Day 44
UPDATE#5
Grower update
Update #5
Actions taken
NutrientsAdded nutrients to the herb garden.
Fed too!
GrowLog
SuccessfulDill, Chives, Stevia, and Lemon Balm Trial
Grow log by Shawn · Original thread
5 visual updates10 photos22 replies
View recapCrop🌿Dill, chives, stevia, lemon balm
Variety-
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Farm Basic, food dehydrator
Plants5
AudienceExperimental
What you can learnA useful new-herb trial with mixed germination, successful dill preservation, stevia taste testing, and clear keep-or-remove decisions.
Actions:1 Planting1 Nutrients
Useful practices
- testing unfamiliar culinary herbs in separate pods
- removing weak positions to free space
- topping dill before it reached the lights
- dehydrating dill at low temperature
- taste-testing stevia before deciding whether to retain it
Problems encountered
- weak dill and chive establishment
- chives failed to grow
- one dill position underperformed
- fresh stevia leaves did not noticeably sweeten tea
*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.
Conversation
L
Look at that dill! They all look great.
S
It is exploding as is the lemon balm
S
My dill is out of control so I took the tops off so they do not touch the lights and dehydrated them. That took 3 hours at 125 degrees. My gosh, I thought it would be a lot but it is a small container and I mean the size of a baby jar of food and it is not full. I will do more tomorrow. maskedsonnet, how did you use your lemon balm? Mine is growing nicely although still small.
M
You can use it either fresh or dried, I always brew it into a tea. When the plant got out of control I'd cut it back and dry it for later. Otherwise I would just pluck leaves here and there and brew tea with the fresh leaves, it's good both hot and iced. Sometimes I pluck leaves just to smell the nice smell, I find it a very relaxing aroma (and flavor in tea), the way most people feel about lavender. There are also several recipes I've saved from browsing around for ideas last time I grew it that I haven't had time to try, but think sound very tasty!! Next time I grow it I'm going to make sure I MAKE time for these!! Lemon Balm Bundt Cake Lemon Balm Shortbread Cookies Lemon Balm Drop Biscuits Herbal Popsicles with Lavender and Lemon Balm
S
These look wonderful, thank you.
S
So today I cut a few stevia leaves and put them in a cut with a tea bag. Waiting for the water to boil so I can steep both. From what I read the sweetness will only come out with heat. So once done I will taste. Regardless if it is good or not, at least I tried it and it does grow well in the AG's. I will let you know if I decide to keep the plant or not. I wonder what else I can use it for? I know I can make a Stevia Extract but I will not be doing that.
S
Well I have not tried it YET however as it is steeping Pipers nose is high in the air sniffing around at the kitchen. She has never done this before so I can only guess it is the stevia she is so obsessed with. Of course she cannot have any but darn her nose is good. I placed a saucer over the mug and put the fan on. She stopped sniffing. I took the saucer off and she went sniffing again. Something about this plant she either likes or does not. I do not know but she is focused. Are there any smells your pet does this to?
L
What was the verdict on the steeped Stevia, Shawn?Do you think you could use the Stevia in Creami ice cream? Some of the “lite” Creami recipes rely on Stevia for sweetener, though I suppose they are using commercially processed powder or extract.
S
It really did not sweeten my tea . I tasted the leaves will took some of liquid from one and that was sweet. Nothing I will use so I ended it. I tried it, it grows on to the next. You can make your own extract but that uses vodka and I do not have any so am not going to try.
Day 34
UPDATE#4
Grower update
Update #4
The weather cooled outside and these decided to grow...
Conversation
L
Patience is a virtue!
Day 28
UPDATE#3
Grower update
Update #3
The chives are a dud and not really growing so I will remove those. The one dill looks ok, the other not so much so I will pull the not so much one. The Stevia is doing good The Lemon Balm is coming along
Day 15
UPDATE#2
Grower update
Update #2
Not archivedOpen original URL
Ugh, the dill is not liking me and neither are the chives. Both look kinda sad. If these do not improve I will ditch them and plant something else. The Stevia and Lemon Balm are very slow but there:
Conversation
L
More nutes, maybe, for the dill and chives? The seedlings make me wonder whether the seeds were old?FWIW, I had Curly Parsley that barely germinated, was nearly killed by a failed pump, and was almost crowded out by more robust plants. It struggled on, and finally developed into a retail-sized bunch after I removed the competing big plant.So patience may be all that your chives and dill need. Chives often don't germinate for me; dill usually grows like a weed.
S
This is the first chives I had problems with, go figure
S
The stevia and lemon balm are growing albeit slowly. I need to take pics here as well. Not thrilled with the dill and chives. Maybe I did not plant enough seeds for those. I may go in and plant some basil and oregano instead. I can use a replenishment for both soon.
Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update
Update #1
Actions taken
PlantingPlanted dill, chives, stevia, and lemon balm on the left side of the Farm Basic.
I finally was able to get my herbs plants. These are all new to me (expect chives but this type is) They are planted in the left side of my Farm Basic. No nutes to start. Hopefully all will germinate and grow.
Conversation
L
What do you use Stevia for? I only know it as a commercial powdered sweetener.
S
I like your choices, Shawn. They are interesting and different. I am especially interested in watching the lemon balm grow. But what do you do with all that dill? The main thing I like it in is herb bread.
S
I really don't you dill that often. But I thought hey let me give it a try. I do put it in my cucumber salad. That's about all LOL. But I wanted to try something different. As for the stevia, they say the leaves are good for sweetening teas and whatnot. Especially when they're dried out as well. Again another one I have never tried so what the hay. I mean an experimental mood LOL
M
Last time I grew dill it grew into an absolute MONSTER of a plant. I hope yours do well too!! I've never actually seen a stevia plant so will be fun to watch you grow one!
S
There is life in both dill pods only at this time.