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Dwarf Siberian and Russian Red Kale Overcrowding Experiment

Grow log by pfunnyjoy · Original thread

7 visual updates11 photos19 replies
View recap
CropKale
VarietyDwarf Siberian, Russian Red
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty Elite
Plants4
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA high-yield spacing failure showing that four kale plants can produce heavily but overwhelm a Bounty reservoir and pump area.

Actions:4 Solution4 Harvest2 Nutrients1 Roots
Useful practices
  • thinning to one plant per pod
  • increasing nutrient strength as demand rose
  • frequent leaf harvesting
  • clearing roots from the water sensor
Problems encountered
  • four plants overcrowded the Bounty
  • massive roots
  • rapid nutrient depletion
  • pump and sensor intrusion

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 90
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

Not archivedOpen original URL

Actions taken

SolutionChanged the reservoir after ten days.
HarvestHarvested a large bunch and cooked it.

P By pfunnyjoy

2024-03-29: Day 92Rinse and refill a day or so late. The plants went 10 days, no problem. Ate up their nutrients like the champions they are: EC 1.4. They went nuts because I hadn’t harvested in a few days. I had hubby come take a look, and he was, ah, impressed! Now he understands why I never ask him to bring home kale from the store anymore. And then he commented on how the store organic kale costs around $3.50-$4.00 a bunch, only the bunches aren't nearly as large or nice as the one I was waving around under his nose.Nutrient Mix:5.0ml CALiMAGic16g GH MaxiGro5.0ml 3% Hydrogen PeroxideNutrient Mix pH: 6.0Nutrient Mix EC: 4.4Day 92 before harvesting (side view)Day 92 (top view)The harvest!Kale sautéed in butter and garlic, with a little balsamic vinegar, and seasonings
Conversation
L
lynnee

So you're actually saving grocery $$, in addition to having absolutely fresh greens! Love your food photos.

Day 75
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

Not archivedOpen original URL

Actions taken

HarvestCollected a large kale harvest for green juice.

P By pfunnyjoy

Overdue for another rinse and refill which I plan to do tomorrow. Got a lovely harvest today, could've cut a few more leaves, but I usually don't want quite this much kale in a single juice! However, I added an additional apple, and a carrot, and carrot greens and it all balanced out very nicely.Juice ingredients (kale is in the striped cup in back)The juice, before straining
Conversation
C
Clovis Sangrail

I didn't see this back then, and if I had, I would have posted because I am a big Cafe du Monde coffee snob. Coffee chicory is the same species as salad chicory -- Cichorium intybus. But it is a different variety -- Cichorium intybus var. sativum.Coffee chicory is grown for its roots, which are big honkin' things that are roasted and ground and added to coffee grounds when brewing.If you like cafe au lait and have not had it made with a chicory coffee like Cafe du Monde, you have not experienced the unique comfort and placidity of the soul that is wrought upon you by chicory cafe au lait.

P
pfunnyjoy

I have never tried coffee chicory, sadly! And I doubt any place serves it around here!I've saved date seeds though, roasted them, and ground them for date seed "coffee." Which is rather nice! The fun thing is that after doing a date seed "coffee" pour over, you can then do subsequent pour overs for some date seed "tea" which is also quite good!My main coffee is cold brew. I like coffee, but my stomach can get irritated by it, especially when black, but that is not a problem with cold brew. I make it at home, with a lovely organic Sumatran dark roast from Camano Island Coffee, and it's great. Sometimes I have it black, much of the time I have it with home-made hemp milk, which I don't strain, so I have to shake it up, and that makes for a lovely froth! I sweeten the hemp milk slightly with the aforementioned dates.

Day 44
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

Not archivedOpen original URL

Actions taken

SolutionChanged the reservoir.
HarvestHarvested four large leaves.

P By pfunnyjoy

2024-02-14: Day 48Rinse and refill. Massive root system going under the deck! Harvested 4 large leaves today, need to harvest more tomorrow.Nutrient Mix:3.0ml CALiMAGic10.0g GH MaxiGro5.0ml 3% Hydrogen PeroxideNutrient mix pH: 6.0Nutrient mix EC: 2.4Taken on Day 49:Apologies for the less than optimally sharp photo. I took the advice of turning off the Bounty lights and using room light, which is better for color (no more purple plants), but challenging for sharp photos, as the overhead fixture is not terribly bright and that's the only lighting in the room other than the AG units. The phone was set for flash, but sometimes it does, sometimes it deems there's just enough light and doesn't. At any rate, the one shot I got with flash was less sharp than this one.For the sharp-eyed, that blue can to the right is kitty treats to lure them back out of the room when they inevitably dash in.
Conversation
P
pfunnyjoy

2024-02-21: Day 55Pale kale! Slightly pale leaves, and a little yellowing. The Red Russian kale has no red! Rinse and refill after only 7 days! I’m increasing nutrients. Still harvesting, grabbed more leaves this AM. I feel like four plants are too many in the Bounty. Next time, I’ll try three.Other than the frequent feeding, the garden is going well and I'm getting lots of kale! Plus I got the garden connected to WiFi and the app successfully tonight.Nutrient Mix (per gallon):4.0ml CALiMAGic13.2g GH MaxiGro5.0ml 3% Hydrogen PeroxidepH Up as necessaryNutrient mix pH: 6.0Nutrient mix EC: 4.2

P
pfunnyjoy

2024-02-29: Day 63Rinse and refill, one day late. The plant had no objections to increased nutrients and some of the red is reappearing on the Red Russian. The plan is to increase nutrients a little further. Harvested another 5 leaves tonight for green juice. Also grabbed a meritorious Tatsoi harvest and a large handful of Italian Dandelions for the same juice.Nutrient Mix:5.0ml CALiMAGic15g GH MaxiGro5.0ml 3% Hydrogen Peroxide2.0ml pH UpNutrient mix pH: 6.0Nutrient mix EC: 4.7

Day 33
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

Actions taken

SolutionChanged the solution early after nutrient depletion.
RootsRemoved roots infiltrating the water-level sensor.
NutrientsRaised MaxiGro strength.

P By pfunnyjoy

2024-02-02: Day 36Rinse and refill! It's a week before they are due for feeding and they are LOW on nutrients NOW! So, I’m upping the dose. Roots look good, all intertwined, so I didn’t trim, other than to rid the water level sensor of some infiltrators.I’ll likely harvest a few leaves tomorrow for juice.Nutrient Mix:2.0ml CALiMAGic8.0g GH MaxiGro5.0ml 3% Hydrogen PeroxideNutrient mix PH: 6.0Nutrient mix EC: 2.2
Day 19
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

Actions taken

HarvestHarvested one Dwarf Siberian leaf for juice.

P By pfunnyjoy

2024-01-20: Day 23Just a pictorial update, the kale seem very happy with their nutrients and are growing nicely. I harvested one largish leaf from the Dwarf Siberian (the two plants on the left) last night and tossed it in a juice.
Day 11
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

Actions taken

SolutionChanged the reservoir one day earlier.
NutrientsApplied a stronger nutrient mix.

P By pfunnyjoy

2024-01-12: Day 15The seedlings seem to be progressing nicely with the Dwarf Siberian showing faster growth than the Russian Red.It’s one day past rinse and refill. I debated whether to do stronger nutrients, and now I’m worried I went too far. I expected to need some additional water again, thus diluting the nutrients, but the roots must be taking up that space as I didn’t need to add extra AT ALL! If the plants show signs of distress, I’ll try to do a rescue R&R fast.Nutrient Mix:3.5ml CALiMAGic5.0ml Flora Micro5.0ml Flora Gro5.0ml Flora Bloom5.0ml 3% Hydrogen PeroxideNutrient mix PH: 6.0Nutrient mix EC: 1.8 (a bigger bump than I meant to do!)Hoping for the best.
Conversation
T
tompepper7

lynne, I tried to do some kale when I was doing some meal kits. I found I would either use half the kale in some recipes or not use the kale at all. I grew some kale in my Aerogardens and found I do like kale chips, they're great. I like salmon with kale chips. Just cooking kale straight needs some acid (like vinegar), and garlic helps as well.

P
pfunnyjoy

Garlic and kale are wonderful together! I'm probably going to try some in a salad when snow goes and we can more easily get to the store. I think the AG kale leaves are tender enough for that to work.At any rate, it seems both kale varieties have been fine with the nutrition bump. I'll probably switch them to MaxiGro next feeding.

Conversation
P
pfunnyjoy

2024-01-09: Day 12I thinned sprouts a few days ago to one per planted pod. The seedlings look good so far, and I'm crossing my fingers.

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