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Post by clumsythumbs on Feb 27, 2019 13:35:01 GMT -5
This will be the main thread for this garden now. The initial musings on it are under the "First Gardens Up and Running" thread.  Machine: Ultra Seeds: Standard AG 7-pod Herbs Nutes: AG, 8ml
Planted on 1/12/2019: Gen. Basil, Thai Basil, Curly Parsley, Dill, Chives, Mint, Thyme
Update: Parsley and Dill never germinated, removed those pods; Thai Basil is actually Gen. Basil and turned in a Basil cutting into a 3rd basil plant. So, current line-up is Thyme [thriving], Basil (3), Mint [slow starter but taking off now], Chives [surprisingly fast].
Final/current layout:
 Ultra Herb Garden 1:12:2019 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr
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Post by clumsythumbs on Feb 27, 2019 14:05:14 GMT -5
Here are some of the photos I posted along the way: Day 1:  20190112_235151 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190112_235145 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr Day 2, first signs of life:  20190114_221811 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190114_221800 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr Day 9 to 11, grow domes start coming off:  20190121_122715 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190123_120023 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr Day 14, first nutes added (8ml):  20190127_111856 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190127_111905 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr Day 28/29, 2nd nutes (8ml) added and garden looking healthy:  20190211_201731 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190211_201738 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr Day 42 (2/22/19):  20190222_101537 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr |
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Post by clumsythumbs on Feb 27, 2019 14:10:58 GMT -5
Day 45 (2/27/2019): Nutes (8ml) added Sunday. Here is a some photo updates from this morning.  20190227_124351 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190227_124358 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr The mint, basils, and thyme are really filling out. The chives keep growing (literally) like weeds, so been trimming about 2 to 3" off every few days. The basil I harvested a few leaves every few days, but no huge harvest as of yet. But...enough is maturing going to have to use a good amount soon. The thyme is really unruly and fecund, which I love the look of. It is a tangled mess and try to harvest some here and there when I cook, but I do not really use it much, although it compliments some of the soups and things I have been making. The mint I have yet to harvest, but is getting to where I can/should/need to. |
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,265 
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Post by Shawn on Feb 27, 2019 15:25:15 GMT -5
Great progression shots! Your garden looks great!
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Post by clumsythumbs on Mar 1, 2019 22:01:33 GMT -5
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Mar 2, 2019 4:20:42 GMT -5
If you need to trim the plant but do not need to use it, freeze it. This way you are keeping the plant from gettingout of control or going to seed.
I always have fresh herbs in the freezer. I keep all my trimmed (harvested) herbs that I cannot use in freezer safe containers. This way I always have at my fingertips. So I have fresh and freshly frozen for those days my herbs are not ready to pick or they are not growing.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Mar 2, 2019 11:53:51 GMT -5
If you need to trim the plant but do not need to use it, freeze it. This way you are keeping the plant from gettingout of control or going to seed. I always have fresh herbs in the freezer. I keep all my trimmed (harvested) herbs that I cannot use in freezer safe containers. This way I always have at my fingertips. So I have fresh and freshly frozen for those days my herbs are not ready to pick or they are not growing. That is a good tip. I have just been too lazy/stubborn to do it  The mint and thyme will probably need to be frozen some as I can not use it that fast for the next few days. I have had deadline after deadline the last few weeks, so tunnel vision. I have been muddling a few sprigs of mint here and there in tea at night, but the last few days it has really grown, so gotta do a major harvest. After I posted last night, I did harvest some more and used in some cooking I was doing. Happy things are growing strong in the herb garden. I did get my AG replacement pods, but will not plant them yet, as things are already crowded enough! I may hack a bunch of the thyme off and freeze it tonight. |
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ASFx
AGA Sprout
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Post by ASFx on Mar 4, 2019 5:29:03 GMT -5
One thing I like to do with a lot of my extra herbs is tie them up into bundles, then hang them from my kitchen wall upside down. They dry out perfectly like that, then I can just grab a bundle while im cooking, then squeeze it a little bit right over my pot of food to give it a nice sprinkling of the herb. Then I just put it back on the wall when i'm done with it.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,265
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Post by Shawn on Mar 4, 2019 5:46:35 GMT -5
One thing I like to do with a lot of my extra herbs is tie them up into bundles, then hang them from my kitchen wall upside down. They dry out perfectly like that, then I can just gran a bundle while im cooking, then squeeze it a little bit right over my pot of food to give it a nice sprinkling of the herb. Then I just put it back on the wall when i'm done with it.
That is a great idea, however with my layout I do not have a spot to hang them. But maybe when I decide to redo my kitchen.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Mar 4, 2019 11:09:33 GMT -5
One thing I like to do with a lot of my extra herbs is tie them up into bundles, then hang them from my kitchen wall upside down. They dry out perfectly like that, then I can just gran a bundle while im cooking, then squeeze it a little bit right over my pot of food to give it a nice sprinkling of the herb. Then I just put it back on the wall when i'm done with it. That is a great idea, ASFx, thank you! I have not tried this, but heard people do do it. I wound up freezing a good amount of the thyme (although you wouldn't know it by looking at it lol). |
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Post by clumsythumbs on Mar 11, 2019 15:33:11 GMT -5
Day 57: Did a R&R this morning and added nutes (8ml). There were some roots starting to grow into the pump (the pump cover was actually taken up in the roots far from the pump  ). Managed to pull all/most out. Once this garden is done, I will probably have to take the pump apart and make sure there are not remaining. I trimmed back the basil roots some to stay away from the pump. Been harvesting in small, regular amounts, but garden is still quite overgrown, which I a fine with.  20190311_161245 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr The basil is look a bit yellowish and discolored. Not sure what this could mean. Underfed/nute deficiency? If anyone has ideas, I am all ears  .  20190311_160230 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190311_160235 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
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Post by MaryL on Mar 12, 2019 17:10:34 GMT -5
I get that a lot and am unsure why.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Mar 24, 2019 14:30:14 GMT -5
Day ~64: 20190311_161245 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr Snipping off the growing buds/flowers on the Basil seemed to have kept them at bay (for now), but it is not really growing much new leaves. I trimmed the mint last weekend and grew back pretty significantly. I continue to harvest a bit of chives every few days and add the thyme to all my dishes. Looking pretty unruly, but I don't mind. |
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Mar 25, 2019 3:19:58 GMT -5
You sure are getting lots of herbs.
The fun part about these is that if you ever want to start anew, you can. Or you keep them going and going  |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
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Post by MaryL on Apr 8, 2019 14:33:39 GMT -5
If you’re getting flowers on the basil it has likely turned bitter by now. If it does taste bitter to you then you’re better off pulling it and starting a new seed/sponge in another machine, or in a shot glass.
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Post by clumsythumbs on May 20, 2019 11:06:35 GMT -5
So this is a long over-due update. I terminated this herb garden back in April (cannot recall exactly when, but 4/17 is a good approximation). I need space for the Sweet Bell/Poblano Garden. At the end I had several herb plants still going: Genovese Basil (x3) Thyme Mint Chives I moved the Chives to the Salad garden, Transplanted each of the other to a pot with soil... The thyme lasted for maybe a week, but the roots never really took in the soil and wound up just drying up (I salvaged some for dried herbs). One of the more fragile basils (the one that started from a cutting) wilted and died after one day. But the mint and two other basils took to soil well and are quite strong and thriving!  20190520_114501 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190520_114448 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20190520_114444 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr Up until this past weekend, I had the two plant wedged between the wall of my kitchen the AG Bounty Salad garden to get the lights. I was really wary that any of this would take and be successful, but they are still going strong. The weather in Central New York has gotten warm enough and the sun comes out enough (some days) that I moved them to my balcony. I have been moving them around to get the light and moving them back when it rains and when it gets windy (both of which happen nearly every day). Since moving outside they (especially the Basil) are looking healthier. I was watering them about once a week or when they looked dry with some AG nutes diluted into a gallon of water (this is what is recommended on the bottles). Given herbs do not need a ton of nutes, this has worked. And I believe the soil I used had some pellets in it. The Basil keeps bolting, but I am trimming off the flowers and while the taste is not the best, it works well for cooking (I don't mind when basil gets real anise-y tasting, I actually love that astringent bite on the tongue). Overall, I loved my first AG garden and I loved that it was herbs. I loved having something fresh and green in Winter, although I am always so busy Jan through May, I did not cook enough to maximize what I had. The primary herbs I use are basil, cilantro, and parsley...so if/when I do another herb garden I want it to be those. I am doing some traveling mid-summer so my plans for now it just to tend to the three gardens I have going. |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on May 20, 2019 12:26:29 GMT -5
Well they look wonderful. Will you be harvesting any freezing it? Especially if you can not use it all?
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Post by clumsythumbs on May 20, 2019 12:30:25 GMT -5
Well they look wonderful. Will you be harvesting any freezing it? Especially if you can not use it all? Thanks Shawn! As of yet, I am not sure. I have just been harvesting. I tried to freeze (in various ways) and it never worked well for me. I tried containers as you and others have suggested, and it just came out...weird. I tried freezing in ice cube trays...and I did not like the mealy consistency. I have just been harvesting, and when leaves get too big or start to brown remove and let baby's grow. Now that the weather is getting warmer and I have more time, I will cook more and use more in cooking. I have been using the mint a lot in tea and give to some of my more boozy friends to muddle in cocktails. |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on May 20, 2019 13:02:14 GMT -5
My daughter tried and hers got mealy and mushy. They found out their freezer was not at the correct temp. Once fixed that solved her issue. Not saying yours has a problem just what she found.
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). Managed to pull all/most out. Once this garden is done, I will probably have to take the pump apart and make sure there are not remaining. I trimmed back the basil roots some to stay away from the pump. Been harvesting in small, regular amounts, but garden is still quite overgrown, which I a fine with. 
