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Post by scarfguy on Jun 29, 2023 19:59:18 GMT -5
slw, You need one of these to go with your "be the bee". (so your plants don't know it's you) 
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846 
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Post by slw on Jun 29, 2023 21:47:25 GMT -5
slw , You need one of these to go with your "be the bee". (so your plants don't know it's you) 
Oh, a wise guy, eh?? 
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Jun 30, 2023 12:14:50 GMT -5
I am not doing much but caring for my peppers that I can not get a picture of with this ankle. But they are delicious. I must have missed it, Shawn... how did you hurt your ankle? Shawn--I saw your post about your ankle in the conversation thread. I hope you are feeling better. |
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Post by swimmom500 on Jun 30, 2023 19:28:18 GMT -5
I have always used potting soil in the earthboxes and I had so many tomatoes and peppers I didn’t know what to do with them. Made some chili sauce but struggled since I was using my grandmothers recipe which called for spices I couldn’t locate. I ended up winging it and it worked out great.
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patlab
AGA Sprout
Gardening is cheaper than therapy…. And you get tomatoes!
Posts: 80
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Post by patlab on Jun 30, 2023 19:37:34 GMT -5
The website explains it all! Thanks.
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Post by lynnee on Jun 30, 2023 19:47:53 GMT -5
Earthboxes didn't work out well for me, sad to say. I used a container garden mix, like they recommended, and grew some Green Zebra tomatoes, but the tomatoes didn't thrive. The boxes used a lot of water--I had to refill them every day, with at least a couple of gallons, probably more. That was more water than I wanted to commit when California was still in a serious drought situation. Then I had to figure out how to get rid of all the "dirt" when I stopped using the boxes. I learned the hard way that you can't just leave a planter box filled with dirt outdoors. When I started to empty the container after a couple of years, a million black widow spider babies ran off in all directions! 🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️ Anyway, I did find that Amazon has Earthbox "replacement kits" that include covers along with nutrients, etc. I was actually going to use plant cover film from a seed company to cover my boxes. That film wouldn't have elastic to hold it on, but I think it would be easy to jury-rig something to hold the cover in place.  |
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Jul 1, 2023 0:50:56 GMT -5
Sorry the Earthboxes didn't work for you, Lynnee. I think I will buy one Earthbox to try along with the City Picker boxes. The only thing I expect to be weird is dealing with the covers... having to cut holes and plant through them must be strange. I have several raised bed gardens in my backyard so I always have a place to dump soil!! Those spiders sound creepy.
As for what I did with my Aerogardens today... I fired up my Harvest Slim and started some bok choy. So now I have "new plantings" of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and bok choy. I'm glad to be getting things started up again!
Then I spent an hour trying to organize seed pods. I get tired of digging and opening several boxes to see what's left in them, so I finally arranged all the pods of one type in a single box. So now all the tomato pods are together, the basil, etc.
I also need to separate other stuff like seeds, nutes, Kratky stuff, sponges and pods, you-name-it ...and get my storage under control. I start out organized and after a couple of months it all gets messy again.
Two years ago I was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast cancer and I didn't expect to be here today. So now I'm just playing with plants and letting the dust bunnies run free! Life is too short to not grow lettuce!
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patlab
AGA Sprout
Gardening is cheaper than therapy…. And you get tomatoes!
Posts: 80
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Post by patlab on Jul 1, 2023 9:35:30 GMT -5
I’m going to give them a try. This is the first year I’m seriously working on an outside garden here in the desert. When I lived in western New York we had an acre of land and the weather was perfect for growing. When we moved here I couldn’t grow anything but I’ve come to the conclusion I know it can be done so I’ve put in multiple raised beds with shade tunnels. Irrigation is another problem. I’m using home made oya pots which seem to be working well. I’m using the aerogardens for most of my summer greens and tomatoes, and starting seedlings. So far so good.
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Jul 1, 2023 12:12:03 GMT -5
I’m going to give them a try. This is the first year I’m seriously working on an outside garden here in the desert. When I lived in western New York we had an acre of land and the weather was perfect for growing. When we moved here I couldn’t grow anything but I’ve come to the conclusion I know it can be done so I’ve put in multiple raised beds with shade tunnels. Irrigation is another problem. I’m using home made oya pots which seem to be working well. I’m using the aerogardens for most of my summer greens and tomatoes, and starting seedlings. So far so good. Pat, we can learn about them together! I'm excited to try a "new method," at least new to me. I won't be planting in my boxes until late August or early September, though. Keep us updated on yours. |
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Post by lynnee on Jul 1, 2023 14:38:54 GMT -5
slw, So glad you're still with us! Staying upbeat is the key to longevity, IMO. My husband had a disabling stroke some 23 years ago, and everyone's surprised that he's still around.  Today I'm going to start an AG banana pepper and an AG green pepper in a Bounty. I just ended the Sweet Apple Kambe peppers, which had a really good run in that Bounty. Their roots were brown, and they'd stopped blooming.
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Jul 1, 2023 17:42:28 GMT -5
slw , So glad you're still with us! Staying upbeat is the key to longevity, IMO. My husband had a disabling stroke some 23 years ago, and everyone's surprised that he's still around.  Today I'm going to start an AG banana pepper and an AG green pepper in a Bounty. I just ended the Sweet Apple Kambe peppers, which had a really good run in that Bounty. Their roots were brown, and they'd stopped blooming.  Aw, thanks Lynnee. It was a horrible time and I'm left with several "cancer parting gifts" (nerve damage, lymphedema, etc.) But at least I'm still here to whine about it!! I'm really sorry to hear about your husband; bless you both.
I can't wait to get the banana pepper pods and those fajita peppers. My order has shipped so they'll be here soon.
I did more organizing in the "back 40" of the dining room today. I have a couple of Harvests with stuff started in them, so each time I unplug them to move around the timer restarts. That is the most frustrating thing... trying to get the lights to be on mostly during the day since the dining room looks like the Las Vegas strip at night.
I started 2 Italian flat leaf parsley and 2 cilantro pods in a Harvest, then dug out the Iznik cucumber seeds to finally kick off cukes in a Bounty. I need to re-read the cucumber threads; I assume everyone just planted one pod...?
I have never tried flowers in the AG so I ordered the petunia pods from Amazon. I am inspired by scarfguy's carnations! (And green with envy.) |
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Post by scarfguy on Jul 1, 2023 19:41:12 GMT -5
The aerogarden cascading petunias are OUTSTANDING!
This pic was from last fall:
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Post by scarfguy on Jul 1, 2023 21:02:22 GMT -5
Yes, 1 pod of cucumbers is plenty. You can start 3 or 4 pods to insure that you will get germination but then just keep one to grow.
Once you start harvesting cucumbers, you will have more cukes than you can eat from just one plant.
I made a lot of refrigerator pickles and gave them to relatives.
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Post by lynnee on Jul 2, 2023 12:36:23 GMT -5
slw, Those are AG cascading petunias (plus some zinnias) in my avatar! Started in an AG, then transplanted outdoors.
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Post by lynnee on Jul 2, 2023 21:54:46 GMT -5
Today I terminated a Bounty (flowers that refused to bloom) and a Farm (Green Zebra tomatoes that outgrew their space). Both gardens have been cleaned and are ready for replanting. I also added Rainbow Chard to my new Merlot lettuce garden; and started an AG banana pepper and a Spoon Tomato (second try) in a Bounty that I cleaned yesterday.  |
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Jul 2, 2023 22:33:57 GMT -5
I'm still dragging stuff around and re-arranging. I wanted to be done with all that before I started a bunch of gardens, since they are much easier to move when empty!
I got the petunia pods from Amazon today and now I'm wondering how many to plant in a Harvest. What do you experienced petunia farmers suggest? Should I load it up or just go with 2 or 3 pods?
lynnee -- spoon tomatoes?? Those sound interesting. I bought some "Siam Kitchen Minis" seeds that I plan to start when my new Harvest XL arrives. |
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Post by lynnee on Jul 2, 2023 22:38:07 GMT -5
You could put petunias in every grow deck hole--the AG flowers don't seem to mind being crowded. However, I think that I would fill half the holes with cascading petunias, because they really do spread out! Rare Seeds Spoon Tomatoes These guys require some TLC, as the plants are sort of fragile. |
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Jul 3, 2023 19:45:31 GMT -5
Thanks, lynnee. I started 2 petunias in a Harvest today.
I finally got the dining room arranged to suit me and the gardens where I want them. I have 6 new "plantings"... the petunias, Iznik cucumbers in a Bounty, cherry tomatoes in the Spider Farmer, bok choy in a Slim, lettuce in a Harvest, and Italian parsley/cilantro in another Harvest.
I expect another Harvest XL on Thursday and I have a spot ready for it. I'll be planting a couple of Kitchen Minis Siam tomatoes in there. Then I'll be in maintenance mode! I think 7 gardens is enough for me to deal with.
I also bought a small fan for my lettuce. I read AG's suggestion to use a fan to "toughen" lettuce leaves and make them a bit crunchier. I'm skeptical but I'll give it a whirl (so to speak.)  |
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Post by lynnee on Jul 3, 2023 22:15:58 GMT -5
Sounds like a great garden setup, slw! Yes, 7 gardens is probably enough--for now. |
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Post by scarfguy on Jul 4, 2023 5:58:44 GMT -5
I use a fan for lettuce. I never had any way to determine if it stiffened the lettuce and made it more crisp. The one thing that it is good for though is to provide the lettuce with good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
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