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Post by clumsythumbs on Dec 2, 2020 10:35:51 GMT -5
Machine: Harvest Planted: 11/30/2020 Sponges: Park Seeds Seeds: Mostly Park's; 4 to 6 seeds per pod [So tiny sometimes more fall in, but shoot for 4 per pod] Varieties: Park Sandy Lettuce, Little Gems, Mini Greens, Arugula, and Spinach; and a BI Mesclun (thanks again to Shawn for sharing with me). This is the second of my 2 current lettuce gardens. This one I am keeping on my counter top. As I mentioned last week, I have been less than enthralled with the Harvests-- between the algae and the space-- but it grows good herbs and compact lettuces. I also love that it takes up way less space. Will post updates once things get going!  20201202_102845 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr  20201202_102854 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr |
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Post by clumsythumbs on Dec 8, 2020 13:58:59 GMT -5
Day 7:
Only the Arugula seems to have germinated. I looked in the pods and most of the rest are slowly opening seeds...so looks like will happen. I am noticing small amounts of green algae on the cage. Following advice of others, I did not put nutes in water. I NEVER hear it come on/bubble the water. I really am coming to dislike the Harvests...at least the low-end one. I do not see any green on any pods, so will just wait and be vigilant.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Dec 14, 2020 12:55:53 GMT -5
Day 14~
So the arugula that had started growing was looking a little discolored, so finally added nutrients (it was due today anyhow). Still nothing else has germinated. I can see many of them starting down in the pods, so I sliced open the sponges to let them come out....we will see. These are the same seeds I use in other machines, so again this seems to be a Harvest issue. If my partner does not object (since he bought them for us), I may try to sell these and use the money to buy a new Bounty. I know others have been successful with Harvests, but I have terrible success with them.
I have also decided I think the Park's sponges are too wide for lettuce seeds. They made the holes bigger starting earlier this year, and the seeds just go all the way to the bottom. I replanted some seeds with the new Leaf and Urban sponges. These have a divot for small seeds and a groove to open larger for bigger seeds. Will see if these work better with lettuce. Again, I have very few problems using Park Seeds and sponges on my other gardens, not sure why the Harvests give me such issues.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Dec 21, 2020 10:35:27 GMT -5
So... 3 weeks in not a single thing other than the Arugula has germinated. All the pods are covered in Algae and gross and falling apart. Additionally, there are bugs on the underside of the Arugula. I had brought in some of my remaining greens and herbs from outside and are getting some sun from the backdoor, I suspect some of the dirt was carrying critters. The other Harvest unit in the basement is doing fine. Will terminate this, sanitize, and perhaps restart. I reached out to AG customer service saying I have 5 machines and never have had an issue except with this one. And the other Harvest stuff seems fine, so there must be a defect with this one. I doubt they will do anything, but it is still under the warranty. I have never been able to really grow a single thing in this machine except Basil and Dill (which I transplanted after a few weeks). I am going to see if it does better in the basement (as opposed to the kitchen). If this last attempt is a dud, and AG does not give me a remedy, I may try to sell somewhere and use the money toward a new (different) machine. I am more than a little peeved I have now gone through 10 sponges on this project with nothing to show for it.  I cannot explain why this machine is a menace but the other Harvest that was bout at the same time and same place has not had the issue. My only guess is something with the pump...but even that I am not sure. |
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Dec 21, 2020 10:52:51 GMT -5
If you press/touch the green leaf/nutrients button, do you hear the pump running?
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Post by clumsythumbs on Dec 21, 2020 17:17:40 GMT -5
If you press/touch the green leaf/nutrients button, do you hear the pump running? It runs, but very faintly... like a trickle. Every garden I have planted in this unit has been overrun with algae and barely every germinated. I had a thai basil that I transplanted after it was about 1 month old; and a dill that shot up and then died. Every other thing has either not germinated or died once a seed sprouted. In my other identical Harvest (which has been used less times) it has always been fine. I currently have 2 turnips, 2 beets, and 2 gilfeathers that all sprouted within 2 or 3 days...no algae. |
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Dec 21, 2020 18:05:22 GMT -5
It runs, but very faintly... like a trickle. Every garden I have planted in this unit has been overrun with algae and barely every germinated. I had a thai basil that I transplanted after it was about 1 month old; and a dill that shot up and then died. Every other thing has either not germinated or died once a seed sprouted. In my other identical Harvest (which has been used less times) it has always been fine. I currently have 2 turnips, 2 beets, and 2 gilfeathers that all sprouted within 2 or 3 days...no algae. The pump itself has a dial (on the front, so behind the piece of foam) for the "strength" of the pump - I believe the default is 2. It might be worth checking that to see what it is set to, since I had a problem before with my Harvest and it was because the dial was turned down. It might not fix your issue but it is at least worth a try  Also, when you clean out this Harvest, do you separate the two pieces of the deck and clean out the water channels in there? Those tend to be the dirtiest part of the Harvest when I clean mine out. |
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Post by clumsythumbs on Dec 22, 2020 10:51:07 GMT -5
It runs, but very faintly... like a trickle. Every garden I have planted in this unit has been overrun with algae and barely every germinated. I had a thai basil that I transplanted after it was about 1 month old; and a dill that shot up and then died. Every other thing has either not germinated or died once a seed sprouted. In my other identical Harvest (which has been used less times) it has always been fine. I currently have 2 turnips, 2 beets, and 2 gilfeathers that all sprouted within 2 or 3 days...no algae. The pump itself has a dial (on the front, so behind the piece of foam) for the "strength" of the pump - I believe the default is 2. It might be worth checking that to see what it is set to, since I had a problem before with my Harvest and it was because the dial was turned down. It might not fix your issue but it is at least wo rth a try  Also, when you clean out this Harvest, do you separate the two pieces of the deck and clean out the water channels in there? Those tend to be the dirtiest part of the Harvest when I clean mine out. Yeah...I have tried to play with the pump dial. This is where I noticed the strength was substantially different than my other harvest. And I do separate all the parts and sanitize. It is is a mystery why this one does not grow anything. |
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