GrowLog
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Bob's Pickling Pepper in an AeroGarden Harvest and conversion to bonchi

Grow log by ERR0R1755 · Original thread

23 visual updates36 photos75 replies
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CropPepper
VarietyBob's Pickling Pepper
MethodAeroGarden Harvest hydroponics, bonchi soil culture
EquipmentAeroGarden Harvest, wicked cup
Plants1
AudienceExperimental

What you can learnUseful demonstration that a larger pepper can be kept in a Harvest through pruning, harvested successfully, and then converted into a compact bonchi plant.

Actions:7 Nutrients3 Pests3 Pruning2 Transplant2 Harvest1 Finished1 Watering
Useful practices
  • deliberately low early feeding to limit height
  • regular pruning
  • hydrogen-peroxide sanitation
  • saving seed
  • air drying peppers
  • converting the plant to bonchi
Problems encountered
  • poor initial germination
  • slow seedling growth
  • algae and mineral buildup
  • plant reaching and burning against the light
  • fungus gnats after bonchi conversion

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 248
UPDATE#23
Grower update

Update #23

Actions taken

TransplantRepotted the pepper into a larger cup.
NutrientsBuried plant material and VitaSea as nutrients.
WateringAdded a side wick for water management.
PestsCovered the surface with sand to deter fungus gnats.

E By ERR0R1755

I took this out to clean it up, and repotted it in a larger cup. I buried some green leaves and a cherry tomato, as well as some VitaSea for nutrients.I also added a wick to the side for water management, and placed sand on top to prevent fungus gnats.
Conversation
S
Shawn

I like your wicking setup.

E
ERR0R1755

As much as I love the side-wick and how easy it makes watering, I've discovered one major issue.The fungus gnats discovered that they love it as well. I put a piece of tape over where the wick enters the cup, which should hopefully prevent fungus gnats from getting access to the soil.

S
Shawn

Damn gnats

Day 173
UPDATE#22
Grower update

Update #22

E By ERR0R1755

It looks like it will survive the bonchi process and it is putting out some new growth:
Conversation
S
Shawn

I can't wait to see how it grows now.

Day 163
UPDATE#21
Grower update

Update #21

Actions taken

HarvestCollected the remaining peppers for air drying.
FinishedEnded the AeroGarden phase of the crop.

E By ERR0R1755

Ended these today! I'll be air drying the peppers for crushed red pepper flakes, and I definitely saved enough seeds to share if anyone wants to grow this variety:
Conversation
E
ERR0R1755

The plant and roots looked good, but the Harvest had some black and white buildup (along with algae) throughout the unit, so I washed it all with soap and will be soaking it in a bucket with water and bleach for a few days. I decided to try turning the plant into a bonchi and I'll post a picture if it survives the shock of being cut back that far.Here's my self-survey:Plant Grown: Bob's Pickling PepperGrow Method: AeroGarden HarvestTime to Germinate: 9 daysTime to First Harvest: 131 daysTime to Last Harvest: 163 daysPlant Spacing: 1 per HarvestFinal Height: 12 inchesWould I grow these again? Yes! I would like to try one of these outdoors and see how big it gets.Lessons Learned: Even larger pepper plants can be grown in a Harvest if trimmed back appropriately.

G
gsaxon

Thanks for the final update!

L
lynnee

Did you grow the pepper plant in an AG sponge holder that you can take apart for removal when you're ready for transplanting? If so, where can I get some?That's a gorgeous pepper plant.

E
ERR0R1755

Thank you! I grew it in a normal pod, but because the bonchi process involves so much damage/shock to the plant, I can cut back the roots to the point where they barely extend from the pod and then pull it through.

Day 156
UPDATE#20
Grower update

Update #20

E By ERR0R1755

Going to end this soon! It was a fun plant to grow.
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

And pretty too!

S
Sher

Ditto! Give us a taste review, okay?

S
Shawn

Look at those peppers! It had a nice run. What will you grow in place of this? Any ideas?

E
ERR0R1755

I tried a small bite of one of these peppers and it was hot enough to hurt. I couldn't find much information on this variety online, but supposedly they aren't supposed to be that spicy - maybe they mellow out if they're pickled?I'm thinking about trying a green that I haven't grown before - maybe I'll give spinach another shot. I think I'll let this machine rest a bit before I plant in it again, since I'll need to clean it well due to something growing on/in the edges of the top.

Day 132
UPDATE#19
Grower update

Update #19

Actions taken

PruningTrimmed the pepper plant.
NutrientsAdded 8 ml of nutrients.
HarvestHarvested the first pepper.

E By ERR0R1755

Gave it a trim and 8ml of nutes, and I harvested the first pepper! I haven't tried it yet.
Conversation
S
Sher

"Trim" is an understatement! The pepper is beautiful.

S
Shawn

I can not see any of the catbox pictures

S
Sher

The picture disappeared for me too.

S
Shawn

The hosting place they are on is down. Hopefully it will come back up

S
Sher

Oh good! Thanks, Shawn.

Day 114
UPDATE#18
Grower update

Update #18

Actions taken

NutrientsAdded another 8 ml of nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

Added another 8ml of nutes.
Conversation
S
Shawn

Can't wait to hear how they taste.

S
Sher

It is a beautiful pepper. Looking forward to a taste review.

Day 104
UPDATE#17
Grower update

Update #17

Actions taken

NutrientsAdded 8 ml of nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

Added 8ml of nutes.
Day 95
UPDATE#16
Grower update

Update #16

Actions taken

PestsAdded hydrogen peroxide to the reservoir.
PruningRemoved leaves, branches, and flowers while cleaning up the plant.

E By ERR0R1755

Added a squirt of hydrogen peroxide and cleaned up the plant. The leaves, branches, and flowers went to the chickens.Here's the before and after pictures:
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

I guess the leaves of Pickling Peppers are okay to eat? I know some are not.

E
ERR0R1755

I think bell peppers are the only ones that can be dangerous, and other nightshade plants. Anything in the Capsicum family is safe even for humans to eat, and they're often used as seasoning in the Philippines.I'd recommend doing your own research before eating them, but since our chickens eat the pepper leaves when they're free ranging and have plenty of other options, I assume they do fine with them

C
campingcorgis

Thank you! I think it was an AG Planting Guide (page 7) that gave that warning. They didn't specify beyond the plant being a pepper. I fret the dogs more than anything. I'm satisfied with the fruit of the plant!

S
Shawn

I had no clue about bell pepper leaves. I know any hot ones. Piper has had a few but we got them from her pretty fast.

Day 87
UPDATE#15
Grower update

Update #15

Actions taken

NutrientsAdded 8 ml of nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

Added 8ml of nutes. It's overdue for a haircut, but I really like the shade of green that these peppers are so far.
Conversation
S
Shawn

It is cute.

Day 77
UPDATE#14
Grower update

Update #14

E By ERR0R1755

Some peppers are coming in!
Day 70
UPDATE#13
Grower update

Update #13

E By ERR0R1755

Conversation
S
Sher

Nice blooms!

S
Shawn

Soon we will be seeing peppers

E
ERR0R1755

Added 8ml of nutes.

Day 66
UPDATE#12
Grower update

Update #12

Actions taken

PruningPruned the pepper away from the grow light.

E By ERR0R1755

This was reaching up into the light and getting burnt, so I pruned it back a bit:
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

LOL...pruned a bit....I'll say!

E
ERR0R1755

This is the first time that I've been able to prune a pepper plant like this without removing any open flowers

S
Shawn

Well an impressive job at keeping all the flowers

Day 62
UPDATE#11
Grower update

Update #11

E By ERR0R1755

Day 56
UPDATE#10
Grower update

Update #10

E By ERR0R1755

Light is at max height now.
Conversation
S
Shawn

It looks so healthy

S
Sher

Can't wait to see the peppers!

Day 49
UPDATE#9
Grower update

Update #9

Actions taken

NutrientsAdded 8 ml of nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

Added 8ml of nutes.
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

Wow! What a difference a week makes!? Beautiful and huge!

S
Sher

It is a beautiful plant. You are definitely doing something right!

S
Shawn

I agree. So full 🌝

Day 41
UPDATE#8
Grower update

Update #8

E By ERR0R1755

Day 39
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

E By ERR0R1755

I will definitely be experimenting more with starving my pepper plants. This one is 4 inches tall and already starting to flower.
Day 32
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

Actions taken

PestsWiped algae from the garden gap using hydrogen peroxide.

E By ERR0R1755

I will need to add more nutes, but one thing I noticed is that for some reason, algae is building on the tiny gap between the top and the basin. You can see it in the bottom of this picture, but I've never had this happen before. I wiped it off with some hydrogen peroxide and I'll be keeping an eye on it.
Conversation
S
Sher

I get algae buildup on the edges of the holes and the top of the pods on the white decks. I also just wipe it with peroxide.

E
ERR0R1755

Hmm, there has to be a better, maintenance-free solution to this. It won't cause any harm to the plant or waste a notable amount of nutrients if it's not in the reservoir (which it isn't on mine) but I'll have to inspect it after this plant is done growing to see why this started occurring now...

S
Sher

I used to spray my decks black with black Krylon Fusion for plastics. Then I accidentally got some regular Krylon and that paint is not holding up well. But I get no algae with the black decks.

E
ERR0R1755

That is interesting. Do the decks get hot if they're painted black?I'm wondering if the heat kills the algae, the black paint absorbs enough light to prevent the algae from getting it, or if the paint was just enough to provide a tighter seal by filling in a bit of that gap.

S
Sher

No, the decks don't get hot. The lights are far enough away. My older Bountys have black decks and they don't get algae either. Unless you start pods with nutrients. Then the exposed top of the sponges get it. But that's the only place.

S
Shawn

I must do this... Also make sure that the deck pieces are snapped together fully. While it still gets algae it does help some.

E
ERR0R1755

After starving this of nutes to create a shorter plant, I have now added 8ml of nutes.It doesn't look like the algae has come back, so I'm not sure what caused it.

Day 24
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

E By ERR0R1755

Conversation
S
Sher

It's on its way!

Day 17
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

E By ERR0R1755

One month since germination and there's finally a second set of leaves.
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

Well, this one lives on Hawaii time, taking its time...

S
Sher

Glad it's up!

Day 11
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

E By ERR0R1755

This pepper seems slow to start, but the first set of true leaves are starting to come in.
Conversation
S
Sher

I don't mind a slow start as long as it produces a healthy, productive plant. Good luck!

Day 3
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

E By ERR0R1755

Conversation
G
gsaxon

I wonder about the taste. They might be a variety of jalapeño.

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

TransplantMoved the sprouted pepper into an AeroGarden Harvest.
NutrientsAdded 4 ml of nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

Finally one sprouted! I moved it into the Harvest and added 4ml of nutes.
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

I think "Bob" may be living on Hawaii time...

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