Day 43
UPDATE#11
Grower update
Update #11
Lousy picture, but you get the idea. Here's a jar of homegrown basil ready to hand off as a gift.
GrowLog
FailedGenovese and Thai Basil Gift Project: Hydroponic Start, Soil Transplant, and Heatwave Loss
Grow log by campingcorgis · Original thread
11 visual updates13 photos57 replies
View recapCrop🌿Basil
VarietyGenovese Basil, Thai Basil
MethodAeroGarden
EquipmentAeroGarden Sprout, AeroGarden Bounty Elite Artisan, self-watering planter, food dehydrator
Plants3
AudienceBeginners
What you can learnA detailed gift-project diary covering basil thinning, repeated pruning, hydroponic maintenance, soil transplanting, acclimation, drying, gifting, and post-gift heat stress.
Actions:4 Pruning2 Transplant1 Planting1 Equipment1 Solution1 Watering
Useful practices
- thinning to one plant per pod
- bush-method pruning
- periodic rinse-and-refill maintenance
- moving plants to a larger AeroGarden
- transplanting to a self-watering soil planter
- acclimating transplants under the grow light
- drying and gifting harvested basil
Problems encountered
- crowding required thinning
- substantial root loss during transplant
- slight yellowing after transplant
- all gifted basil plants died during an extreme heatwave in a home without air conditioning
*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.
Conversation
S
I LOVE that you left the leaves whole! Another wonderful gift!
C
Ooops...actually, I didn't. I find the whole dried leaves a pain when I'm cooking, so I put the whole bunch of them thru my mini processor. Maybe I should not have???
S
From the picture, it looked to me like they were whole. So the lucky recipients will have even more basil to enjoy this way!
C
Took this over to the nail shop today. My tech wasn't there, so I gave it to his wife. He is at home until 2PM, cleaning the house and mowing the lawn!
S
I bet he is going to love it.
S
Such a thoughtful gift!
C
So, yesterday, I went to get a pedi. Found out that all 3 basil plants died a brutal death, shortly after I gifted them! We had a horrible heatwave that started just a day or so later. By that time, we were at the beach, enjoying the ocean breezes. My nail tech said that they do not have AC in their home and it was 95 degrees at 9PM at night! They had to go sleep at the shop, just to get some rest. The poor basil plants didn't stand a chance. They are getting bids to have AC added to their HVAC system. It hasn't been this hot here, in some years & not since they bought this home, new in 2017. I told him I would grow some more, in the future. I think I'll wait until the risk of super temps have passed!
Day 41
UPDATE#10
Grower update
Update #10
Actions taken
TransplantMoved the three basil plants from hydroponic pods into their soil planter.
WateringWatered the basil immediately after transplanting.
Day 42: I thought I best get the basil plants moved to their new planter home, before the roots prohibit it! I hope I didn't wait too long. The roots are the Thai Basil were a good deal less than the Genovese. But they are moved and watered and set back under the Bounty hood for light. My thinking is, this way, I can make sure they acclimate prior to giving them away. Fingers & paws crossed!
Conversation
A
They will be fine, just don't over water them now they are in soil. Oh wait... that was the slick self watering planter wasn't it.. you are good to go!!
C
It has been a few hours and nobody has fainted...yet! Here's hoping they will be off to their new home soon!
S
That will be a perfect gift!
S
It looks wonderful and I am sure the future new owner will love it.
C
Still alive this morning! The Genovese has a touch more yellow in their leaves this morning. I raised the hood a bit. Fingers crossed!
C
Oh, and I found these totally cute little Ball Jars. 4 oz "mini jars". I got a box of four to be able to gift some of the dried basil, in a nice, presentable way, without giving away my own spice jars. Very jazzed about that. A label and maybe a ribbon, will make a nice thank you or hostess type gift.
S
That's a cute, unique gift idea, too, campingcorgis!
Day 34
UPDATE#9
Grower update
Update #9
Actions taken
PruningPerformed the second pruning on both Genovese basil plants.
Day 35: Did the 2nd pruning on the Genovese Basil plants. Mikey says they grow about an inch a day. I don't notice it, but I look at them throughout the day?
Day 31
UPDATE#8
Grower update
Update #8
Actions taken
PruningPerformed the second bush-method pruning on the Thai basil.
Did a pruning of the Thai Basil, using the Bush Method today. It is the 2nd pruning for that one. The other two aren't yet ready for the 2nd pruning. Rosemary has joined this garden.
Conversation
S
So pretty!
Day 26
UPDATE#7
Grower update
Update #7
Actions taken
TransplantMoved the basil plants into a Bounty Elite Artisan.
Moved these to the new-to-me Bounty Elite Artisan.
Conversation
S
Gorgeous! I just love how the colors are divided. The white in the center makes the other colors pop!
S
Your flowers are beautiful. Did you plant them like that is is that how the seeds just happen to grow?
C
Yes, thank you & that's just how it worked out. By the time I knew who was what, It seemed difficult to be moving them around anyway?
Day 25
UPDATE#6
Grower update
Update #6
Actions taken
SolutionCompleted a rinse-and-refill for the Sprout.
A few days early, I did an R&R for the Sprout yesterday, since I was already doing that for the Bounty Portulacas. Found that my little rack system worked for the Sprout too! Please excuse the towel in the window! That blind is at the shop getting a new motor. Sigh. Should be back this week, fingers crossed!
Conversation
S
The basil is looking more giftable every day!
Day 23
UPDATE#5
Grower update
Update #5
Actions taken
PruningPerformed the first basil pruning using the bush-pruning method.
Day 24: First Pruning using the Bush Pruning Method - Before & After:
Conversation
S
Looks great!
C
Thanks, Sher! It is fun too! The Sprout unit is cute, functional and worth the relatively small investment. Trying not to get too far ahead of myself, but thinking that using the the Sprout's seed tray may be a good and fun future project. I may try growing a few herbs to make into small herb garden items for our club's Silent Auction Table. Last night, there was an Auction Item of three small-ish succulent plants in 3 little pots and I think I heard that it fetched 50 bucks! Just thinking.
S
That sounds like it would be fun and rewarding, campingcorgis.
Day 19
UPDATE#4
Grower update
Update #4
Actions taken
PruningThinned the basil to one plant per pod.
Day 20: Thinned to 1 per pod:Input needed: What do you think of this pot to send the plants to their new home? Thanks!!!
Conversation
S
I especially like the long, rectangular pots for herbs. It's a yes from me.
S
That is a nice pot. The three should fit nicely in it.
A
That is a rather neat container setup!
C
Thank you Sher, Shawn and airscapes! Nice to have affirmation!
Day 14
UPDATE#3
Grower update
Update #3
Actions taken
EquipmentMoved the Sprout back to reduce shading from nearby portulacas.
Day 14:I had to move the Sprout back a bit as the Portulacas are going for the Sprout's light and creating shadows! But, the basil is still doing its thing!
Conversation
S
It looks great! Be sure to give it away before it goes wild and takes over your kitchen!
C
Thanks Sher & will do. Before that, I need to trim to 1 per pod!
S
I was trying to be funny. Just top then and pinch out a few side leaves to make them grow bushy instead of tall and skinny. What a thoughtful gift that will be!
C
I watched the Corinne videos from this post and I've tried to follow it...but mine never end up as nice as his? But maybe mine taste better.... JK.
S
Thse instruction are a LOT better than mine, campingcorgis!
Day 2
UPDATE#2
Grower update
Update #2
Day 2 and the fish eyes look a tad bigger. It sure is fun to see the action, right from the beginning.
Conversation
C
Day 3 - There are tiny green stringy looking sprouts struggling to life now. Not quite ready to add nutes, but certainly getting closer.
S
Another miracle happening in plain sight! Soon to be kitchen- ready!
C
Agreed! For someone else's kitchen though. I've always enjoyed making and getting "homemade" gifts!
S
They sound like they are coming along nicely
C
So far, so good!
C
Day 9 and everyone has greenery at or above the label. AG nutes added.
S
WooHoo!!!
S
Basil grows so fast, love it
Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update
Update #1
Actions taken
PlantingPlanted two Genovese basil pods and one Thai basil pod in the Sprout.
The Sprout has been planted with new AG Basil pods. There are 2 Genovese Basil (one dated 3/21 & 1 dated 6/21, although the June one was purchased first...go figure?) and 1 Thai Basil pod. All AG pods, no nutes added, pictures to come, when there's something to see.The plan is to get the Basil plants to a point of being able to transplant to some pots. And then, hopefully, let them acclimate, such that they seem like they will thrive. At that point, they will be a gift for the guy that does my nails. He and his wife just opened a new salon. Yep, they are starting a business right now. Anyway, I'm going to be reading up a lot on how-to, and asking for help along the way, I'm sure. I'm already fretting the idea of having potted plants in the house, but I don't think there will be too much choice on that. I guess I'll nuke the potting soil, or otherwise cleanse it with boiling water -- see, I've been reading already! -- I'm not sure if I need to do more than that for the plants, since they will be "house plants" and not planted outdoors. See, already I have questions! LOL. But, not getting that cart out in front of the horse...for now, I'm just happy to anticipate the new life, about to happen, right before my eyes!
Conversation
S
Green thumb obsessions are forever. Fair warning!
C
Understood!
A
You will be fine! No different than AG, just slightly slower.. Need light, not too much water, no nute if the is potting soil from the store, most have fertilizer in it, just check the bag.. It is always better to water from below so if you can find a shallow saucer (inch deep) to put water in rather than watering from top it is always better for the roots to grow to the water. You don't over water it this way.. only soaks up what it needs and you can dump the reset.How big are you growing it before you give it to them and is it for their shop or their garden?
C
Thanks! I'll likely keep them until they "look ready" or about Father's Day, whatever comes first. Our first, already booked, annual Camp Corgi event is the end of June. The basil will be for them to take home. He's the cook, so we love to chat about recipes and things we make at home. With a new business, he doesn't have the same kind of time to devote to his passion: cooking. I have a lot of ideas for him, for stir-fry and things that go quick. Many of them use basil and some A LOT OF BASIL, so I thought the plants would be nice for him to have. They did buy some living plants for the shop and received a ton of orchids, so I'm hoping they are up to caring for the basil plants too? I know they both like basil, as much as I do! In the meantime, I'm making a pile of recipes to share...his request to help him find things to make that are good and don't take a whole lot of time.
A
Sounds like a great thing you are doing!I used to grow basil every year but neither my wire nor I like it very much and she has a bunch from years ago in the freezer. My one plant would get about 4' tall as I would not keep it cut .. always ended up flowering and going to seed. They grow fast and big outside in full sun so they can take a lot of pruning!
M
I always let my basil flower too, bees love it!
S
I didn't know that. Will have to plant some outside, too.
C
One day in & all 3 pods have action in them. Looks like little fish eyes in the middle of the pod...LOL. May have to go shopping for a nice pot or two, soon!