Bounty: Herb Garden (12/13/17 - 2/8/18)

[jcosmo]

This was my first AG. I planted everything that came with it, but ditched the curly parsley after 4 or 5 days when the white mold turned green. (I didn't know that this was harmless and didn't want it to contaminate the other pods.) I planted sweet pickle pepper seeds in a Parks sponge, but the seeds didn't germinate, so on 12/29, I dropped 5 soaked mimosa pudica seeds into the pod. They haven't yet grown above the label, though.

Day 13:



Day 18 (today):

[jcosmo]

3rd time pruning the basil - almost enough for a caprese salad!

what a lovely neat looking herb garden. You and Mary should get a prize for the neatness of your machines! Great progress!  Love it!

[jcosmo]

Thanks, but I think the garden is just too young to be unruly. Let's see if I can keep it this way once the dill starts competing with the basil!

[MaryL]

Pretty!  It’s a fun stage.

[jcosmo]

Though it doesn't quite belong, this is my favorite thing in the herb garden right now:

[MaryL]

That is fantastical, kinda creepy, very gorgeous fun!!!   I love it!!!!!!!!  Thank you for posting that.

[Shawn]

That was weird yet cool.

[jcosmo]

OMFG. One of the sweet pickle pepper seeds under the mimosa pudica seeds has finally germinated.
Unfortunately, I don't think I can extract it to plant it somewhere else without damaging the other plants. Now that I know how long peppers can take, I won't be so quick to give up on them. Still waiting for the tomato/pepper pod seedlings in the AG Sprout w/the Micro Tom to develop true leaves so I can determine which one is the pepper. 

[MaryL]

You got a surprise!  As a fun experiment you could wait to cut it til after a few leaves form and put it in water and see if it develops roots.  I know that works with tomatoes.  My first tomato kit I used the extra cuttings to make a whole 2nd garden.  Two gardens for the price of 1 kit. d45692   (Thank you Corinne for that advice. )

[jcosmo]

The basil has become a colossal nuisance!!! It's day 28, time for the first Rinse and Refill. I had a siphon that turned out to be useless, so I ended up having to carry it to the sink and lift the deck out. The roots from all 3 basil pods had grown together (even though I've been turning them) and they'd grown right through the filter! I cut the filter loose and reinstalled it, still full of roots... but I have no doubt I'll be cutting it free again next month.

[drbanks]

They'll not only get into the filter, but even between the layers of the grow deck.

[Shawn]

jcosmo, this is the pump I use and while it is no longer on prime, this one looks to be the same but made by a different company

[MaryL]

Everything sure looks healthy though.

[jcosmo]

About a week ago, I noticed that the dill was starting to turn yellow and the mint was getting what looked like burn spots on some of the leaves. Did a quick Google search and it looks like a nutrient deficiency might be the most likely cause (since not getting enough water doesn't apply here). The herb garden got more nutes 3 days ago, but they don't look like they're getting better 3 days later... Day 45:



I removed most of the "burnt" looking leaves from the mint before taking the picture, but I'm seriously considering moving the chives and 2 of the basils to containers and getting rid of the rest of it. I haven't used the parsley or thyme at all. I'm still buying chives and dill at the grocery store because the herb garden doesn't produce enough for a single recipe. Tempted to grow 2 pepper plants or 2 tomato plants instead.

[drbanks]

Dump & Refill?  pH? TDS?

[jcosmo]

I think it might've just been in need of nutrients. The mint looks great now, and I haven't seen more yellowing since the feeding. I removed the basil that was shadowing the dill and planted more dill in its place, but the tomato plant on the left has found its way onto the Bounty deck, and the pepper plant on the right is also making its way into the Bounty.

I'm seriously thinking about just starting over again with the herb garden, but only planting things I know I'll use. I'm waiting for a recent order from Baker Creek to arrive that will include Emily basil. Description from the catalog:

Compact version of the classic Genovese type that is superior for pot culture, having shorter stem-length between leaf nodes. Widely recognized to be longer-lasting when cut, all of which make “Emily” a better subject for market growers and home gardeners.

[Shawn]

Until you decide what you are going to do.  Why not thin the basil out but cutting off some of the larger leaves only?  Just a suggestion.  It will give it a taller look instead of a round one and may offer light to the surrounding plants under.

[MaryL]

It sure looks pretty.  Sometimes when I have a varied herb garden that includes herbs I rarely use, I’ll just make a tea out of those, or just muddle them and add to my water glass, just to put them to some use.