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Post by tonydedo on Jul 14, 2020 23:37:30 GMT -5
 My first AeroGarden experience has been an interesting one. I ordered a Bounty Classic earlier in the year, and after a long wait it finally arrive... defective. About five minutes into the setup process the touchscreen went blank, and it hasn't worked since. I'm now realizing the Classic was discontinued and upgraded last year, so I'm unsure why they were still available for sale (they're no longer listed on the website). Perhaps I received a refurbished model that wasn't quite refurbished enough. Anyway, the touchscreen was broken but apparently I got far enough through the setup process that the lights and pump were programmed. I reached out to AeroGarden customer service and received no reply, so I figured "why not" and planted the garden anyway. Two months later, I think it's looking alright for a broken garden:  Left to right: sweet bell pepper, poblano pepper, mega cherry tomato Eventually I heard from AeroGarden and they promised to ship me a replacement, but I still haven't received a shipping notice so I'm not holding my breath. But in spite the issues I definitely have the AeroGarden bug! |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jul 15, 2020 5:07:39 GMT -5
Give AG another call or email to ask about the shipment. They do make good on their products. As for your garden, it looks good. These are addicting hence why I named the forum as I did  Keep up posted on the replacement and your garden. |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Jul 15, 2020 6:41:01 GMT -5
tonydedo, I see those beautiful baby peppers!
It appears that you made the best of a disappointing situation without letting it discourage you!
Before COVID, Aerogarden's customer service was second to none. Now many employees are working from home and things have slowed down. Hopefully your replacement will be shipped soon.
I have two of that model Bounty and love them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2020 8:47:15 GMT -5
That is well over a hundred bucks or 2 of merchandise..I would call them again as well as a following email.
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Post by tonydedo on Jul 16, 2020 17:52:48 GMT -5
Hah! It was two Bounty Elite gardens, so we're talking a lot more than a couple hundred bucks, but it's only money. I'm trying to be patient and understanding - these are unprecedented times and all - but it is frustrating to see new orders being fulfilled while my order from April is still unresolved and they take three weeks to respond to an email.  Fortunately I found some AeroGardens on the second hand market which I'm able to play with until my new Bounty gardens arrives. |
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Post by tonydedo on Jul 22, 2020 20:06:18 GMT -5
Day 70. The replacement AeroGardens finally arrived - it only took 12 weeks! I'm supposed to cut the power cord and trash the defective model, but these guys are a little too big to transplant so I'm going to wait until I harvest. Unfortunately the bell pepper plant doesn't seem to have pollinated well - the deck is littered with dropped flowers and undeveloped fruit, and there are only 2 fruit and 3-4 flowers growing. I'm surprised because the poblano peppers seem to be flourishing and the tomato is doing okay. I used the AeroGarden "bee" and had a fan running on the plants when I was away. I wonder if there was an issue with airflow that pollinated the poblano but missed the bell pepper. Any thoughts or recommendations at this point?  |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jul 22, 2020 21:57:14 GMT -5
tonydedo, Khang Starr is a pepper genius. He has a superb video on why peppers drop flowers.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2020 7:35:02 GMT -5
Thanks for this video. I really enjoyed this guy's tutorial.
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Post by tonydedo on Jul 26, 2020 21:58:12 GMT -5
Interesting video, although it didn't really give any definitive answers. I guess it comes down to reading your plants, and I just don't speak the language yet. But I learned French once just to impress a girl, so eventually I'll figure this out too. For now I'm going to chalk it up to poor pollination, and I'll just have to be more diligent with the pollinator. Meanwhile, look at those poblanos! I'm having dreams of chili rellenos.  |
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Jul 27, 2020 4:12:56 GMT -5
Looks nice. Also I have found not every plant performs like you would think. I have had plants with tons of fruits and then there have been some with just a few. DO not let it deter you. Remember you can garden and try new things, end thing and restart all year long |
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Post by tonydedo on Aug 3, 2020 8:08:36 GMT -5
Back in March a good friend who is a therapist recommended gardening as something relaxing to help during stressful or frustrating times. She failed to mention how stressful and frustrating gardening could be. Or maybe it's just me. I had two good flowers left on my first pepper plant, the one that dropped all its buds and has refused to produce any fruit. I've been diligently watching those two flowers, running a fan on them during the day and pollinating by hand with the bee every other day. I pruned back the neighboring plant to make sure it got a little more light. Water level is good, nutrient level is good, everything else about the plant looks excellent. I was stoked when I saw fruit start to develop. Then I come in this morning to find this:    |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Aug 3, 2020 8:40:02 GMT -5
tonydedo, it probably needs potassium. I use a little Dyna Grow Bloom. @cornne uses a pinch of dry Miracle Grow Bloom (much cheaper) to induce more and healthier blooms. A couple of ml of CalMag or Mooch would probably help. Peppers seem to need it.
Aerogardening can get expensive.
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Post by tonydedo on Aug 3, 2020 11:08:55 GMT -5
I added 4ml of CalMag on Wednesday, along with 4ml of nutrients. Maybe it was too little, too late. I considered adding more, but EC was 2.3, pH was 7.0; I didn't want to saturate it or drive the pH up.
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Aug 3, 2020 11:56:14 GMT -5
Make sure the water is not too hot. How much nutes are you giving it? When did you do an R&R last? Is there enough air cirulation?
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Aug 3, 2020 14:41:29 GMT -5
tonydedo , I almost killed my peppers with water that was too warm from the pump running constantly. I even started to get root rot.
I had to adjust my pump to run 5 on, 25 off, like the Harvests. That cooled the water down and the peppers took off. They didn't mind the pump cycle being reduced at all.
I just thought of that when Shawn asked about water temperature.
How do your roots look?
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Post by tonydedo on Aug 3, 2020 23:17:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback, folks!
Let's see:
I've been giving them 12ml of AG nutrients every 2 weeks, although I reduced it to 8ml of nutrients and 4ml of CalMag the last two feedings. EC tends to be around 1.5 before feeding, 2.3 after feeding. pH has ranged from 6.5-7.0.
When measured, water temperature always reflects room temperature, usually 69-72, although it may get hotter at night when the AC is off (room can get up in the high 70s at night). I reduced the pump a bit to see if that changes anything.
Roots look good.
I haven't done an R&R because the roots look clean and I add water so often (1L every 2-3 days) that there didn't seem to be a need.
What I find most unusual is that the poblano pepper in the middle of the garden has a ton of fruit on it, whereas the bell pepper next to it is barren. I'd think if it were an environmental condition, it would affect both plants. And both plants look super healthy. I'm beginning to wonder if it's just a bad plant...
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Aug 4, 2020 3:45:51 GMT -5
There are some plants that just do not bare a lot of fruit. I have grown (although not as many as some) lots of peppers and some Iget a great amount while others I only get a few. I can not remember if I get more hot or sweet.
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Aug 4, 2020 9:41:14 GMT -5
I see that in my outdoor peppers. The jalapenos produce like crazy. The bells are producing a few.
The Sweet Heat peppers I grew in an Aerogarden were very prolific. The baby bells I grew in Kratky produced 5 or 6 per plant.
I grew tabasco peppers outdoors one year and it is the heaviest bearing pepper I have ever grown.
So if they are healthy plants, it is probably just the type of pepper affecting the amount of fruit set.
Just my guess, as always!
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