GrowLog
Successful

Batavia Laura Lettuce Started in Oasis Foam and Finished in a Harvest 360

Grow log by ERR0R1755 · Original thread

8 visual updates9 photos26 replies
View recap
CropLettuce
VarietyBatavia Laura
MethodAeroGarden
EquipmentHarvest 360
Plants1
AudienceExperimental

What you can learnUseful comparison of Oasis foam with rockwool and a clear example of how delayed harvest and pod-cover constriction can stress lettuce.

Actions:2 Nutrients1 Transplant1 Harvest
Useful practices
  • testing Oasis foam as a rockwool replacement
  • transplanting after germination
  • supplementing calcium and magnesium
  • monitoring PPM before harvest
  • removing pod covers before stems become constricted
Problems encountered
  • browning leaf edges
  • stem constriction from a forgotten pod cover
  • late harvest with bolting symptoms
  • bitter leaves and white sap

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 45
UPDATE#8
Grower update

Update #8

Actions taken

HarvestHarvested the Batavia lettuce after signs of stress and early bolting.

E By ERR0R1755

Harvested this today! Unfortunately it looks like I was a bit too late and it started to bolt. I couldn't find any sign of flowers or a central stalk, but the lettuce released a white sap when I cut it and it tasted bitter.The edges of the leaves also started to die back a bit - I think what stressed it was the pod cover, since I forgot to remove it and the stem was stuck in it.
Conversation
S
Shawn

It looks good to me. I go have a question, when was it last fed? I know they say never to harvest your lettuce the day of or within two days after feeding as the uptake of nutes can cause bitterness. Or was the solution to heavy with nutes? Just curious to see if there is any connection.

E
ERR0R1755

I fed it one week before harvesting and the PPM was very low (around 100) so I think it was stress.From what I've seen, the biggest difference between "bitterness from bolting" and "bitterness from nutrients" is the white liquid that appears when you break a leaf off or cut the stem - that is a sign that the lettuce is producing a bitter sap to deter insects from eating it in preparation for flower production.

S
Shawn

Good info, glad to know that now. I will watch for it when I grow lettuce again.

Day 38
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

Actions taken

NutrientsAdded one millilitre of CALiMAGic and four millilitres of AeroGarden nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

Added 1ml of CALiMAGic and 4ml of AG nutes.
Conversation
S
Sher

It looks like you found the magic lettuce formula!

S
Shawn

WOW, that looks great

Day 31
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

E By ERR0R1755

Conversation
E
ERR0R1755

I'm not a fan of those browning edges, I added 1ml of CALiMAGic to try and fix it.I doubt if I remembered to add it at the beginning or not, even though I said I did.

S
Sher

That's normal for my age. It's hilarious for you if I'm close at guessing your age range!

Day 24
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

E By ERR0R1755

Day 17
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

E By ERR0R1755

Day 10
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

Actions taken

TransplantMoved the germinated lettuce into its AeroGarden growing position.
NutrientsAdded one millilitre of CALiMAGic and four millilitres of nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

The lettuce has a new home! It also has 1ml of CALiMAGic and 4ml of nutes now.
Conversation
S
Sher

It looks very happy!

E
elainev

What neat caps for a growing plant. Where did you get them? I'd love to have some.

E
ERR0R1755

I ordered them from a 3D printing company! You can see more pictures and everything you need (such as the 3D model download) in this thread.

Day 3
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

E By ERR0R1755

I see seedlings!
Conversation
S
Sher

Amazing! I am intrigued by the Oasis cubes. I found 3 sheets for @ $30 on Amazon. That's just a little over a penny each. I wonder how long they would last before they start to biodegrade.

E
ERR0R1755

They do seem like a good deal! They seem to be more sturdy than rockwool is, and as far as biodegradability goes, their testing showed 75% degradation after almost a year in a plastics biodigester, which is a very different environment than anything that plants would grow in.I will be keeping an eye on the cubes to see how they do, but I am leaning towards using them as my new medium of choice if they hold up like I think they will.

S
Sher

I am considering it, too, instead of rockwool. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

E By ERR0R1755

I've been trying out these Oasis cubes as a replacement for rockwool. So far I am liking them better, they're less messy, they're biodegradable, and they don't collapse on themselves like rockwool tends to.My only complaint is that I should have gotten a bigger size so that I could cut them to my needs.
Conversation
S
Shawn

What kind of material? How do they compare too AG and Park sponges? Just curious.

E
ERR0R1755

It's some type of foam, but they don't expand/shrink as they get wet/dry like the AG and Urban Leaf sponges do. I haven't tried the Park sponges but I assume those work the same way as the AG and Urban Leaf?It's also more of a solid material than how the AG/UL sponges are squishy. From what little testing I've done so far, roots seem to have absolutely no issue growing through the material.Here is the Amazon link for the ones that I got - the page has been updated to sell them in sets of 20 sheets for some reason, but when I purchased it, it was just a set of 3 sheets (and much cheaper!)

S
Shawn

Thanks for the review/explanation

E
ERR0R1755

24 hours later and these seeds are already starting to send out roots! It's amazing how fast some plants can grow.

Enlarged photoClick outside the image to close