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Post by joe645 on Apr 8, 2024 21:21:36 GMT -5
What is the safest way to remove tomato (or any plant) from AreoGarden to replant in larger garden without hurting tangled roots?
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Post by lynnee on Apr 9, 2024 8:50:19 GMT -5
What is the safest way to remove tomato (or any plant) from AreoGarden to replant in larger garden without hurting tangled roots? When I transplant anything from the Aerogarden, I take the deck out and lay it on a worktable. Then I pull the plant roots apart gently, using both hands, making sure that I disturb the long central feeder root(s) as little as possible. If the roots don't pull apart easily, I just cut the side roots straight down, to separate the plants. (Don't cut the long central roots.) Then I pull the roots gently apart. Once the plants are separated, I gather each plant's roots together in a bunch in my hand, so that I can pull the plant straight up through the hole in the deck by grasping the basket. I gather the roots as much as possible at the point where they must start up through the deck hole, keeping the long feeder root(s) in the middle. Generally plants will survive the damage that can occur to the outer roots (scraping sound) as the plant is pulled upward by grasping the pod basket. When pulling the plant out, be as gentle as possible, and keep the plant stem and roots as straight as possible. Once you have the plant laid out straight on your worktable, transplant it immediately and water it thoroughly. You can't overwater, because the plants have been growing in water! Then water the heck out of the plant for a few days to ease the transition from water to soil. If I've left the plants a little too long before transplanting, so that the roots won't fit through the deck hole, I trim off the outer roots until the plant and the long central roots will come out. (So far, my transplants that required trimming have all survived.) I leave the plant in the pod basket when transplanting. If your seedlings are young enough, you can remove them from the basket by grasping the stem and pulling the sponge and roots straight up out of the basket. If your seedlings are older, so that the roots are growing thickly out of the sides of the basket, you will have to cut the basket off with a tool that is heavy enough and sharp enough to cut the thick plastic at the top of the basket. You will increase the odds of damaging the plant by doing this.  |
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Post by LoveSalads on Apr 9, 2024 9:02:24 GMT -5
Each plant will present a different challenge but I can give you a generalized go. Get the light/hood out of the way. If height is maxed remove it. Lift the grow deck up and the plant up out of the grow bowl. This will make a watery mess plan accordingly.
Sit the deck on a 5 gallon bucket or a plastic tub or ,lay it down with the plant and straighten the roots out best as possible. Usually the pump filter is with that mess of roots, find it put it off to the side. your roots need to go straight up and down like a pony tail so it can be extracted from your grow deck. Once you get your roots managed, put it back in the grow bowl or some water and move to where you are going to plant it.
Then again straighten your roots out best as possible. Usually saving max 2 feet of roots is good. I try to remove as few roots as possible but some people trim there roots on a regular schedule. Now wiggle turn twist and slowly remove plant from grow deck. Then either cut off grow basket or plant it. I have done it both ways and is easier just leaving it and, at the end of the season when plant is done then toss it or keep it. I am sure there are many other ways and members can add more ways ,tips and tricks.
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Post by joe645 on Apr 11, 2024 15:32:36 GMT -5
Thank you.
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Post by lisatnp on Apr 12, 2024 9:59:16 GMT -5
I am going to have to do this, as i think i bought the wrong kinds of seeds,
my tomato plants are out growing my aergarden- to the tune of about 6" so far above the light  |
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Post by lynnee on Apr 12, 2024 11:56:18 GMT -5
I am going to have to do this, as i think i bought the wrong kinds of seeds,
my tomato plants are out growing my aergarden- to the tune of about 6" so far above the light Determinate tomatoes work best in AGs, and some of those get really big (even "dwarf" varieties). Lots of seed companies don't specify whether tomatoes are determinate or indeterminate, so it's easy to buy the wrong kind of seeds. I have successfully transplanted overlarge tomatoes outdoors, but they take a little time to start blooming again. You may have to do some drastic root trimming alongside the baskets to get them out of the AG.  |
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