GrowLog
Successful

Long-Lived Mega Cherry Tomato in a Farm+

Grow log by nick · Original thread

5 visual updates8 photos21 replies
View recap
CropTomato
VarietyMega Cherry Tomato
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Farm+
Plants1
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA highly useful long-duration tomato diary covering early stress, recovery, repeated harvest, pruning, feeding, and structural support.

Actions:2 Nutrients2 Pruning1 Harvest1 Training
Useful practices
  • removing sick leaves
  • continuing conservative feeding
  • heavy recurring pruning
  • using multiple magnetic trellises
  • harvesting every few weeks
Problems encountered
  • severe drooping after reservoir drainage
  • leaf curl
  • heavy mature fruit and vine weight

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 365
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

Actions taken

HarvestContinued harvesting tomatoes every few weeks.
NutrientsOccasionally supplemented AeroGarden nutrients with Mooch.
PruningPruned the plant heavily every few weeks to confine it to one side.
TrainingUsed three magnetic trellis systems to support the mature plant.

N By nick

So believe it or not this plant is still alive and well. We just celebrated its first birthday a couple of weeks ago. I'm still harvesting tomatoes every couple of weeks with no sign of slowing down. Still using AG nutes with the occasional addition of mooch. It gets pruned pretty heavily every couple of weeks to keep it confined to one side of the Farm Plus. I've had to use three of the magnetic trellis systems to support the weight of it all, but it works. 🙂
Conversation
S
Shawn

Going Strong and those red toms look even better

Day 102
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

N By nick

So these have gone exactly as well as I had hoped they would. On the right in this photo:
Conversation
U
Unknown

What a successful project(s)..you ust be enjoying the grows so much! BTW...what camera do you use? The clarity is phenomenal!

N
nick

Thank you!All of my photos have come from the iPhone. All of the photos before these were from an iPhone XS. The photos I posted yesterday are from an iPhone 11 Pro.

K
KarenR

Beautiful. How is the flavor?

N
nick

The red ones in the photo are my first ripe bunch. I’ll let you all know after I pull a couple this weekend.

Day 35
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

Actions taken

NutrientsApplied the plant's third feeding before the stress episode.
PruningRemoved numerous unhealthy-looking leaves.

N By nick

This plant has had a few “events” lately. So let me start with a photo from before anything went sideways. In that photo everything was healthy and happy. It had its third feeding a couple of days later. When I drained that unit the leaves starting drooping almost immediately. Nothing has been the same since. I’ve removed lots of sick looking leaves and even the ones that are green are very curled. In spite of that it’s starting to produce flowers so I’ll keep it going. Still only feeding it AG nutes.
Conversation
U
Unknown

Two of mine showed the same symptoms, nick. However, I did a dump and low feeding, took the scissors to them and snipped off the parts that were hogging all the energy and now the 2 sickliest looking ones are on the mend and getting buds.I am holding my breath with fingers crossed.

D
danastl

In another thread, someone said that their babies really benefited from a supplement - it might have been magnesium and something else?

U
Unknown

I do not have success using the additive with toms, but the solution is fantastic on peppers, thanks to Mike's suggestion.

Day 9
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

N By nick

This plant is now well on its way. Can’t wait to see what kind of tomatoes it produces.
Conversation
O
orangetabbys

Just curious how many farms you have?

N
nick

I have two Farm models and two Farm Plus models.

D
danastl

Our Farm XL should be here tomorrow (it helps that we appear to be located 1.5 hrs away from their headquarters)! Looking forward to getting some great veggies and herbs.Do you think the "Mega" cherry tomatoes mean that they are larger than regular cherry? Or maybe more productive?

N
nick

Congrats on the new Farm!The fruit of the Mega Cherry plants are larger than regular cherry tomatoes.

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

N By nick

Pop!
Conversation
U
Unknown

I am finding this kit to be a very slow one..aren;t you, nick?

N
nick

The one I was growing pre-aphid attack was actually growing very quickly. Second time around and taken a little longer to sprout. Guess we’ll see.

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