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Veranda Red and AeroGarden Heirloom Tomatoes Across Two Bounty Gardens

Grow log by lynnee · Original thread

7 visual updates17 photos20 replies
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CropTomato
VarietyVeranda Red, AeroGarden Heirloom Red, possibly Golden Harvest
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty
Plants4
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA long-running multi-unit tomato diary with transplanting, pruning comparisons, repeated harvests, canopy regrowth, root decline, heat stress, and nutrient-supplement lessons.

Actions:3 Pruning1 Solution1 Training1 Harvest
Useful practices
  • splitting four tomato plants between two units
  • gently separating intertwined roots
  • regular canopy pruning to expose fruit and improve production
  • performing reservoir rinses and refills
  • harvesting at colour break for countertop ripening
  • supplementing AeroGarden nutrients with Cal-Mag
Problems encountered
  • four seedlings overcrowded one Bounty
  • intertwined roots during relocation
  • delayed pruning created dense canopies and reduced airflow
  • one old garden developed brown mushy roots and discoloured water
  • possible heat stress late in the eight-month crop

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 164
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

Actions taken

PruningPruned both regrown canopies to expose ripe and nearly ripe fruit.

L By lynnee

Pruned these guys again today. Both had regrown a solid canopy, and were hiding lots of ripe or almost ripe tomatoes. All four plants are nearing the end of their productive life. The Harvest: Veranda red and Heirloom Red in Bounty:Veranda Red and Heirloom Red in Bounty:
Conversation
L
lynnee

Last week I harvested a ton of tomatoes from one of my Bounties with Heirloom and Veranda Reds (shown in photo of Bounty next to Farm in previous post). Then the plants just died.Today I cleaned out the garden, after 235 days. The roots were brown and mushy, and the water was very discolored. It had been three weeks since the last R&R, but I think that the AG location was simply too hot for such old plants (about 8 months).The Heirloom and Veranda Reds in the other Bounty (same age as the ones that died) are still going strong. They have a thick green canopy that needs pruning, and a lot of ripening tomatoes.

P
pfunnyjoy

Wow! I did AG Heirloom tomatoes once, I for sure did not get anywhere NEAR that many! Color me impressed!

S
Shawn

I love your tomato pics

L
lynnee

The secret to maximum AG tomato production--which I learned on this forum--is to supplement AG nutes with Cal-Mag. (I also use Koolbloom, but Cal-Mag is more important.) Pruning to reduce the leaf canopy also helps with cherry tomato production.With four plants going, I don't have to buy cherry tomatoes at the supermarket anymore.

Day 141
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

Image unavailable

L By lynnee

Tomato canopies grow back so quickly after pruning! Top 7/20/23; Bottom 7/29/23Left 7/29/23; Right 7/20/23
Conversation
S
slw

Your tomatoes look great, lynnee. Now I need some Veranda Reds!

S
swimmom500

I have some Veranda Red seeds. Looking at your haul makes me want to set up another garden

Day 130
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

Actions taken

PruningPerformed a major canopy pruning on all four tomato plants.

L By lynnee

These four plants are on their second harvest now. I let the canopies go too long without pruning, but finally got around to the job today. Took a ton of stuff off, but a lot of canopy will be back in a week or two. Tomatoes really prefer to hide the fruit!Regular pruning makes the task easier, and also increases fruit production. The point of pruning is to unburden the plant of unneeded leaves so it can concentrate on producing big tomatoes! The tomatoes in the trays are the ones that had "broken orange" or that were casualties of pruning. The green ones will eventually ripen on the kitchen countertop.For once I remembered to take before and after photos!
Day 56
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

Actions taken

HarvestHarvested Veranda Red tomatoes after they began turning orange and moved them indoors to finish ripening.

L By lynnee

The Veranda Reds are finally "breaking orange", so I harvested them and set them out to finish ripening in the kitchen.
Conversation
U
Unknown

That's a healthy looking tomato!

S
swimmom500

They are looking good!

L
lynnee

This time I pruned them early, to encourage more fruit and larger fruit! There is an AG Heirloom Red in the same Bounty, with fruit that is beginning to ripen, but it doesn't have a lot.

Day 22
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

L By lynnee

Apr 3, 2023 15:53:51 GMT -5 @fsullom said:Nice tomatoes.... but I'm more impressed with your roller coaster! I just repaired my Loop roller coaster, which tore itself apart when the lift knot came loose. I love both roller coasters to pieces!
Day 22
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

Actions taken

PruningRemoved large lower leaves to improve airflow and encourage fruit set.
SolutionPerformed a rinse and refill on one of the two tomato Bounties.
TrainingMoved the right-side pods forward to give the plants more growing space.

L By lynnee

As usual, I let the tomatoes go too long without pruning, so there were a lot of big lower leaves sapping energy away from the blooms. Waiting also meant that the pruned plant looks more misshapen, but the aim is to encourage fruit set. The stalks with only blooms left will continue to develop fruit, using energy from the leaves elsewhere on the plants.I did an R&R with one Bounty, and left the second one to continue on the preset schedule (R&R and add nutes in 5 days). The plants were started at the same time, but are now in different room locations, so the comparison going forward isn't exact.)In both Bounties, there is a Veranda Red on the left, and an AG tomato on the right. (I think they may be Golden Harvests rather than Heirloom Reds.) The air circulation is much improved. I also moved the pods on the right forward to give them more space to grow. One of them was crowding against a wall, and the other was competing with my roller coaster!
Conversation
U
Unknown

Nice tomatoes.... but I'm more impressed with your roller coaster!

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

L By lynnee

Why was I thinking that the tomatoes were stalled? At 19 days, these are looking good! Burpee Veranda Reds at left, AG Heirloom Reds at right. I'm pushing it, leaving 4 seedlings in a Bounty Wireless, so will probably move two plants soon. AG nutrients only so far.
Conversation
U
Unknown

My rule of thumb is a max of: 1 tomato in a harvest (harvest isn't tall enough for a pepper) 2 tomatoes or 1 pepper in a harvest XL 2 tomatoes or 2 peppers in a bounty

L
lynnee

Yesterday I transferred the two middle seedlings (one Veranda Red, one AG Heirloom Red) to an empty Bounty. At 23 days, the roots on the four plants were already intertwined, but the roots weren't hard to separate with gentle tugging. I did lose some long white roots, but the plants seem to have withstood the relocation.

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