Harvest Microgreens Kit vs Grow bowl question

[hazelfyrebird]

This may seem like a silly question, but since I couldn't find anything similar asked before, here goes anyway, I guess.  Looking at pictures of the discontinued Grow Bowl online, it looked to me rather similar to the online pictures of the, I guess I'll call it the "base deck" of the current microgreens kit (the part that holds the 2 trays that hold the felt in "exploded parts" view).  Is there anyone who happens to have both and can confirm or debunk that idea?  Or, alternately, has anyone tried using the microgreens kit like a grow bowl (ie. with grow media instead of the microgreens felt and like, strawberry crowns, etc?)  I'm kind of toying with the idea, but not really sure I'd actually want to devote a whole AG to an experiment of this nature at this time, since my whole justification to DH for the AG in the first place was "All The Lettuce, All The Time."

picture of microgreen kit:
stockingmypantry.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/how-to-grow-microgreens-in-an-aerogarden-with-the-aerogarden-microgreens-kit1630084379-1024x576.jpg


Picture of grow bowl:

i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZX0AAOSwt6heTQpY/s-l600.png

[lynnee]

I have a Grow Bowl packed away and inaccessible right now, but if memory serves it is only a reservoir that holds a growing medium (like cocoa coir) and keeps it moist. It was intended mainly for growing mini strawberries.

In contrast, the microgreens kits contain an insert which attaches to the pump in a way that allows water to flood the deck at regular intervals so that the felt that holds the seeds is kept uniformly moist but not soaking in water. The water is pumped onto the deck but then drains away.

If you're interested in microgreens, I'd strongly recommend getting a Harvest and a Harvest kit rather than the Bounty version. The Bounty version requires a deck conversion that is kind of awkward to do, while the Harvest version uses a drop-in insert that can easily be added or removed.

Both kits provide lots of microgreens--the larger Bounty trays produced more than I could use up easily.

[Shawn]

I wish I could help but I do not have agrow bowl.  Wanted one but never got it,. 

[lynnee]

Here are the instructions for the old Aerogarden Grow Bowl. I think that you can read them if you enlarge the photo. The grow bowl won't fit any of the current AG models, which is no doubt why Aerogarden removed the instructions from the web site.

[tobithemerman]

Aerogarden just sent me an email today with a video that they put out on their website & TikTok about using the microgreens tray like the old grow bowl for orchids. So I would assume you can use it for strawberries too!

https://www.tiktok.com/@officialaerogarden/video/7374053838573030699

[LoveSalads]

It does look like a  chunky form of coco coir on there video. I would verify with Aerogarden what substrate they are using and settings but, yes you should be able to grow strawberry's using the settings outlined in the above grow bowl directions. Specifically your water pump settings.

[swimmom500]

Can you set the pump on the Harvest to only 2 minutes per week? Also the grow bowl is deeper than the Microgreens kit. I would have to get my grow bowl out to measure it. I had been thinking about trying orchids in it or maybe strawberries again. I have a ton of runners on my outdoor strawberry plants.

[LoveSalads]

Jul 24, 2024 5:36:33 GMT -5 swimmom500 said:

Can you set the pump on the Harvest to only 2 minutes per week? Also the grow bowl is deeper than the Microgreens kit. I would have to get my grow bowl out to measure it. I had been thinking about trying orchids in it or maybe strawberries again. I have a ton of runners on my outdoor strawberry plants.

Indeed the video shows a Bounty not a harvest. That is why I suggested verifying with Aerogarden. I know my old harvest the pump comes on 5 minutes an hour so that would not work. There isn't any grow bowl for the old harvest anyway. As the grow bowl directions suggest above on this thread, you can unplug the pump and just use it on demand as in once a week for a few minutes. Again you would need to be able to control the pump. 

I would not suggest transplanting from outside to indoors simply because of bugs. I brought a few aphids in one year on a single tomato vine that spread throughout  the indoor plants,  hydro and potted .