GrowLog
Terminated Early

Salvaterra’s Select Tomato Overgrows an AeroGarden Bounty

Grow log by ERR0R1755 · Original thread

9 visual updates11 photos34 replies
View recap
CropTomato
VarietySalvaterra’s Select
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty
Plants1
AudienceExperimental

What you can learnClear cautionary example of attempting a larger tomato in a Bounty and using pruning and training to manage excessive growth.

Actions:3 Nutrients2 Pruning1 Transplant1 Training1 Finished
Useful practices
  • hard pruning to control size
  • trellising and bending stems
  • applying cornstarch to wet pruning cuts
  • supplemental calcium and magnesium
Problems encountered
  • plant outgrew the Bounty
  • heavy pruning cuts continued leaking water
  • flowers formed without fruit set

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 70
UPDATE#9
Grower update

Update #9

Actions taken

PruningCut the plant back while preparing to remove it.
NutrientsAdded 10 ml of AeroGarden nutrients.

E By ERR0R1755

I was cutting it back in preparation for removing it when I noticed some more flowers - I think I might be able to get a few tomatoes off the plant if I prune on a regular basis rather than these large bursts of pruning. I added 10ml of nutes and I'll keep it alive for a bit longer.
Conversation
S
Shawn

That is a funny shape but looks cool.

E
ERR0R1755

Ended this today - it doesn't seem like growing larger tomato plants in a Bounty is feasible, since I never got mine to fruit even when it produced flowers.

Day 64
UPDATE#8
Grower update

Update #8

E By ERR0R1755

I think I will end this soon - it's too much for a Bounty.
Conversation
S
Shawn

Too bad. It was a great try however.

Day 48
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

Actions taken

NutrientsAdded 16 ml of AeroGarden nutrients.
FinishedApplied cornstarch to wet pruning cuts to help them dry.

E By ERR0R1755

Added 16ml of nutes! The white powder on (and below) the stem is corn starch. After trimming the plant back, it was constantly dripping water from the cuts, even four days later, so I used corn starch to dry out the cuts so the plant could heal.
Conversation
S
Sher

That little tomato looks like it is a gem set in a surrealistic setting. It's an odd and fascinating plant.

S
Shawn

Home made styptic powder for plants.

S
Sher

What a genius comparison! Wish I had thought of it!

Day 39
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

Actions taken

PruningTrimmed back the tomato plant.
TrainingInstalled the trellis add-on and bent the plant around it.

E By ERR0R1755

Thank you for the idea Shawn! I trimmed it back, put the trellis addon, and carefully bent it around.There's also a few flowers I kept!
Conversation
S
Sher

Those tomato flowers look different. Very pretty! I hope it bushes out and gives you lots of yummy tomatoes.

Day 39
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

E By ERR0R1755

Not sure how this will turn out, but I will need to trim it back and try to get it to grow more towards the right:
Conversation
S
Shawn

Can you trellis it over to the right? Maybe use something to hold them there and train them to bend over and grow that way? Just throwing crazy stuff out there

Day 28
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

E By ERR0R1755

For some reason the picture didn't come through properly, let's try again:
Conversation
S
Sher

That is a unique looking tomato plant! Pretty, too.

S
Shawn

I checked your link and it says it is unable to connect to the server you are using. So I still do not see the picture

E
ERR0R1755

It looks like the site is down right now, hopefully it will come back soon.I figured out that my earlier issue was that (for some reason) there was a space at the beginning of the image link.

E
ERR0R1755

That site seems to be back up now, let me know if you still can't see it

S
Shawn

ERR0R1755, for some reason they are not being displayed here. I will send a report ticket in to see why. In the meantime, can you post the link itself and we can click on it.

S
Sher

I can see them now.

S
Shawn

And I can not

E
ERR0R1755

Here is the direct link: files.catbox.moe/wg5o7r.jpg

S
Shawn

THank you. There are SOME ISP's that do not allow that repository. I have asked my husband to look into it for me. However from catbox's FAQ's this is what they said:Why can't I see anything on files.catbox.moe? Catbox is currently blocked by some ISPs and filtered DNS servers. If you're a subscriber of British Telecom (BT), Vodafone, or some Australian/New Zealand ISPs, and are not using custom DNS servers, you will probably have issues. Additionally, Catbox has been blocked by Quad9 before. The question is, why are you still using ISP/filtered DNS servers? Consider using OpenDNS, Quad8 (Google DNS), or Level3. Hopefully my husband will be able to figure something out so I can see them.

Day 11
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

E By ERR0R1755

Conversation
E
ERR0R1755

Sorry for the late reply! Somehow I messed this message. I'm very thankful for the offer, but at the moment I have been happy with the AG nutrients. Both my Rosy Finch and Orange Hat tomatoes seemed to do well with AG nutes + CALiMAGic.I tried the MasterBlend and a couple other multi-part nutrient formulas, and while I did see a difference, I'm always too lazy to deal with the ordering, weighing, and multiple mixing stages - especially when I can just put a couple ML of AG nutes and call it a day

S
Sher

Same here! I have Masterblend, but it is such a pain to mix when the alternative is simply squirt and use. ,

A
airscapes

Yep, I miss the simplicity and quickness of premixed liquid. On the bright side I made an electric mixing lid for a 5 gallon bucket so I exercise while each part is mixing.. that is exercise I would not be doing if I were not in the basement waiting for the mixer to do it's thing!

E
ERR0R1755

Added 8ml of nutes!

Day 1
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

E By ERR0R1755

I am hoping to keep it within the Bounty and keep it pruned back to stay within the light without touching the light itself.If it shows signs of outgrowing the container despite my efforts, then my backup plan is to trim back most of it (along with the roots) and try to keep it half the size it was before.I've had fairly good success with plants that outgrow a container, but I've found that adding an air pump + air stone helps a lot, so that might be another option.Here is a mustard plant that I grew in a Harvest 360, when it just slightly outgrew the AeroGarden
Conversation
A
airscapes

I see, so basically Bonsai the top and roots .. will be interested to see how a plant that has not been altered to stay small takes to containment. To me it is like herding cats without a vacuum cleaner..

A
airscapes

I am very curious as to how many tomatoes you will have on a plant kept so small. If you are interested in the nutrient system I am using, I can hook you up! All 3 products were in 5lb bags, enough for a 1000 gallons of solution, so PM me if you would like a lb of each. The AG and Dyna-bloom were really not what my plant needed.. It was purple as can be until I switched. I have the tomato formula, Calcium Nitrate, Magnesium sulfate and Potassium Nitrate. Product and mixing instructions are Here

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

TransplantMoved the Salvaterra’s Select tomato seedling into an AeroGarden Bounty.
NutrientsAdded AeroGarden nutrients, CALiMAGic, and hydrogen peroxide.

E By ERR0R1755

Moved this into my Bounty and added 8ml of nutes, 2ml of CALiMAGic, and a healthy splash of hydrogen peroxide.
Conversation
A
airscapes

What is your plan for this as far as a container? My inside plant (indeterminate) is in a bus tub that holds about 3 gallons of water with a decent air space and it is really hard to keep it fed and ph level correct and I am trying to prune it to keep it within the space I have. The one in the double bucket (outside) is much more stable so far with 7 gallons of water. That is being pruned from bottom up as it grows as are the inground plants.With the tub inside, I am feeding 2 days after a change.. which is weekly and it drinks about 2 qts of water every 12 hours. The hard part about feeding is I am using a multiple part dry system so have to mix a couple gallons of nute to water with..Good luck with it!

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