GrowLog
Transplanted

Mixed AeroGarden Seed-Starting Project Transplanted to Outdoor Containers

Grow log by Sher · Original thread

8 visual updates12 photos23 replies
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CropRomaine lettuce, Napa cabbage, bok choy, tomato, eggplant, Swiss chard, zinnia
VarietyParris Island romaine, Napa cabbage, Suzhou Baby bok choy, Chibikko tomato, Dwarf Thai Purple eggplant, Perpetual spinach chard
MethodAeroGarden seed starting, coco-coir holding, outdoor container cultivation
EquipmentAeroGarden Harvest 360 Elite, AeroGarden seed-starter decks, EarthBox-style containers
Plants-
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA broad seed-starting diary with exact crop counts, root-overgrowth warning signs, outdoor transplant preparation, weather risk, and pest damage.

Actions:2 Planting2 Transplant
Useful practices
  • starting multiple compact crops together
  • removing vigorous cabbage before roots reach the pump
  • using coco coir as temporary holding medium
  • hardening and planting outdoors
  • amending reused large containers
Problems encountered
  • Napa cabbage roots entering the pump
  • seedlings shading one another
  • cold and highly variable outdoor weather
  • slug damage to bok choy

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 42
UPDATE#8
Grower update

Update #8

S By Sher

I have 12 zinnias in the seed starter. I plan to move them into a 4" block seed tray later today. They will eventually go into the flower garden the deer ate. Zinnias are supposed to be deer resistant, but I'm not convinced our deer know that.
Conversation
S
Shawn

These look fantastic

Day 37
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

S By Sher

The Chinese cabbage is looking good. I wish I had planted more, but it is getting too hot to start more now. Unfortunately, the slugs discovered my bok choy. They aren't pretty enough for a picture. The two that made it into this shot are rather puny.
Day 20
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

Actions taken

TransplantMoved part of the seed-started crop into amended outdoor containers.

S By Sher

I got a few things planted out today. Here is my window before I set them out. And this is what I got planted today. There's more to go, but with COPD, two boxes a day is my limit. These are 20+ year old Earth Boxes. Now all I do is fill them with 1/3 container potting soil, 1/3 coco coir. 1/3 compost, plus granular fertilizer, perlite, and epsom salt (magnesium), I'll add additional supplements if they need it. It's anybody's guess how these will do. Our nights are ranging from the 30's to the 50's, and our days from the 60's to the 80's Will plant more tomorrow, transfer more out of the AG seed starter tonight, and get some flowers planted in the seed starter. They will be late, but hopefully worth waiting for. We are expecting severe thunderstorms Sunday. I'm hoping these survive!
Conversation
S
Shawn

Can you bring in the garage at night when it storms

S
Sher

No. The Earth Boxes are way too heavy to move. But I'm not going to worry about it. I have a whole bunch of starts to replace them, if need be. But I'm hoping I won't have to.

S
Shawn

Ahh ok, I did not realize they were in EB's

U
Unknown

The EB's have a plastic cover that fits around the rim of the box with an elaastic. One purpose of this is to protect from bad weather. Excess rain won;t damage the crops because the excess will just drain out the bottom..one of the perks of the EB's.If you don;t have any covers, you can use use trash bags cut to dimension and duck tape it around and have slits cut for the plants to get air and protection from water on the cover.

J
Jay

Sher do you have casters on your Earthbox? I'm thinking of getting some and the option to add casters seems a little expensive...I had a knockoff with casters and after one season the side of the hole where the caster fits broke. I'm putting deck saver wedges under it for now.

S
Sher

Jay , my Earthboxes are over 20 years old. I used them as Earth Boxes when they were new, but now I just use them as large containers with richly amended soil. I do not have casters, but they would be a much appreciated accessory! I do have them lifted off the deck with short lengths of 4x4's.

S
Shawn

I was going to get casters as I have bad back issues but I will wait and see how I do this year first. Then again if my plants die before they get planted I may either buy some from the nursery OR plant flowers in mine

U
Unknown

I made the mistake of wheeling my castered EB's on their higher stands(for beans) out onto the earth. Now they are so deeply embedded I would have to lift them to move them. Big mistake.

Day 14
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

Actions taken

TransplantRemoved oversized Napa cabbage from the seed starter and planted it in a coco-coir planter for temporary holding.

S By Sher

At 14 days, the Napa cabbage had to come out of the seed starter. They are huge and had a massive root system, to the point they were growing through the filter into the pump. Not to mention shading everything else out! We are expecting very severe weather tomorrow. So Monday I will start hardening them off. I didn't have solo cups, so planted them in a planter with coco coir to hold them over.
Conversation
U
Unknown

there ya go....lookin good sher

S
Sher

Thanks. Corinne. I'm really looking forward to seeing these mature. I have a total of 8. 6 will be for regular cooking and stir fries, and two for a kimchi recipe I want to tty. How's that for counting your eggs before they hatch!

Day 13
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

S By Sher

Here they are at 13 days!
Day 8
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

Actions taken

PlantingSeeded Chibikko tomatoes, dwarf Thai purple eggplants, perpetual spinach chard, and Suzhou Baby bok choy.

S By Sher

I`m seeing nice progress here. I seeded another Harvest with 3 Chibikko tomatoes, 3 dwarf Thai purple eggplant, 9 perpetual spinach (heat tolerant spinach-tasting chard) and 8 more Suzhou Baby (8" tall) bok choy. All seeds were from Baker Creek, except the tomato from Renaissance Farms.
Conversation
U
Unknown

the seedlings look very healthy..yes it does look like a cooker...and I really like the look of the Harvest set-up

Day 3
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

S By Sher

Day 3. I see life in all but 2 pods so far.
Conversation
S
Sher

Just in case anyone wonders why the water cap is white... I painted it black, but the cap is one of those plastics that even Krylon won't stick to. The paint peeled off. At least it matches the white rim.

S
Shawn

Exciting!

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

PlantingSeeded the Harvest 360 deck with Parris Island romaine, Napa cabbage, and bok choy.

S By Sher

I have the Harvest 360 grow deck seeded with Parris Island romaine lettuce, Napa cabbage, and medium sized bok choy. And does anyone else think the stainless Harvest 360 Elite looks like a cook pot with a levitating lid?
Conversation
S
Shawn

Yes it does.

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