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Post by lizbleu on Mar 1, 2021 23:17:25 GMT -5
Addicts is an apt name for this forum. I am a newbie and I am already up to 3! I also ordered with each system, the seed starting kit. I have 2 Harvest and 1 Farm, so 1 of each. Thankfully! I have a ton of seeds for my native plant wildlife garden that I started working on 2 years ago. The biggest issues are 1) persistent weeds and 2) my pig, who grazes on everything so I had to do a lot of raised beds and targeted areas I could fence off. Long story short, I had gotten a lot of seeds cheaply, to scatter in late Fall thinking I’d have done enough prep by then. Nope! So I ordered the AG grow anything kits and starter systems, again not thinking that I’d have to eliminate my indoor gardens to use them. They’ve been doing so well, I won’t be doing that. So looks like I will be ordering dedicated machines for this purpose and allows me to grow more after they are transplanted. The Harvest is an easy choice but the Farm is another story. I like the height and width of 12XL, my newest one, but wonder if I’d be better off with a different model, in terms of economics. I will have to think about it. Seasons start later here so I have about a month to choose. How have others fared with transplanting things outdoors using the AG system or whatever you use?
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Mar 2, 2021 0:23:43 GMT -5
I used to keep one Harvest, sometimes two, dedicated exclusively to seed starting. I never felt like I could spare my Bountys since I usually have tomatoes and peppers in them.
I like to transplant before the plants get too big for the seed starters. To harden them off, I just set the Harvest bowls on the deck for increasing times each day. Then, after a week, I plant them out.
It is so fast, and I have never lost a seedling.
I do not have a Farm, so can't help you there.
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Post by lizbleu on Mar 2, 2021 1:25:24 GMT -5
Great idea! I never thought about that- switching out my veg garden to a Bounty vs buying another Harvest for the seed starting. Thanks for the tips! I used to keep one Harvest, sometimes two, dedicated exclusively to seed starting. I never felt like I could spare my Bountys since I usually have tomatoes and peppers in them.
I like to transplant before the plants get too big for the seed starters. To harden them off, I just set the Harvest bowls on the deck for increasing times each day. Then, after a week, I plant them out.
It is so fast, and I have never lost a seedling.
I do not have a Farm, so can't help you there.
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gsaxon
AGA Sprout
Outdoor gardener forever, recent Aerogarden addict!
Posts: 225
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Post by gsaxon on Mar 3, 2021 8:58:24 GMT -5
I normally use the Harvest for my vegetables that I start in March. I then leave the plants in the AG until a week before planting and then I also put the entire bowl with the started plants outside to harden them off. I bring the bowl inside at night so they do not get too cold. After a week, I plant them straight into the garden. I have also started the plants earlier and transplanted them to small pots indoors. This process is fine, but you run the chance of bringing bugs into your house when you use soil.
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elainev
AGA Sprout
24 farm xl
Posts: 72
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Post by elainev on Apr 27, 2021 15:20:43 GMT -5
I normally use the Harvest for my vegetables that I start in March. I then leave the plants in the AG until a week before planting and then I also put the entire bowl with the started plants outside to harden them off. I bring the bowl inside at night so they do not get too cold. After a week, I plant them straight into the garden. I have also started the plants earlier and transplanted them to small pots indoors. This process is fine, but you run the chance of bringing bugs into your house when you use soil. I'm glad I found your post, because that's exactly what I intend to do with the farm lx sprout tray. I have EarthBoxes for a garden, so I'm sure the seedling will be taken care of after the hardening process. Thanks for posting. I'm new to the AeroGarden, but have been using EarthBoxes for many years. |
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Post by cloudshaper on Apr 27, 2021 18:30:16 GMT -5
Here's what I do living in Seattle:
I have an Extra and a Sprout, both with the seed starting decks. I started my seeds in the first week of March. Maybe a little early, but I wanted some green in my life!
I pot things out of the AGs as the roots get bigger into 4 inch square peat or cowpots in 1020 trays and keep them under grow lights on a small rack. Some will then get potted on to 1 gallon nursery pots after a few weeks.
When the weather is nice enough, I rotate them outside during sunny afternoons. Some of them I put under covers (really liking the Greenhouse Buckets I picked up this year).
In the next few weeks once the weather generally doesn't go below 50 at night, I'll start to put them in my planters.
Next year my plan is to separate the Extra and Sprout, and begin seeds in the Sprout with no nutes, and move them to the Extra (with nutes) following germination. Hopefully this will help cut down on the algae issues I had this year! I also got 3d printed caps for the seed starter decks off Etsy, and those also helped a lot.
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elainev
AGA Sprout
24 farm xl
Posts: 72
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Post by elainev on Apr 28, 2021 7:29:14 GMT -5
Can you tell me more about what you said: " I also got 3d printed caps for the seed starter decks off Etsy, and those also helped a lot."
I wondered if my farm 24 XL seed starting tray needed anything. I covered it with Saran Wrap for the first two days, then removed it. I put white electrical tape over the cells I didn't plant.
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Apr 28, 2021 7:49:16 GMT -5
elainev, I'm not sure what you are talking about but Aerogarden sells black spacers (hole covers) if all you want to do is cover a hole to block the light out. Amazon also sells them but they are more expensive there.
If you want the hole covers that a plant can grow through, then Etsy is where to find them.
Some of our members may make them too. You could put out a request on the forum and see.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,266 
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Post by Shawn on Apr 28, 2021 9:40:04 GMT -5
I have a few different types here. I have several different plant spacers. As for the labels I use the AG ones, well their original non-sticks but I did purchase a few rubber flexible ones from someone who made them.
I save and reuse the AG labels.
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elainev
AGA Sprout
24 farm xl
Posts: 72
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Post by elainev on Apr 29, 2021 7:47:11 GMT -5
Your tread that ended up talking about covers for the seed starting tray sent me to Etsy and many dollars later, I bought some very neat things:
3 Mason Jar Hydroponic Sleeves (very decorative way to keep light out)
3 Kratky inserts for mason jars that exactly fit Aerogarden grow pods 18 Aerogarden Standard Replacement Pods (supposedly more durable) and come with flexible grow cover/plant surround.
and
23 AeroGarden Seed Starter Tray Covers - Prevent Algae Growth in your Seedling Tray
I'm really enjoying the forum, but I need to stay off Etsy! ha ha
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Post by cloudshaper on Apr 29, 2021 16:30:14 GMT -5
Ha! I'm dangerous!
In regards to 3d printed caps for the seed starting system, I bought plastic covers that fit in the smaller holes of the seed starting deck. The regular covers you can buy from AG are too big for the seed starting tray holes. I'd previously used blue painter's tape, but got tired of how janky it looked!
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airscapes
AGA Bounty
Lettuce eat Cake!
Posts: 642
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Post by airscapes on Apr 29, 2021 17:17:29 GMT -5
Speaking of 3d printing, it is kind of my other hobby.. This is the sponge float box (DIY Biodome) I made. These seeds were all planted 14 days ago, time to transplant the tomato's! Pepper eggplant need more time before moving to dirt, but would be ready to move to an AG unit. The little iceberg lettuce between the toms and pepps is going to move to a Karthy bucket in a couple of hours after I fabricate another one..   |
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