Viroflay Spinach [12/08/2023] [TERMINATED]

[mike]

I put some Viroflay Spinach seeds in paper towel to germinate at midnight. They should be ready to plant at noon Sunday.

Prepare Hydrogen Peroxide Solution; 2 cups water, 2 Tbs Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂)
Take styrofoam plate and lay sheet of paper towel on that
Spread out seeds on bottom paper towel
Lay sheet of paper towel on top of seeds
Pour H₂O₂ solution over towels. Careful, not too much.
Around the edges of the plate, roll the towel inward to the edge of the plate to create a barrier so the water doesn't pour out.
Place another Styrofoam plate upside down over the top with all toweling inside.
Slide inside open Zip-lock bag.

Store in dark closed cupboard for 36 hours.

We shall see on Sunday.

[mike]

Great, seeds didn't sprout and garden isn't working. Light comes on, no pump. Another day. The pump worked when I ran a test. Now I can't even repeat the test.

[scarfguy]

Dec 10, 2023 18:15:22 GMT -5 mike said:

Great, seeds didn't sprout and garden isn't working. Light comes on, no pump. Another day. The pump worked when I ran a test. Now I can't even repeat the test.

I was gonna say, "the sh*t hit the fan" but it sounds like the fan is broken too.

[mike]

Like I said, another day. Too bad. That basin is so clean it looks new. It's just sitting there, full of water.

[slw]

What a bummer, Mike.  I was looking forward to following the spinach garden.  Which AG model is it with the bad pump?   Are you going to replace the pump?

I was going through my seeds earlier, looking for spinach but I couldn't find any so I need to order some.  I enjoy growing greens. 

How are you doing these days? 

[mike]

This is a Farm 24 Plus. I tried it on the right and left sides. I have a number of other pumps from the other two Farms. It will have to wait. This whole week is full of doctor's appointments. 4 of them before Christmas. 3 this week. 

[slw]

Dec 10, 2023 20:18:38 GMT -5 mike said:

This is a Farm 24 Plus. I tried it on the right and left sides. I have a number of other pumps from the other two Farms. It will have to wait. This whole week is full of doctor's appointments. 4 of them before Christmas. 3 this week. 

Goodness, that's a lot of doctor appointments.  I hope all goes well for you. 

[mike]

Yeah, me too. Thanks.   

Meanwhile, a number of the seeds have sprouted this morning. When I get home tonight I hope to get this garden going. I hope the sprouted seeds don't work themselves into the paper towel.

[Shawn]

Mike, I hope you get some good news at the doctors.  I just went thru 4 of them myself.

[mike]

I'm doing OK. I just ended up with a bunch all at once. Podiatrist to get shoes tomorrow. Retina specialist for annual check Wednesday, my regular doc for quarterly diabetes check on Thursday, and a dental cleaning next Wednesday.

[pfunnyjoy]

Dec 11, 2023 4:01:30 GMT -5 mike said:

Yeah, me too. Thanks.   

Meanwhile, a number of the seeds have sprouted this morning. When I get home tonight I hope to get this garden going. I hope the sprouted seeds don't work themselves into the paper towel.

If they do, just try to gently pull them out. I've had to do that, and it doesn't seem to harm them as long as you don't break off the root.

[mike]

It was the pump. Another pump is working fine. I got all set to plant and I can't find a single label. I ordered more. Meanwhile, I won't add nutes until I get them, or Wednesday. I planted 8 pods, I will grow 6.

[swimmom500]

Dec 12, 2023 16:58:07 GMT -5 mike said:

Busy little suckers.

I am encouraged by your success!

[scarfguy]

Spinach likes cold temperatures. Do you have a cold spot for them, Mike?

[mike]

I keep my living room at 70°. That usually works pretty well.

[LoveSalads]

Very encouraging. I have very little luck with indoor spinach.  Very nice 

[mike]

I didn't have luck on spinach either until I started mixing hydrogen peroxide in with the water I used to sprout the seeds using the paper towel method. The first time I tried it, the seeds sprouted in 36 hours. This batch took a day or so longer.

This is a larger variety of spinach. It says they can get from 18" to 24" tall. I'll believe it when I see it. I love spinach. 

[mike]

Everything is good. I planted 2 seeds each pod x 8 pods. All are up. The rear left pod had one of the two seedlings push the other one right out of the sponge. It was dry when I got home. Oh well. I'm only going to use six pods anyway.

I had an eye doctor appointment today. I hate getting your eyes dilated

I added 16 ml AG Nutes.

[pfunnyjoy]

Nice work with the spinach. I haven't tried growing spinach yet, but at some point, I might have to.

[lynnee]

Dec 11, 2023 13:59:08 GMT -5 mike said:

I'm doing OK. I just ended up with a bunch all at once. Podiatrist to get shoes tomorrow. Retina specialist for annual check Wednesday, my regular doc for quarterly diabetes check on Thursday, and a dental cleaning next Wednesday.

December can be a good time to do annual checkups, because many people don't want to see, or don't have time to see, doctors in December.

I saw the dental hygienist today. I may finally have gotten something that works for me between appointments--a battery-operated Sonicare water flosser.

I'm relieved that it was the pump that wasn't working in your Farm Plus. A pump can stop working if the pump controller in the hood goes bad--and even if you get a replacement hood under warranty, you have to take the whole Farm apart to install it!