2022 February Flower GAL - ENDED 5/29/22

[campingcorgis]

So, best laid plans and all that...I had ordered a new/second Harvest Elite and a seed starting tray for the unit.  I have seed starting trays for the Sprout and the Bounty, but not the Harvest.  The new tray isn't going to get here until Wednesday.  Sigh.  The new Harvest Elite arrived today, broken.  Double sigh.  My first Harvest Elite is now stuck in "Add Plant Food" mode and the screen frozen.  

I'm returning the one that arrived today...and AG is kindly replacing the first unit.  They were quick to respond, and I'm grateful for that...but...that isn't helping with timing for the GAL.

I may just go ahead and start the GAL tomorrow, if the tray arrives on time...we'll see.  My thinking is that if I use the tray and can start more than I need to insure a nice full garden in the end.  I want to use seeds that I've picked up from end of season sales at local stores.  At least, that was my thinking.  

In any event, I guess I'll make a decision tomorrow.  Maybe I'll use the Sprout seed starter and switch those that sprout over to a Harvest later?  

[lynnee]

That's rotten luck, campingcorgis!

[Shawn]

That stinks!  At least AG is making good on the one.  As for the GAL, you can start this week or even next

[campingcorgis]

Feb 16, 2022 8:28:46 GMT -5 Shawn said:

That stinks!  At least AG is making good on the one.  As for the GAL, you can start this week or even next

Thanks!  I'll keep this in mind.  The seed starter did arrive early this morning.  According to the directions, one needs to "soak" the whole tray of sponges, in the unit, for one day before adding seeds.  The Harvest Elite has now changed the light schedule and since the screen is frozen, there's nothing to be done about it.  Although, I'm sure that won't matter for the soaking part...so I'll likely start that today anyway.  

[lynnee]

Not wishing to insult your intelligence, campingcorgis, but have you tried unplugging the Harvest Elite completely (lights, pump, and base), and waiting maybe half an hour before plugging everything back in?

Out of curiosity--were you doing anything when the HE screen froze? Do you think a power surge might have fried the unit? I suppose that AG has seen the problem before, if they're sending a warranty replacement right away.

If you can still turn the HE lights on and off manually, you may be able to use it for Kratky projects?

Also out of curiousity--what was broken on the broken unit?

My own AGs have been--knock on wood--trouble free except for the hood on the Farm 12XL that stopped running the pump. Now I'm kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop!

[campingcorgis]

Well, they are calling for snow for the holiday weekend and the skiers are keeping their fingers crossed!  Me, not so much.  I don't mind a little snow, but I'm ready for Spring!  Maybe 30 days early, but I'm getting things in order for it.  First, I planted the Harvest Seed Tray in a new Harvest Elite (delivered by UPS just after we left for today's appointment) as outlined below.  The tray came with AG sponges included, so that's what I used.  I counted out seeds, 4 per sponge and used a funnel to place them.  Starting from the left-hand front of the tray...

3 with Dianthus Barbatus Holborn Glory, from Outsidepride
3 with Phlox Popstars Rose with Eye, from Park Seed
Next row of 6 with Gazania Rigen Kiss Rose, from Outsidepride
Next row of 7 with Gazania Rigens Rose Striped, from Outsidepride
Next row of 4 with Gazania Rigens Red Shades, from Outsidepride

Before we left this morning, I setup the bread machine with a loaf of Egg Bread (new recipe) so the house smells warm and wonderful.  I changed out the accent pillows in the great room to reflect the new spring season here at Camp Corgi...I changed out the kitchen towels to the bunny rabbits and sheep springtime themed towels.  I changed my purse to a bright orange one...and I'll be changing bedspreads in the guestroom and maybe our room too!  

Let Springtime begin!  

[Sher]

Your happy springtime anticipation and preparations make me smile!

The flowers sound gorgeous!

[lynnee]

Your springtime preparations made me smile, too!

[Shawn]

Adding me for a 3rd

[campingcorgis]

Day 2:

There is action in many of the pods.  Well, at least that's true in the Gazania pods.  Nothing yet in the Dianthus or Phlox pods.  But, hey, it is only day 2.

Note, I totally get why AG wants you to soak the pods for a day.  I placed the whole seed tray in a proofing box and many of the pods were buoyant, such that they kept wanting to rise up out of the seed tray!     I poked them down and made sure they were totally saturated, but up they pop!     Obviously, there isn't a label/cover to help hold them down.  Given this experience, I'm wondering if it might prove beneficial to soak all sponges for 24 hours, instead of just immediately prior, for a moment or two?    Here's a shot of the tray in the box...

[Sher]

campingcorgis, I have started presoaking all my sponges after I read about some people having problems with the sponges wicking properly.

But I don't soak mine 24 hours. Just till they are completely saturated.

[Shawn]

I use the park seeds sponges.  While I do not soak them I do get them wet prior to placing seeds in them.

[campingcorgis]

Day 3: Lots of itsy-bitsy green leaves popping up!  Woo hoo!  

[Shawn]

Looking good!

[campingcorgis]

Still Day 3: There's life in the 3 Dianthus pods now.  Still nothing in the Phlox pods.  

[campingcorgis]

There appears to be life in all but one of the Rose Kiss Gazania pods.  Even the Phlox pods are waking up.  Well, 1 of them for sure and the other 2 look promising.  It will be time to start planning their move soon!  I'm thinking both of the Bounty machines, since they are both empty now.  Then I can use the Harvest as a Microgreens thing again...we'll see how the timing works out.

[Sher]

Glad the little seeds are finally waking up!

[campingcorgis]

Day 14: The Harvest said it was time to feed the plants...so, I opted to move them to their new homes and then feed them.  I very pleased with the Harvest Seed Starter and I had successful germination with 22 of the 23 pods!    Pictures are below.  Not the best shots, but then are in a temporary spot until there is more to see.  Still, I think the pictures show how well they are coming along...

Unit #1:


Unit #2:

[Sher]

They are definitely off to a great start!

[campingcorgis]

Day 23:  To me, the dark deck is doing much better than the light deck.  Just now, I tried dimming the lights a little on the light deck AG, but it said that it would go back to 100% on the next cycle.  Sigh.