Lettuce (surprise)

[tompepper7]

I am somewhat surprised that I enjoyed the lettuce I grew.

My first thought was, lettuce, sure. okay....

I grew a couple "mixed" lettuce and Romaine and was surprised how good they were were with homemade oil and vinegar.

That Bounty basic is now growing a few pepper plants but I now have heirloom salad greens growing in a Harvest and Harvest XL.

The Harvest XL is my newest AG Garden and I am interested to see if there is a difference with the stronger light and better spacing.

I have mixed feelings about the Harvest model. I first attempted growing herbs. The Thai and Genovese basil took over and quickly grew larger than the Harvest could handle. I moved the basil plants to a Farm 24XL.

Like many here I need to learn what plants and how many grow well together.

[lynnee]

tompepper7, there are members here who love the Harvest best of all! Like you, I have trouble finding the right crop for my Harvests--but they can't be beat for growing microgreens (with the special insert).

[tompepper7]

Aug 7, 2022 19:01:27 GMT -5 lynnee said:

tompepper7 , there are members here who love the Harvest best of all! Like you, I have trouble finding the right crop for my Harvests--but they can't be beat for growing microgreens (with the special insert).

Oh yeah. There's a guy on YouTube that grows all kinds of stuff in the Harvest.

[lynnee]

That must be Aerogarden Experiments! I love his videos.

[Shawn]

Welcome tompepper7.

I love the Harvest.  I have several of the Elites and an XL.  I use them to grow flowers on my desk and herbs.  When growing herbs basil is fast but can also be pruned a lot to keep it shorter.  But since getting the Farms I use my Harvest for flowers now.  Maybe a Sweet Heat Pepper project too.

The Bounty is also a great machine.  I have several of those as well.   In time and reading what others have done you will find your growing groove

As for Aerogarden Experiments I have enjoyed some of his videos.  I need to take a better look.  I wanted to contact them but I see no contact info.  If you find it please PM me   I would love speak to them about joining us here and posting for our members too.

[tompepper7]

Aug 8, 2022 3:11:28 GMT -5 Shawn said:

I love the Harvest.  I have several of the Elites and an XL.......

The Bounty is also a great machine.  I have several of those as well.   In time and reading what others have done you will find your growing groove

It seems to me the Bounty is really nice with the 2 foot high light. A Bounty XL with a 3 foot light would be great. As a bit of a lark I sent an email to Aerogarden asking when I could buy a Bounty XL with a 3 foot light.

Their response:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding submitting an unsolicited idea to Scotts.

Please be aware that The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company does not accept or evaluate unsolicited ideas, including ideas for new products, product improvements, new technologies, processes, materials, or brands. Please do not submit any unsolicited ideas, proposals, or materials in any form to Scotts or any of its employees.

Please also be aware that Scotts Miracle-Gro will consider any submissions you make to be non-confidential, and Scotts will be free to use, distribute, and disclose your submissions for any purpose and in any way, without any compensation to you or any third party.

So lol for a dry corporate response. and one thumb down for not telling me when it would be available.

At 15 days I had my first small salad from the two Harvest models growing lettuce. Just picked the biggest couple leaves from each set of lettuce and added homemade oil and vinegar. Great!

[lynnee]

What an interesting corporate letter!

I kinda doubt that they'll develop a 3-foot Bounty, because the light hood is already a bit top-heavy on the fully extended 2-foot light pole. It's okay if you have a big pepper plant in it to add to the weight of the water, of course.

[Shawn]

Did you write to Aerogarden or Miracle Gro?

[tompepper7]

Aug 15, 2022 5:43:36 GMT -5 Shawn said:

Did you write to Aerogarden or Miracle Gro?

I used the "Email Us" link on the Aerogarden website.

The reply email is from Aerogarden Customer Service.

[scarfguy]

Couldn't you just take the light hood off of the bounty.  Suspend it higher with ceiling hangers or a frame and connect it with a standard USB extender cable.

I also have been wondering if the bounty would work if I took the hood off and disconnected it.  I have full spectrum overhead lighting that I can lower to any height above the bounty bowl.  I don't know if the bounty would know the hood was missing.

[tompepper7]

Aug 15, 2022 13:03:35 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

Couldn't you just take the light hood off of the bounty.  Suspend it higher with ceiling hangers or a frame and connect it with a standard USB extender cable.

I also have been wondering if the bounty would work if I took the hood off and disconnected it.  I have full spectrum overhead lighting that I can lower to any height above the bounty bowl.  I don't know if the bounty would know the hood was missing.

Looking at your post it occurs to me all that would be needed is some sort of usb extender to make the light taller.

[tompepper7]

Aug 15, 2022 13:12:27 GMT -5 tompepper7 said:

Aug 15, 2022 13:03:35 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

......USB extender cable.

Looking at your post it occurs to me all that would be needed is some sort of usb extender to make the light taller.

I think I was not clear here. I meant Aerogarden simply making a foot taller extension would allow the light to be taller. Not sure I should answer their unsolicited ideas email with another one.....

[Shawn]

I do not know if it will work on Bountys but I have seen on etsy people making extenders for their AG's.  I can not vouch if they work as I have never needed one.

[Shawn]

Here is the one I had seen Light Extender for Bounty (newest units)

[lynnee]

Aug 16, 2022 13:10:45 GMT -5 Shawn said:

Here is the one I had seen Light Extender for Bounty (newest units)

Very interesting! I still wonder about top-heaviness, though.

[tompepper7]

Aug 16, 2022 13:10:45 GMT -5 Shawn said:

Here is the one I had seen Light Extender for Bounty (newest units)

Oh, wow! Exactly that.

Right now the site says one left and "taking a break".

I would definitely order one to see if it works.

[tompepper7]

Back on topic with lettuce (surprise). At first I was able to get baby lettuce leaves every couple days from the two Harvest models and now it is every day. I just pick the biggest leaves from each plant. I thought is was a bit silly to see people with Farm models growing nothing but lettuce. I have also read comments about the lettuce not being "crunchy" enough. The nice baby lettuce leaves I have been having for salads are like the difference between hamburger and filet mignon (if a salad to meat comparison is acceptable) . It has been icing on the cake (if a bakery comparison is acceptable) when I can add tomatoes grown in my Aerogarden as well. I see it is not so silly to consider a Farm model to grow lettuce.

In other news I notice:

5 San Marzano tomatoes starting.

3 Santa Fe Grande peppers starting.

[lynnee]

tompepper7, you and I feel the same about AG lettuce! I'll grow it in a Farm if that's the only AG that's free, but I think that a Bounty is ideal!

[tompepper7]

Aug 21, 2022 20:55:26 GMT -5 lynnee said:

tompepper7 , you and I feel the same about AG lettuce! I'll grow it in a Farm if that's the only AG that's free, but I think that a Bounty is ideal!

I think the consideration for the Farm would be the number of people eating the salads as well as perhaps staggered growing cycles where a second set is started to be ready as the first set is winding down.

[Shawn]

I agree that the Bounty or Harvest are best for Lettuce.  I do have some growing in my farm but that is because I have my two farms running only at this time.  I have my Bountys and Harvests put away.  I do have my Harvest on my desk but that is reserved for flowers which I need to plant too.