Day 88
UPDATE#9
Grower update
Update #9
They continue to do well...but I'll be ending them soon. Mikey wants pizza before that happens.
GrowLog
SuccessfulGenovese Basil and Curly Parsley with Soil Transplants and Aerovoir Vacation Test
Grow log by campingcorgis · Original thread
9 visual updates11 photos42 replies
View recapCrop🌿Basil, parsley
VarietyGenovese Basil, Curly Parsley
MethodAeroGarden
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty Elite Artisan, AeroGarden Aerovoir, soil planter
Plants5
AudienceBeginners
What you can learnDocuments a complete herb cycle with germination, pruning, gifting transplants, an Aerovoir vacation test, continued harvest, and a clear final ending.
Actions:3 Pruning2 Harvest1 Planting1 Finished1 Solution1 Equipment
Useful practices
- pre-soaking pods
- pruning and using basil clippings
- transplanting and gifting three basil plants
- testing an Aerovoir with vacation mode
- harvesting and freezing basil
- ending the garden after extended production
Problems encountered
- slow parsley germination
- large plants lost many roots during soil transplant
- concern about reservoir level during a twelve-day trip
- parsley appeared to be going to seed near the end
*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.
Conversation
S
They look wonderful. Ending anyways stinks but starting new is exciting.
C
Day 100: Ended this garden today & I've got the deck disassembled and soaking in a bus tub.The past week or so, I've been aggressively harvesting the basil leaves and using them in some stir fries. I noticed that the parsley is changing and thinking it is trying to go to seed or something, so I decided it was time to end. I took the rest of the basil leaves and put them in the freezer. I took the best of the parsley and put that in the fridge. Surprisingly, the homegrown parsley lasts quite some time in the fridge. Much longer than store-bought, but I suppose the store bought has been harvest some days or weeks in the past?Anyway...I've got 2 AG Bounty machines ready for flowers!!!
S
Gorgeous displays to come! Looking forward to seeing them blossom.
C
Thanks & me too!
Day 73
UPDATE#8
Grower update
Update #8
Well, they survived...even thrived! Still water left in the Aerovoir too!
Conversation
S
Yes, they definitely did thrive!
S
Excellent! They look great.
M
You came home to a new batch of herbs! Glad they did well while you were gone
Day 61
UPDATE#7
Grower update
Update #7
Actions taken
PruningTrimmed both the remaining basil and parsley before travelling.
HarvestPlaced harvested basil in the freezer.
Before we hit the road, I did some trimming of the basil and the parsley too. Brought them along for the trip. Basil is in the freezer.
Day 56
UPDATE#6
Grower update
Update #6
Actions taken
FinishedGave away the three transplanted basil plants.
SolutionCompleted the garden's day-56 rinse-and-refill.
EquipmentConnected and tested the AeroGarden Aerovoir on the remaining plants.
I gifted the 3 basil plants yesterday. Forgot to take farewell picture. Today, I've decided to try out the AG Aerovoir with the remaining 2 plants, 1 basil, 1 curly parsley. So, I did the 56 day R&R for the garden and then refilled about 2 inches short of the proper fill to here marking. Set-up the Aerovoir and let it go. About an hour or so later, it was up to proper level. Seems to be holding there, without issues, leaks, etc. I'm hoping that if I fill the bottle before our trip and set the unit to Vacation mode, I'll have happy plants when we return 12 days later. We'll see? Anyway, here's a shot...
Conversation
S
Good luck!
C
Thanks Sher! Believe me, I wouldn't have tried, but these two are pretty slow and easy going plants. This basil is the runt of the litter! They don't drink much and they don't need much pruning...but thanks for the good luck wishes anyway!!!
L
That critter gave me quite a turn!
C
LOL! That's Fred! Found him at Fred Meyer...
Day 36
UPDATE#5
Grower update
Update #5
Actions taken
PruningPruned the basil plants and documented before-and-after views.
Day 36 - Did some pruning to the basil. Before & after shots below.
Conversation
S
They look so neat and healthy!
C
Day 45: I finally got the pot back from my nail guy, so I moved the 3 largest basil plant to it, with new potting mix. He got rid of the original even though it was only used for a very short time. He must have dumped the cool water gage too. Oh, well. In any event, I think the plant are too big and I had to lose too many roots to remove them from the AG pods. It has been a couple of hours and they haven't fainted...yet. We'll see how things go for a few days. If they make it, I'll deliver it back to him next week. Fingers crossed. Mikey's comment was, "oh, well, dump them and start over." Could, maybe, we'll see. I think I would want to just keep the pot and move them as soon as they seem strong enough!?
S
Good luck. Sometimes trimming the top to match the smaller roots helps. Sometimes it's just too stressful. Hoping they make it!Some people feel it's rude to return a dirty pot. Maybe tbat's why be dumped it. Who know!
C
Thanks, Sher! I don't really want to trim the top, but I'll consider it. And, the pot was NOT clean. Just emptied.
C
All 3 transplants are still hanging in there...but shhhhh, I don't want to jinx it!
Day 24
UPDATE#4
Grower update
Update #4
Actions taken
PruningPerformed the first pruning on the basil plants.
HarvestUsed the basil pruning clippings with dinner.
Basil plants got their first pruning yesterday...and I used the clippings on our dinner!
Conversation
C
Day 28:R&R + Ionic Grow added. Plants are looking good.
Day 22
UPDATE#3
Grower update
Update #3
Parsley!
Conversation
S
Yours look much better than mine. I think my seeds were old. The basil does not look a healthy green no matter how much I tinker with the nutrients, and the parsley is not up yet. I think I will restart with fresh seeds. Glad yours are thriving!
C
Somehow, mine seem slower this time around too. But, when I look at my previous garden posts, they don't seem different? Go figure! A couple of the basil are almost ready for their first pruning.
S
It is weird but I find in the summer my plants grow slower LOL... Maybe just in my mind.
Day 13
UPDATE#2
Grower update
Update #2
Day 12: I must admit I've not been paying much attention to the garden for a couple of days. Fortunately, it doesn't need much at this stage. I will need to thin the basil soon. And, there are little green leaves in the parsley pod! Woo hoo!
Conversation
S
Nice and a very pristine deck.
Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update
Update #1
Actions taken
PlantingStarted four Genovese basil pods and one curly parsley pod in the Bounty.
So, I just can't stand that blank spot in the kitchen. I don't want to start flower gardens yet, so I've started some Genovese Basil and Curley Parsley. There are 4 Basil and 1 Parsley, in the middle. They are AG pods, just sitting there waiting to come to life! Fingers crossed. I set up my original AG, the Bounty Elite Artisan, Grey model. The plan is to gift 3 of the basil, again, as replacements for those that didn't survive the PNW heatwave. The 4th basil is a back-up or will be used here, as will the Curley Parsley. Who knew I would be missing the parsley so much! The stuff from the market just isn't the same!! No nutes yet. Pictures to come!
Conversation
S
GMTA. I am planning to start genovese basil and curly parsley in my kitchen, too. Mine will be in a Harvest, though. Maybe one plant each. Good luck on your gift wowing the recipient this time around!
C
Thanks Sher! And I did consider using the new Harvest 360. How fun! I'll be watching your grow too!
S
I am sure they will grow wonderfully .. again ...
C
Not yet 24 hours and there are already little fish eyes in three of the basil pods! I didn't mention before, but I did make sure to carefully soak the pods before placing the the AG.
C
Teeny, tiny, little green leaves in 2 of the basil pods. The other basil pods are right behind these. The parsley is on Hawaii Time. I can see what looks to be 4 seeds, but that's about all to report there.
C
So, there's green in all the basil pods, nothing happening in parsley yet. I went ahead and gave Ionic Grow nutes.
S
Have to planted another pod of Parsley just in case. I know for ME they are hit or miss in growing.
S
Same here. I am hoping my little basil sprouts wll not shade out the parsley before it gets started.
S
That is why I turn my plants daily. It forms a soft root ball that I can squeeze together if and when I move my plants around so I can better situate them. I know root balls can be hard to get out so maybe just turn them every so often so they do not tangle together as much.
S
Shawn, you have mentioned that so many times and I ALWAYS forget. Maybe I need to stick post it notes to my machines!
C
Thanks, Shawn and Sher! I was trying to remember my very first herb garden. I think the parsley was slow then too, but I kept it around for a long, long time. It doesn't really bother me, IF the parsley doesn't grow this time. I just felt there was room in the Bounty, so, why not? I just wanted to get the basil going to gift again...and just to have something growing in the big old empty spot in the kitchen!? Hoping that it might be ready to gift, before we leave for Idaho. I would think it should grow faster in the Bounty than it did in the Sprout?
C
Shhhh! Don't want to jinx it, but I do believe there might be signs of life in the parsley pod!!
S
Ooooh. I hope my parsley gets the message soon!