To Thin or Not to Thin

[Clovis Sangrail]

That is the question.

Is it better to thin these noble peppers and heirloom cherry tomatoes now, or should I let them grow a bit more?





And are those multiple plants, or just branches on a single plant. I can't tell, even with a flashlight and a magnifying glass?

These are all AG, and I got 100 percent sprouting for 4 tomatoes and 3 jalapenos. (Unlike their tall eggplant and banana peppers which appear to be empty as last year's bird's nest.)

[scarfguy]

In the first pic, I see multiple plants and multiple branching. In the second, I just see multiple plants.

This is the time that I would thin them.  Leave the largest, strongest plant and crap out the others...

Don't cry, just do it, survival of the fittest, ya know.

[slw]

I would thin them now.   Pull the cull carefully from the pod.  If there are roots still attached, get another sponge and cut a slit in it.  Wet the sponge pod and transplant the cull.  Voila'!   Another plant!!   (Or you could just clip the cull with scissors and not bother.  )

[lynnee]

Yes, clip or separate them now. You want a single plant to each pod for tomatoes and peppers. You can tell where to clip by gently separating the leaves and looking at the place where the stems enter the sponge. The babies can withstand a bit of handling.

[Shawn]

Yes to what everyone else has said, thin to one.

[pfunnyjoy]

I think I'm almost at that point now too. But I'd like them a little taller so I can see the stems. Right now, it's just a clump of leaves peeking over the label.

[Clovis Sangrail]

So I thinned my tomatoes and jalapenos down to one stalk per pod. 

And they did prosper and grow.

So now I have this --



I planted 3 tomatoes and 3 jalapenos from an Aerogarden 9-pod Salsa Garden seep pod kit, assuming that if I was lucky, I would get maybe 4 to sprout given the Aerogarden track record.

They all sprouted, and they all look healthy.

And it is getting pretty crowded in there.

So the question now is -- Do I pull up one tomato and one pepper so that the survivors will grow better? Or do I just let them keep growing? Can a Bounty handle six pods?

Same question for this Bounty --



It originally had 4 tall plants -- poblano pepper, anaheim pepper, banana pepper, and fairy tale eggplant.

Then, when I planted the tomatoes and jalapenos in the other Bounty, I stuck a tomato in at the back figuring that if one of the others didn't sprout, I would just move this one in.

It is now the biggest plant in there. I figure it has to go so the peppers and eggplant can thrive, but I am hoping someone will talk me out of it. ('Clovis, why don't you just move that one tomato in with your other tomatoes.')

I don't think the scallions are much of a problem since they grow straight up.

Thoughts? (Another Aerogarden is not an option right now.)

[scarfguy]

That looks way too dense to me.

For larger plants like peppers and tomatoes, I put no more that 2 plants in a bounty.

Also, I don't like to put different species in the same AG.  Different species have different requirements for optimal growth and may need changes in nutrients, lights, pump settings, etc as the plant grows. With multiple species in one AG, any changes you have to make to support one specie may be detrimental to the other one. Any changes you make will be a compromise.

[slw]

Clovis Sangrail --  you might consider trying a few Kratky jars.   If you have some quart (or larger) mason jars, pick up these Kratky inserts... www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B6PGN5ZN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

These are for wide-mouth jars and Aerogarden pods will fit in them.   Just mix some nutes in water and fill the jars to the "shoulder" of the jar, leaving about 1" for air roots.   I often use Kratky jars for the seedlings I cull because I can't stand to throw them out.   You can put the jars near an AG to share the light or in a sunny window.  Refill water as needed to keep the level fairly consistent. 

[Clovis Sangrail]

Thanks. I ordered some. They will be here Tuesday.

[Clovis Sangrail]

Dec 30, 2023 22:08:47 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

That looks way too dense to me.

For larger plants like peppers and tomatoes, I put no more that 2 plants in a bounty.

Also, I don't like to put different species in the same AG.  Different species have different requirements for optimal growth and may need changes in nutrients, lights, pump settings, etc as the plant grows. With multiple species in one AG, any changes you have to make to support one specie may be detrimental to the other one. Any changes you make will be a compromise.

Thanks. I ordered some Kratky jars pers slw's suggestion and will remove some tomatoes and pepper to them. It will be a good experiment. I am slowly learning that just because there are six or nine holes in an Aerogarden and six or nine pods in a box, you don't have to plant them all at once.

I do have some single crop gardens. I have two Harvest Slims planted with just lettuce, and I eat those fast enough that they don't really get crowded. And I have one Harvest planted with just chives, because chive is so hard to get growing and because I really like chives and eggs. I may, however, switch a slot or two in this one to scallions. They seem to grow faster, and scallions and eggs are good, too.

What about companion planting? Is that a thing in hydroponics?

Can I nestle a marigold in with the tomatoes?

A basil?

Some scallions?

And I have read that borage is a good companion for both peppers and tomatoes.

But it also appears that the benefit of companion planting is either to deter pests or to attract pollinators, both of which, I sincerely hope, are at a minimum in my apartment. 

Still, one could always benefit from the occasional splash of floral color or some extra garnish for one's Pimm's.

And one could always use some extra scallions.



(Some people call them green onions, but really, they're scallions.)

[slw]

It took me a while to finally learn to stop overcrowding an AG for best results.  As Scarfguy said, the different varieties have different light/nute requirements and some will be shaded out by the fastest growers.  (Not to mention the root mess going on in the tank. ) 

But there's really no "wrong" way to Aerogarden.   Just try whatever you like and see what happens.   Right now I have a Bounty with every hole growing a broccolini plant, even though I know very well that half of them won't thrive.  I just want to see what happens!! 

As for green onions, they will do well in a Kratky jar or a simple glass of water.  I bought a Sprout specifically to use for green onions when they were an "add on" deal. 

[lynnee]

Clovis Sangrail, one Fairy Tale eggplant is plenty for one Bounty. They are large plants with fairly large leaves. I found that two FTEs were all that a Farm could handle.

[Clovis Sangrail]

Dec 31, 2023 19:04:39 GMT -5 lynnee said:

Clovis Sangrail , one Fairy Tale eggplant is plenty for one Bounty. They are large plants with fairly large leaves. I found that two FTEs were all that a Farm could handle.

Wow. That is huge. How much edible tonnage do you get out of all that greenery?

The Aerogarden Fairy Tale eggplant kit had 4 Fairy Tale eggplant pods and 5 spacers, the implication being that one could plant 4 in a Bounty and leave 5 spots blank with spacers.

The tall peppers (poblano, anaheim, and banana) were similarly packed, so I applied the commutative property of vegetables and figured that 1 anaheim + 1 banana + 1 poblano + 1 FTE = 4 FTE, then I planted one of each.

I am going to have to rethink these because I'm not even sure I like eggplant. I just love watching them grow.

The peppers may get priority because I know I'll eat them.

[lynnee]

Clovis Sangrail, there are two eggplants in that photo. I got many, many small eggplants, and multiple harvests from them. I finally terminated them after 461 days, when they were still producing, because I was tired of the project. Still feel a tad guilty.

aerogardenaddicts.com/post/46795/thread

Link to photo showing one batch of harvested eggplants (part of one blooming period).
aerogardenaddicts.com/post/48703/thread

The trick to multiple harvests is that you prune them way back after each blooming period is done producing. The leaves come back, along with new blooms.

🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆

[pfunnyjoy]

What about thinning something like parsley? One plant, or is it OK to leave 2 plants in a pod?

[Clovis Sangrail]

My Kratky inserts came today, along with a 2-pack of wide-mouth quart jars. If these look like they are going to work, I'll get more jars.

So I rinsed the jars really, really well, then I filled up to the shoulder with water. I figured a Harvest holds about half a gallon of water, ands it gets 2 capfuls of nutrient, so a quart mason jar should get 1 capful, or half what the Harvest gets.



Then I put the shroud on the jar and began to wrassle the tomato plants out of the Bounty. They had lots and lots of roots, so I hope I didn't mess them up.

I stuck them in the jars and sat them on the shelf between two Aerogardens so they could steal light. 






One even had some flowers.

Gardens are much better now. I can get underneath and trim.





I might get some more jars tonight, and if I do, I'll move one of those peppers.

[scarfguy]

Jan 1, 2024 16:18:45 GMT -5 pfunnyjoy said:

What about thinning something like parsley? One plant, or is it OK to leave 2 plants in a pod?

 Parsley, basil, oregano, and most herbs, I leave 3 or 4 seeds in each pod.  They don't seem to suffer from being cramped.  The only issue is air circulation. You might need a small fan.

[pfunnyjoy]

Jan 2, 2024 17:51:33 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

Jan 1, 2024 16:18:45 GMT -5 pfunnyjoy said:

What about thinning something like parsley? One plant, or is it OK to leave 2 plants in a pod?

 Parsley, basil, oregano, and most herbs, I leave 3 or 4 seeds in each pod.  They don't seem to suffer from being cramped.  The only issue is air circulation. You might need a small fan.

No worries, the fan is still in place if it's needed. I'll probably just leave the parsley alone then. Thanks!

[lynnee]

Clovis Sangrail, where did you get those lovely Kratky jar covers?