Day 125
UPDATE#10
Grower update
Update #10
The tomatoes are still going strong and working on their second batch.
GrowLog
SuccessfulAztek vs. Venus Yellow Micro-Dwarf Tomatoes in an AeroGarden Bounty Elite
Grow log by cheddachasa · Original thread
10 visual updates28 photos29 replies
View recapCrop🍅Tomato
VarietyAztek, Venus
MethodAeroGarden
EquipmentBounty Elite
Plants2
AudienceBeginners
What you can learnModerate: demonstrates micro-dwarf tomato growth timeline, nutrient dosing, and troubleshooting (white flies, pruning for density/light).
Actions:3 Nutrients2 Harvest1 Pests1 Pruning
Useful practices
- delaying calcium-magnesium supplement until established growth
- using sticky traps for whiteflies
- removing shaded lower leaves
- spacing and pruning dense micro-dwarf plants
- allowing stubborn fruit additional ripening time
Problems encountered
- white flies (noted after terminating heirloom cherry tomatoes; sticky traps used on micro-dwarfs)
- plants become very dense
- requiring trimming older leaves for light penetration
- difficulty pulling ripe fruit without stem breaking (harvest/fruition issue)
*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.
Conversation
U
They may be little guys, but they are giving you a big yield!
C
I didn’t really need to terminate the plants but the leaves were turning weird colors though I was still getting fruit. Since my wife liked the Venus fruits best I am starting a single pod of them in a Harvest and started Romaine lettuce in the Bounty the tomatoes were in.
Day 87
UPDATE#9
Grower update
Update #9
Actions taken
HarvestCollected the first sizable Aztek harvest.
My first sizable Aztek harvest. These tomatoes have taken an eternity to ripen and even now I haven’t been able to pull one off the plant without getting a piece of the stem. I’ve left a few just to see if they can ripen more.
Conversation
K
How do they taste?
C
I don’t eat them but my wife does. She said the Aztek’s “tasted like tomatoes” but enjoyed the sweetness of the smaller Venus fruits.
U
great for snaking instead of grabbing m&ms! Nice project, chedda!
Day 76
UPDATE#8
Grower update
Update #8
Actions taken
HarvestRemoved at least one nearly ripe tomato while checking readiness.
The Venus tomatoes are small but plentiful! The Aztek’s don’t seem to be ready. When I remove one, the stem breaks off with it. I’ll give them a few more days.
Conversation
S
Wow, they are tiny, but you have quite a lot
Day 63
UPDATE#7
Grower update
Update #7
I hadn’t realized that it’s been three weeks since an update! I was away for a week and nervous about the plants but they survived! I was also worried about coming home to a white fly infestation but it looks like I dodged that bullet. Im getting some almost ripe fruit on both plants. AztekVenus
Conversation
S
Well they did great for you while you were away.
Day 42
UPDATE#6
Grower update
Update #6
Actions taken
PruningTrimmed older leaves from both dense plants so lower growth would receive more light.
59 days from planting and the ladies are doing well! I had to trim older leaves from both plants as they get so dense the lower leaves aren’t getting enough light. There are so many tomatoes on the Aztec and some should be ripening in a week or two. Venus is coming along though it’s fruit is tiny compared to the Aztec. There are a lot of fruit on this one too. Here are both plants.
Conversation
S
Looking good! Hopefully the flies were a fluke thing
M
How are these coming along? How is your fly situation? Fingers crossed you got rid of them.
Day 30
UPDATE#5
Grower update
Update #5
Actions taken
NutrientsAdded AeroGarden nutrients and CALiMAGic.
PestsPlaced yellow sticky traps around the garden after whiteflies returned.
Fed the ladies last night. 12ml of AG nutes and a teaspoon of CaliMagic. Some of you may recall I had to finally terminate my heirloom cherry tomatoes due to white flies. Well they’re back. 😡 I set up some yellow sticky traps around the garden and have caught a few in only a couple of days. All I can do now is keep an eye on the plants and shake them occasionally to release any flies lounging on the plant. I will also have to do some pruning. I wanted to leave them alone but I don’t want them growing into each other. I will also remove some bottoms leaves and try to get the plants some circulation. They’re very dense.
Conversation
S
Let me ask a few questions... Do you have windows open? This can let flies in. Especially with fresh mulch. Do you have plants in dirt indoors? There can be eggs and larvae in those. Look under some of the leaves to see if there are eggs or flies. I posted about them here but will also make a separate thread in case others have this isse.
C
Shawn, I do have house plants but never seem to see any flies on them. I caught a good amount of flies on my glue traps and haven’t seen any in a few days. Fingers crossed!
Day 21
UPDATE#4
Grower update
Update #4
A week later and the Aztek is just growing and growing! Poor Venus, she can’t keep up but she’s trying her best.
Conversation
A
Wowee, that aztec is really taking off. If you end up getting a good amount of fruit off of it, i think i'll have to try that variety as well. looks like 5 or 6 of those could probably fit pretty easily in a Farm unit.
C
Been reading and following this thread-- very impressed and excited about these results! Two really great looking plants. Re-reading, saw how small both get and somehow this did not sink in before! What perfect tomato plants for AGing!
M
I agree with clumsythumbs - their short height makes them ideal for AG because you can even grow them in a 12” unit. How exciting!
Day 15
UPDATE#3
Grower update
Update #3
Actions taken
NutrientsFed both plants with AeroGarden nutrients and their first CALiMAGic dose.
The Aztek has grown tremendously over the past week! It is now almost 6” tall, the height claimed when well lit. It is also starting to spread out. I have some clusters that should be blooming soon. Can’t wait!The Venus is definitely lagging behind. While it has grown a lot in the past week, it is not even 4” yet. Venus is a lot denser than Aztek which has me worried that it isn’t getting enough light to the undergrowth. Starting to see bud clusters here too. Fed the plants 12ml of AG nutes and their first teaspoon of CaliMagic.
Conversation
M
Wow, that Aztek really exploded!
A
These tiny dwarf tomato varieties are always so much fun to grow. I remember growing a bunch of red robins in some extra 4" pots a few years ago. Some of these micro dwarf tomatoes really produce a lot for their size.
Day 8
UPDATE#2
Grower update
Update #2
Day 24 and the dwarfs are growing nicely. The Aztek is already three inches tall and that may be halfway to its full height! The Venus is at 2.5 inches now. Next feeding in seven days.
Conversation
S
Both look healthy
Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update
Update #1
Actions taken
NutrientsAdded 10 ml of nutrients to the seedlings.
Slow going on these guys but I guess that is to be expected when growing micro dwarfs. Sixteen days in and both Aztek seeds have sprouted. Only one of the Venus seeds sprouted so far. Gave the plants 10ml of nutes today.
Conversation
S
Cute tiny things