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Post by mamasnap on Apr 18, 2020 20:14:27 GMT -5
Hello all, I'm brand new here. So, this is my first Aerogarden experience, and I couldn't decide what to do so I started three plugs of lettuces on the left side and a basil, parsley, and mint on the right side. Now the lettuces are getting super tall and the herbs are tiny. Should I remove the herbs and plant them in soil when they have true leaves? and then start lettuces on the right as well? The lettuces are going to over shadow the herbs and I will have to keep raising the light.
Also, as I start harvesting the left lettuces for salads, how long will one plant keep sending up new leaves to harvest? I mean I could probably make ONE Salad from one of the heads on one day, so I could take them all out in like three days...three big salads. Will new leaves just keep coming up and coming up?
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Apr 19, 2020 0:13:05 GMT -5
If you plant new lettuces on the right, they will be tiny, and the lettuces on the left will overshadow them, too.
My opinion is that it would be best to plant all lettuces or all herbs at the same time in a Harvest, although others may differ. The way it is now, maybe you could give the herbs a few more days, after picking the larger lettuce leaves near them, and see if they start catching up in size.
The best way to harvest lettuce in an Aerogarden is to cut off the large outer leaves for a salad. in a week, the plant will be as big as ever again, then you can harvest the outer leaves again.
The lettuce will regrow several times, but it will start declining and become more bitter after a while. Try 3 or 4 harvests, and see if the plants are still healthy, and if you still enjoy the taste.
I hope that helps. Glad to see you posting!
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,265 
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Post by Shawn on Apr 19, 2020 9:30:21 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum!~
With lettuce I usually only harvest three times then start new. I end them after three harvests as they tend to get bitter and thin after that. Some members will keep harvesting for as long as they grow. So if you want to let the lettuce grow more to get another two harvests out of it the herbs will be fine as they are small and growing.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2020 9:32:56 GMT -5
I will chime in because I never thought there was anyone else who only harvested 2 or 3 times!I do that with my lettuce harvests.
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Post by thegrindre on Apr 19, 2020 19:40:51 GMT -5
If you harvest early it should help 'clear' the light for the smaller plants. You can replant outside if you want too. We've all done it so let the lesson sink in. LOL Don't plant to much and don't plant tall overshadowing small.  Oh yeah, welcome.  |
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Post by mamasnap on Apr 20, 2020 10:45:22 GMT -5
Thank you everyone! I guess once these lettuce harvests are done I will order more lettuce and just plant the whole thing in lettuce. I already have a bunch of herbs for outside so I will just add the aero herbs that are growing to the outside. I really want lots of lettuce! How tall will the lettuce mix get, until the light is all the way up? SHould I wait to start harvesting lettuce till then? It's edible now but not terribly tall. Maybe 6-8 inches tall.
Do you guys trim your lettuce roots at all?
Also I am looking at adding another Aerogarden but maybe try to find one used. I understand there was one model that had unreliable and very loud humming pump. Which one was that so I steer clear?
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,265
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Post by Shawn on Apr 20, 2020 11:03:36 GMT -5
Different varieties of lettuce can grow at different heights. Check the packaging or description for a better idea. I personally harvest my lettuce either at week 3 or 4 depending on what I am growing. I cut straight across and let it grow again. Some will pick off leaves and others do a straight cut. You can view what others do in the Garden Patches. Roots, if they get to be too much and fill the bowl I will trim them. However you do not want to go too crazy with it either. There are tips and hints for lettuce in the Vegetable and Fruits board. I am unsure what machine makes too much noise. I know people say the Sprout does but I never found that an issue for myself when I used it. |
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Post by clumsythumbs on May 8, 2020 9:23:13 GMT -5
I am little late to this thread, so may no longer be relevant, but...
I do not harvest mine a set number of times. I just keep harvesting until I decide it is time to plant a new garden. This is usually when:
- the base gets brown and gross and/or the AG itself is dirty
- the plants get spindly and start to bolt
I usually keep my gardens going for about 75 to 100 days. This is much longer than most people do. I start harvesting around ay 18 to 21 and harvest a little from each pod every few days. Once they are all cut back a bit, I take a 4 or 5 days off and let them get bigger again. Almost inevitably while I am growing a garden I will get super busy with work or leave town and the garden will get overgrown. Then I go to town on harvesting. I find greens to be very resilient and forgiving. I have chopped an entire pod off and it will eventually grow back. I find it is never too soon to harvest, but if you wait too long, it can have a less desirable taste. Also, do not harvest for a few days after you add nutes.'
To your original question, I do find mixing herbs and lettuce is probably not ideal-- diff nutrient needs, growing times, and habits. The lettuce will likely overshadow the herbs, then when the herbs take off they will get taller than your lettuces. Hope this helps!
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