GrowLog
Abandoned

Mixed Greens Trial in a Bounty Basic

Grow log by Jay · Original thread

4 visual updates5 photos23 replies
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CropLettuce, kale, spinach, mesclun, arugula, radicchio
VarietyBibb Lettuce, Italian Baby Leaf Kale, Parris Island Cos, Salad Bowl Lettuce, Red Dragon Arugula, Leonard Radicchio
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty Basic, AeroGarden Bounty 2019, AeroGarden Harvest 360
Plants9
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA useful failed-layout case showing machine failure recovery, uneven seed performance, bitterness, over-diversification, and crop-specific vigour.

Actions:1 Planting1 Nutrients1 Harvest1 Pruning
Useful practices
  • using older seed in a mixed-greens trial
  • moving pods rapidly to a working replacement unit
  • harvesting romaine for salad
  • repeatedly trimming fast-growing kale
  • reducing crop diversity in future plantings
Problems encountered
  • Bounty Basic failed completely
  • several varieties failed to germinate or struggled
  • mesclun looked unhealthy
  • some harvested greens were bitter
  • too much variety produced scraggly overcrowded plants

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 74
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

Actions taken

PruningRepeatedly trimmed kale that grew into the lights.

J By Jay

Y'all are going to disown me....I haven't really been happy with this grow at all, too much variety I think and we haven't eaten much of it. A lot of scraggly plants. I'm not even sure what is in the Harvest 360 anymore, might be time to just terminate that and get on to something else.The kale has grown amazingly well, it just keeps getting in to the lights and I trim it back, the day after I trim it back I get asked for kale for something...The radicchio isn't flowering or fruiting or anything really. I'm not sure what to expect out of it...
Conversation
S
Sher

No disowning here. I have terminated things that got too bushy and scraggly. Or that I just plain got tired of. Onward and upward!

S
Shawn

I always like to start new. So when things start to slow or get leggy I end and grow fresh.What will you grow next?

J
Jay

I'm not sure what I will grow next...I have had no luck with peat pot starts this year. I might just move my Tom Thumbs to the 360 at the next nute change and load up the seed starting tray in the harvest with flower seeds. I will have to post a picture of my pet sungold plant.... time for some cuttings from that one too. I've a plan to take some cuttings and grow it in a windowbox on the ground in the greenhouse.

Day 23
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

Actions taken

HarvestCut some romaine for a salad mix.

J By Jay

I was in the workshop with my camera and thinking about it all at the same time!Here it is (in a Bounty 2019).The salad bowl lettuce and spinach are a no show, the bibb and arugula seem to be struggling and the mesclun just looks ill...I cut some Romaine for my salad mix last night and something was bitter in that salad. I'm thinking it's the Romaine. Maybe I need to sample it though?
Conversation
S
Shawn

I do not like bitter at all and that is why I do eat romaine so maybe not the romaine? Also when was the last time you fed the garden? If in the last two days then the lettuce can taste bitter from the uptake of nutes.

J
Jay

I feed them last about a week ago. It might not have been the Romaine though. I'll sample them when I am down there later today.My wife said she isn't eating any more of my greens until I get my stuff organized, too many things in too many places. So, today's project (after re potting some pepper cuttings) is to organize my AGs!

S
Shawn

I am sure you will get them all organized in no time

J
Jay

I sent my Bounty Basic back and I'm waiting on them to test it and get back to me. They are backed up with everything going on.I need to take pictures and post them. Some of this has done well and some not so much.Generally speaking, what I'm seeing is very weak plants from my Ferry Morse seeds. Those seeds are generally older than my other seeds.

S
Sher

Every Ferry Morse seed I planted was a disappointment. I am glad you sent the Bounty back. I hope they just send you a new one -- soon!

J
Jay

Me too! I was lucky to have the Bounty in standby!

J
Jay

And my replacement arrived today!

S
Sher

YAY!!!!!!

Day 4
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

J By Jay

Radicchio, Kale and one Mesclun mix have sprouted!Left side:Right side:
Conversation
J
Jay

I really need a picture...The Woot Bounty Basic is kaput... no lights, no screen, no pump...Luckily, the new Woot Bounty 2019 was just about to get filled so a quick water dump, move some pods over and viola, back in business.Pictures tomorrow if I remember but there is a lot I'm not happy with in this grow. The only thing doing well is the Romaine lettuce. I actually had to trim that back today, it went in my salad from my Farm XL (I did get pictures of that, DW refuses to step into the cave so I had to prove that salad was still a viable option!)

S
Sher

Oh, Jay! So sorry about the Bounty disaster. I'm glad you could move your project to another machine, though. Isn't it odd how strongly it affects us when our plantings don't thrive as we hope? I don't remember getting so emotionally involved with my soil grown garden plants. Soldier on!

J
Jay

The soil ones are "out there" and you can blame so many other things. In an AG, it's just bad seed or a bad variety.

S
Shawn

They are replacing it aren't they?

J
Jay

I should hope, but I just sent the email to them yesterday. It's about 3 months old.

S
Shawn

It should get replaced if only 3 months.

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

PlantingPlaced four seeds in each pod across a mixed-greens layout.
NutrientsAdded eight millilitres of AeroGarden nutrients.

J By Jay

My newest gardenMachine: Bounty BasicNutes: 8ml AG to startSeeds: Burpee Bibb Lettuce Heirloom Italian Baby Leaf Kale - Renee's Garden Baby Leaf Spinach - Ferry-Morse Mesclun mix - Burpee Romaine lettuce (Parris Island Cos) - Botanical Interests Salad Bowl lettuce - Burpee Wild Arugula (Red Dragon) - Botanical Interests Hybrid Radicchio (Leonard) - Johnny's Seeds4 seeds per pod (most are old seeds)Layout:
Conversation
J
Jay

I put the radicchio in here because I want to try it, but if I don't like it, I don't want it taking up valuable room in my regular garden. I love the AG because I don't "waste" anything by experimenting!

S
Shawn

Just a suggestion, you may want to lower the amount of nutrients for greens. I along with several others have found that lettuces do not like the amount of nutrients that they suggest. That is just my two cents

J
Jay

Thank you for the tip!

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