GrowLog
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Two Shishito Pepper Plants in a Bounty Elite

Grow log by pfunnyjoy · Original thread

3 visual updates4 photos13 replies
View recap
CropPepper
VarietyShishito
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty Elite
Plants2
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA productive pepper diary with detailed bloom nutrition, flower drop, harvest timing, and canopy-management lessons.

Actions:2 Solution2 Nutrients2 Harvest1 Planting1 Pruning
Useful practices
  • bloom-stage feeding
  • shortening feeding interval
  • air-frying harvested peppers
  • selective branch pruning
Problems encountered
  • flower drop
  • massive spreading growth
  • yellow blotches
  • difficult reservoir access

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 45
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

Actions taken

HarvestCollected another good harvest and cooked the green fruit.
PruningClipped branches that were not actively carrying peppers.
NutrientsRaised the Cal-Mag level.

P By pfunnyjoy

Apr 10, 2025 13:23:39 GMT -5 golddustpeak said: One day later and there are three more shorties with red ends.......... I'm on it! I got a nice harvest today! Plus a shortie with a red end. I ate that one raw, and it had a slight spicy kick, not bad, with a bit of sweet! Hope you enjoyed yours!I cooked my green ones in the air fryer and oh my, they were good! Topped with a bit of good olive oil, lemon zest, and sea salt.While it was a struggle getting the plants out and back into the reservoir during the most recent rinse and refill, I guess I'll do my best to keep up on it. I did clip a little of the branches, where the plant wasn't actively growing a pepper in hopes of exerting some control, but honestly, you can't tell, as it's growing peppers everywhere now.I upped the Cal/Mag a little, but perhaps not enough. I am seeing some yellow blotches on leaves. Next feed I think I will boost it from 4.0ml to 5.0ml and possibly increase the other nutrients slightly. I'm currently giving Flora Micro at 7ml, Flora Grow at 7ml, and Flora Bloom at 10ml. I never expected that two Shishito plants would be quite so massive! But here I am....
Conversation
G
golddustpeak

They look great! I've had three batches now and there have been three or so red ended shorties in each batch. I haven't tried the air fryer on them yet but I'll give it a shot.

P
pfunnyjoy

The recipe I saw suggested 10 minutes at 400F. I went for 5 minutes, which was plenty, though my air fryer (Ninja) requires pre-heating for 5 minutes, so YMMV.I measured the two plants in the Bounty, together they span a whole 36 inches now! Crazy!I do plan to prune a bit, but those outer branches have some peppers getting towards harvestable size, so I'm waiting. Obviously, I should've pruned earlier.

G
golddustpeak

I tried the Air Fryer and liked it best. THANKS! My plant wants to spread out as well.

P
pfunnyjoy

Yeah, these are a natural for the air fryer! I may start harvesting again, as I think we might have enough for a small air fryer batch, though it's hard to say until I actually start getting them together.

Day 31
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

Actions taken

HarvestHarvested and cooked the first five peppers.
SolutionCompleted another reservoir change.

P By pfunnyjoy

I think it's day 104 or something like that.I have had my first cooked Shishitos! There were only 5 that were large enough, so I tossed them about in a hot pan for a bit, then drizzled with a bit of coconut aminos, a pinch of salt, and a few drops of toasted sesame seed oil. Quite nice!Hubby gets the next small batch. Then I'll see if I can wait until I have enough to make it worth trying them in the air fryer.Did a rinse and refill last night. Not easy! I'm also experiencing a fair amount of flower drop, which, given how many flowers they've had, I didn't expect all to make peppers. I've read this is normal, but I don't really know. I'm setting the feeding up for every 10 days instead of 14, in case the drop is because the plants are going through their nutrients too fast.See the peppers coming!
Conversation
G
golddustpeak

Several of my Shishito peppers are just over 2" with many less than that, I'm getting anxious. How are yours doing by now?

P
pfunnyjoy

I had enough over 2 inches to harvest 7 nice peppers for my husband to enjoy with his breakfast. There's a couple right around the 2-inch point and a bunch more that are smaller, so it shouldn't be too long before I harvest again, and the next batch is mine. Eventually, I hope I'll have more of them at once, so I can air fry a batch for the both of us.

G
golddustpeak

Today when watering my Shishito peppers I discovered one that was just over 1 inch long that had a red tip. I'm thinking that I should consider harvesting a few of the longer ones. What do you think?

P
pfunnyjoy

I would say if they are large enough to suit you, go right ahead!

G
golddustpeak

One day later and there are three more shorties with red ends.......... I'm on it!

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

PlantingPlanted two Shishito pepper pods with two seeds each.
SolutionPerformed repeated rinse-and-refill cycles during bud and bloom development.
NutrientsFed with Flora series and later added KoolBloom.

P By pfunnyjoy

2024-12-18: Day 0Seeds: Amazon – Peppers of the WorldAerogarden: Bounty EliteLocation: South 40, right side of tableWater: tap Grow Medium: AG spongesPreferred pH: 6.0–6.8Preferred EC: 2.0–2.5Nutrients: 1.0ml GH CALiMAGic8.0ml Ionic Grow10.0ml 3% Hydrogen Peroxide2 pods planted, 2 seeds per pod, planted in the hole. 2025-02-04: Day 48A rinse and refill day. First flower bud yesterday! Plants are looking well.Nutrients: Flora Series Early Bloom Medium feed, adjusted for 1.1 gallons, and rounded up.2.0 GH CALiMAGic7.0ml Flora Micro6.0ml Flora Gro7.0ml Flora Bloom10.0ml 3% Hydrogen Peroxide2025-02-18: Day 62Rinse and refill. LOTS of flower buds, the plants are covered with them, but no blooms yet. I think one bud is getting close. I’m going to give the same nutrients, plus a little KoolBloom.2.0 GH CALiMAGic7.0ml GH Flora Micro6.0ml GH Flora Gro7.0ml GH Flora Bloom2.0ml GH KoolBloom10.0ml 3% Hydrogen Peroxide2025-02-17: Day 612025-02-22: Day 66First blooms! Several flower buds opened today! 2025-03-03: Day 75Rinse and refill. LOTS of blooms! Plants look happy, so I’ll stick with these nutrients for now.2.0 GH CALiMAGic7.0ml GH Flora Micro6.0ml GH Flora Gro7.0ml GH Flora Bloom2.0ml GH KoolBloom10.0ml 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Conversation
G
golddustpeak

How are your peppers doing? I started mine around the same time as you did and I have a lot of 1" to 1 1/2" peppers. I still have no idea as to when it will be time to harvest some.

P
pfunnyjoy

They seem to be doing well. I've got some 1" peppers, and one pepper that I think is about 2". I haven't gotten a flashlight out to go looking, as I figure it'll be another week before there's enough to possibly be worth harvesting. Hubby was peering in to see the little peppers just this morning!The plants are dropping a few flowers here and there at this point. I'm not sure if that's normal, or just because they are so overladen with blooms/buds. It may be I need to up the nutrition slightly.

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