer it felt like it took FOREVER to bear fruit and mature... although they were further along than these . So, I may be looking at a while before things really take off. 

Once these all get going I am fearful they will outgrow the space. As is, with the ever-expanding set-up, I am going to possibly need another light and another replication of this. I may have over committed? The temperature in this make-shift grow tent is still a bit chilly, but they seem to be doing fine. The best I can seem to get it up to is about 65 degrees. 

I added some CalMag a week or two ago. They are drinking fair amounts of water. When I drilled the hole for the net cup, I also drilled a smaller hole and plugged it with a pvc plug/cap (not sure what it is called). This way I can check the water level, add water (if need be), and stick my TDS/ph meter in there (just in case). When I add nutes tomorrow, I will check the levels. 2 weeks ago they were lower than the charts recommend (around 900 ppm), but were doing fine. I had read in Kratky, as the water goes down the nutes will get more concentrated so you want to be more conservative. I was. So far so good.  


Some things I am happy with these: 1. They are growing completely straight, fairly bushy, with some hefty branches (I will still likely have to stake them once they bear fruit; the fruit grow in huge clumps so really weigh down the branches); 2. No browning or crispy edges (yet). In the AG things always manage to brown and get crispy at some point. My "plan" was that I would not have to adjust the height of the shelf as the plant grows. The grow light manufacture recommends something like 25" at vegetative stage and 18" at flowering and 12" at fruiting. At the time I placed them on these shelves the tallest was 25" under the light. Not sure where it is at now. They do not seem to be stretching nor burning, so I think the height it right. The AG version of this is much less bushy and more "stretching" despite the AG hood being right over it the whole time. Will update on progress as it happens.