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Post by peter001 on Oct 2, 2021 23:10:10 GMT -5
Hello, I'm a newbie to AG's. Two weeks ago purchased several AG Sprouts with included 'Seed Starting Trays' at Wmart clearance. They will be used to grow 'Kitchen Counter Herbs', Thyme, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, etc. Have one AG Sprout currently running with sprouted AG Basil and AG Curly Parsley. The Dill developed mold, was removed and replaced with Botanical Interests, Red Stripe Amaranth which has already sprouted. Planning on converting two of my old Bubble Cloners (plastic Shoe Boxes) into AG Pod Seed Starters, they each can easily hold fourteen (14) AG Pods in their 13-5/8" x 8-1/4" covers. The 1-3/8" holes will be in three rows of 5 - 4 - 5, @ 2-1/4" centers and ~ 2-1/8" between rows. The Old Bubble Cloners (2014 - 2015) could comfortably fit a maximum of 14 cuttings in 1-3/4 holes using commercially available 48mm x 19mm Sponge Cloning Cone Net Cups were eliminated in the later DIY Bubble Cloners. Yes, those are Fig, Ficus carica cuttings... The Pod Starter Boxes will be using the "Kratky Seed Starting Method", only the lower 1/2" - 1" of the sponge / basket will be submerged for capillary watering in the non-circulated, non-aerated nutrient solution, that's 9 - 10 cups, 2.25 - 2.5 quarts, 72 - 80 US fl oz (US) or 2.1 - 2.4 Liters. Sterilite #1642: 6 - Quart Storage Box (Shoe Box) Manufacturer: www.sterilite.com/SelectProduct.html?id=442&ProductCategory=0§ion=0Home Depot ($1.58 each): www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-6-Qt-Storage-Box-16426A60Dimensions: 13 5/8" L x 8 1/4" W x 4 7/8" H BTW, plan on growing the started Pods in 2 or 3 AG Sprouts and a couple non-circulating 7" deep Bus Bins configured with a "Maintained Fill Level" of 2.5 gallons (~ 10 liters), similar to the AVRDC Urban Home Garden Hydroponic Grow Boxes (Imai, 1987).
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Oct 3, 2021 10:18:21 GMT -5
peter001, having dabbled in several forms of hydroponics, I am very interested in following your progress. Your ideas sound good.
Welcome to the forum, and we are so glad you joined us!
Keep us posted on how everything is doing.
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Post by campingcorgis on Oct 3, 2021 10:59:50 GMT -5
Welcome to AGA, peter001! Sounds like you have enough projects to keep you busy! I look forward to hearing about and seeing more pictures of your projects.
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airscapes
AGA Bounty
Lettuce eat Cake!
Posts: 642
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Post by airscapes on Oct 3, 2021 13:18:27 GMT -5
Welcome aboard!!
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Post by peter001 on Oct 4, 2021 0:16:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome. I'm new to AeroGarden, have been 'Soil' gardening for several decades, but doing some container gardening and growing Figs for only the last two...
I plan on sharing the photos of the 'Shoe Boxes' and 'Bus Bins' as they are built and put into service over the next weeks. The first shoe box cover was drilled with 1-1/4" holes as a test, these 'smaller' holes (< 1-3/8") require added work for clearance notches for the ridges / ribs on the sides of the baskets, but results in a very snug / secure fit. The smaller holes also accommodate 1-3/16" (30mm) Plastic Plugs (1ELX1 Hole Plugs) used as Spacers on the AG's. BTW also drilled a 1-1/4" hole in a Plastic Wide Mouth Lid for an AG Pod Grow Basket, as a single Kratky container, same snug fit.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Oct 4, 2021 3:14:54 GMT -5
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airscapes
AGA Bounty
Lettuce eat Cake!
Posts: 642
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Post by airscapes on Oct 4, 2021 10:29:44 GMT -5
1 3/8 is the hole saw you will need to put in your cages. I did a lot of what you are doing as I am the same, dirt for years, just ventured into hydroponics this year. Most of those posts are in this forum, just look for my name as thread starter.
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Post by peter001 on Oct 4, 2021 20:29:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome and the assist, editing the photo link in the OP.
Thanks for the info. I have seen / read some of your topics, lots of good stuff. It will take me awhile to read thru all the archived posts, my day job and commute keeps me busy.
A reason for getting the AG Sprouts is the operating voltage, 12 Vdc, its a complete unit which includes a Grow Light and could be connected directly to solar panels with a DC - DC regulator power supply. I had attempted an MIT OpenAg MVP 'Food Computer' a few years ago and still have all the low voltage hardware, was disappointed when the Project went bust, lots of MIT Engineers and Programming with very few Agriculturists which may have doomed it.
The AG Sprouts have prompted me to complete my 'Indoor Grow Unit' which is an 48" x 18" x 72" chrome wire shelf on wheels, all parts that were already at hand for over three years...
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