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Post by lizbleu on Mar 19, 2022 22:58:53 GMT -5
Hi all- after 1 year and change growing tomatoes, after good growth but no ripening or tasty, edible yields, I am pausing this until I figure it out. Or not. I get lots of fruit- turns red- but never softens up and tastes nasty. Am I the only one?
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Post by lynnee on Mar 20, 2022 0:55:01 GMT -5
Hi all- after 1 year and change growing tomatoes, after good growth but no ripening or tasty, edible yields, I am pausing this until I figure it out. Or not. I get lots of fruit- turns red- but never softens up and tastes nasty. Am I the only one? That shouldn't be happening. Tomatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow in an Aerogarden. If the tomatoes turn red, they should be soft and edible. To help you figure out what's wrong, it would help us to have more information about your setup: What kind of tomatoes are you growing? What model of Aerogarden are you using? What kind of water (distilled, city tap, well, etc.) are you using? What nutrients are you adding? What AG settings are you using? Are you doing regular water changes? Is your water pump working? |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Mar 20, 2022 14:40:20 GMT -5
lizbleu , tomatoes need a stronger nutrient solution when they start blooming to produce good tasting tomatoes.
Did you increase your nutrient dosage?
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Post by lizbleu on Mar 21, 2022 23:27:18 GMT -5
sher No- I haven’t altered my nutrients. I originally did and the other veggies. got crispy. So, I left it alone for now. I didn’t think it would make such a dramatic difference. I am glad I asked. I will have to try in the future with additional nutrients, after understanding them a little more.
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Post by lizbleu on Mar 21, 2022 23:32:33 GMT -5
I think the issue is what sher noted below. The 2 varieties I’ve grown are from AG: heirloom and mighty mini. I tried in both Bounty Elite, Farm XL. I use distilled water. Default settings and yes, I keep it clean as per the instructions. I have no issues with my herbs, veggies. My peppers are really growing well right now, although I haven’t tried to eat any- Shishito, Bell, Jalapeno, Cayenne. Oh boy, I hope they don’t taste like the tomatoes have. The tomatoes are straight up nasty! Hi all- after 1 year and change growing tomatoes, after good growth but no ripening or tasty, edible yields, I am pausing this until I figure it out. Or not. I get lots of fruit- turns red- but never softens up and tastes nasty. Am I the only one? That shouldn't be happening. Tomatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow in an Aerogarden. If the tomatoes turn red, they should be soft and edible. To help you figure out what's wrong, it would help us to have more information about your setup: What kind of tomatoes are you growing? What model of Aerogarden are you using? What kind of water (distilled, city tap, well, etc.) are you using? What nutrients are you adding? What AG settings are you using? Are you doing regular water changes? Is your water pump working? |
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judib
AGA Sprout
Posts: 113
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Post by judib on Mar 22, 2022 11:19:51 GMT -5
lizbleu , tomatoes need a stronger nutrient solution when they start blooming to produce good tasting tomatoes.
Did you increase your nutrient dosage?
Hi, tagging into this thread to ask how much to increase the regular dosage of nutes? Mine are blooming for the first time for me and I do have a few small tomatos forming so I should start doing this. I do the regular amount of AG nutes every 14 days as directed, and the 7th day after I dose with that, I do a cal/mag of the same strength. Should I do more AG nutes strength wise, or are you suggesting just more frequency? Thanks! |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Mar 22, 2022 12:33:38 GMT -5
judib, I used to use a ppm meter to judge how strong to make my nutrients. To get a good tomato taste, you do have to adjust the nutrients up to a dose that would fry a younger plant.
I have not grown cherry tomatoes in a while, so I forget the amount it took. I know that I used at least 12 ml of AG nutrients in a Bounty, plus Dyna Grow bloom to provide extra phosphorus and potassium to help with fruiting. You could just gradually increase the AG nutrients when they start flowering.
I hate to recommend an exact ppm because it varies with the meter you buy. For the cheap Amazon meters, 900 ppm will make tasty tomatoes.
I used to always recommend that, but then I bought a pro Blue Lab meter, and it takes 1400 ppm on their meter.
I hope that is not confusing. If it is, just gradually increase your AG nutrients when the plant starts flowering.
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judib
AGA Sprout
Posts: 113
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Post by judib on Mar 22, 2022 13:45:47 GMT -5
Thanks sher I will just start giving some extra now with each dosage, as I don't have a meter. We will see how it works out, I'm sure it is also partially due to what the water is like that you use as well. |
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Post by lynnee on Mar 22, 2022 14:13:47 GMT -5
I think the issue is what sher noted below. The 2 varieties I’ve grown are from AG: heirloom and mighty mini. I tried in both Bounty Elite, Farm XL. I use distilled water. Default settings and yes, I keep it clean as per the instructions. I have no issues with my herbs, veggies. My peppers are really growing well right now, although I haven’t tried to eat any- Shishito, Bell, Jalapeno, Cayenne. Oh boy, I hope they don’t taste like the tomatoes have. The tomatoes are straight up nasty! Yes, I agree that Sher's advice will fix your tomato issues. However, part of the problem is that you were growing the AG Mighty Minis. Many people have reported that they don't taste good, and that was my experience, too. 🤨 My Minis loaded up quickly on green tomatoes that took forever to ripen. They finally ripened after severe pruning and extra nutrients (AG and CalMag+), but were sort of hard and highly acidic. Neither I nor my tomato-loving husband liked them. When growing tomatoes, it helps to prune the lower leaves that don't get light, as well as the tangled, distorted leaves between close-together pods. If they are stalled, you can remove some of the smaller tomatoes, because the plant may have more fruit than it can support. Sher got me started growing Burpee Veranda Red tomatoes (instead of the AG heirloom varieties, which usually produce reasonably tasty tomatoes). I had a little bit of trouble getting them going--their AG was under a heat vent--but now I wouldn't consider growing any other kind of red cherry tomatoes. The VRs are very sweet, and productive. This is how the slow starter looks now:  I give it an R&R every 2 weeks, and use 12ml AG nutes, 2ml CalMag+, and 1ml Koolbloom (in a Bounty Elite). It has already produced a few dozen tomatoes. 
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Post by lynnee on Mar 22, 2022 14:21:43 GMT -5
Thanks sher I will just start giving some extra now with each dosage, as I don't have a meter. We will see how it works out, I'm sure it is also partially due to what the water is like that you use as well. , how much CalMag+ are you adding? The label says to use 3-5ml per gallon of water. You probably don't need more than that every 2 weeks unless the leaves start yellowing. (See the end of the previous post for the dosage I use in a Bounty Elite.)  |
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Post by lizbleu on Mar 22, 2022 22:38:57 GMT -5
lynnee Wow- that tomato plants looking really good! I will have to try that brand. I need to add a couple of new lettuce too, for variety sake. Thanks for the tips!
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judib
AGA Sprout
Posts: 113
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Post by judib on Mar 23, 2022 7:07:54 GMT -5
Thanks sher I will just start giving some extra now with each dosage, as I don't have a meter. We will see how it works out, I'm sure it is also partially due to what the water is like that you use as well. , how much CalMag+ are you adding? The label says to use 3-5ml per gallon of water. You probably don't need more than that every 2 weeks unless the leaves start yellowing. (See the end of the previous post for the dosage I use in a Bounty Elite.)  I'm adding 8 ml every two weeks (offset from the AG nutes) in a harvest. My plants are very healthy no yellowing and putting on lots of flowers and lots are changing to fruits now. Just hope the taste is there when they mature. I'm growing one golden harvest and one heirloom, both AG pods. |
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judib
AGA Sprout
Posts: 113
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Post by judib on Mar 23, 2022 7:10:21 GMT -5
lynnee Wow- that tomato plants looking really good! I will have to try that brand. I need to add a couple of new lettuce too, for variety sake. Thanks for the tips! For lettuce you should try Johnnys seeds, -Chicarita, it's a romaine, very quick and never bitter, very crisp. And the seed is pelleted, so super easy to load. I also use their Dragoon, and Truchas. |
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