Hello! New Gardener with various questions to get me started

resika
AGA Sprout

Posts: 1

Hello! New Gardener with various questions to get me started Sept 16, 2021 20:30:47 GMT -5 lynnee likes this

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Post by resika on Sept 16, 2021 20:30:47 GMT -5

Hey guys, call me Resika!

I've had a Space Saver 6 pod model (2013ish? around then, it's old), and I used it a bit YEARS ago to grow a bunch of basil. It fell into disuse when I moved out of my parents' place into my own apartment, but I recently retrieved it and want to start planting some kitchen garden items. One of my roommates is a hobby chef/cook and loves to uses various spices and herbs (paprika, garlic, cumin, basil, onion, you name it).

However, I don't have a lot of room/space to use, and I only have 18 inches from countertop to the bottom of the cabinets, which might prevent me from growing certain herbs (which is the main thing I want to grow) because of their growing heights. I haven't been able to find any sort of table or listing that states the growing heights of the various herbs and/or how fast they grow. I also have a cat, so I need to keep in mind what is safe to grow on the counter.

Another thing to keep in mind is that I don't know if the current bulbs/seed pods I can buy are still compatible with my old model; buying a new one is not off the table, I just need to know what kind of heights I'm looking at for herbs so I know if they will be okay to grow sub 18 inches. Right now, on the second-lowest lamp height (the first click up after the lowest), the lamp touches the bottoms of my cabinets (granted the lamp area on this model is HUGE compared to the new ones).

I do have one surface I could put the AG, on top of a dresser we use for storage on one side of our tiny kitchen, which is high up enough the cat can't get to it and height wouldn't matter for the lamp/plants.

Can anyone provide some feedback on the herb heights, or any other plant heights that might be fun to grow? I love the little grape tomatoes I buy in the store, but those are not included in the seedkits (just cherry, which I'm not as fond of), and I'd love to have carrots, and maybe even greenbeans or french greenbeans (which might also require a trellis? I'd need tips on that too). I'm aware that only mini/midget sizes work well in the AG due to size and weight of the fruits/veggies, but I don't really know how to start looking for them as far as ordering my own seeds to use in a GrowAnything kit, I'm totally new to this.

I do not have the option of starting seeds and moving to an outdoor garden (underground). There is a possibility that we could get a large AG for our back patio if this takes off well and we need/want to grow something that needs that kind of space (not sure now the natural light vs the grow light would work but that's a question for later I guess).

Any tips and help is appreciated!

Stuff I like to eat:
Strawberries, carrots, broccoli, peas/snap peas, greenbeans, grape tomatoes, sweet peppers (my roommate likes to cook with them), garlic
Basil, dill, thyme, mint were herbs of interest to grow from my roommate, although if there are any others that can grow that aren't in the usual AG list on their site I'd love to hear it!

Shawn
Administrator

Posts: 16,266

Hello! New Gardener with various questions to get me started Sept 17, 2021 5:32:23 GMT -5 lynnee likes this

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Post by Shawn on Sept 17, 2021 5:32:23 GMT -5

First let me welcome you to the forum. There are several options you have for growing. Well I don't have a particular list of heights almost any herb can be grown in a unit that has a 12-in height space. I actually grow all my herbs within that height space. I know you said your unit has an 18 inch and I believe you can still purchase the bulbs from arrow Garden for your unit. As for other items there are always flowers, I have grown beans peas in a harvest as well as some tomatoes. I personally purchase all my seeds from other vendors.

At this current time I'm not on my computer so when I get on to it later I can add more to your post. In the meantime I'm sure others can give you some ideas as well.

~ Shawn

campingcorgis
AGA Farmer

🌴 I wet my plants. :-) 🌴

Posts: 3,114

Hello! New Gardener with various questions to get me started Sept 17, 2021 11:09:14 GMT -5 lynnee likes this

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Post by campingcorgis on Sept 17, 2021 11:09:14 GMT -5

Hi resika! Welcome to AGA. You've come to the right place to start your search!

First, let me say, I hope you won't take this in the wrong way! I do mean it to be helpful. I feel like your questions are too big, too board. I feel like you need to narrow it down somewhat with regard to what you want to grow and then ask more specific questions. If you know what I mean?

It seems like you've got options for placement of the garden. Counter or dresser, so, I wouldn't fret the height limitations of the counter...just the unit itself.

If you take a look through the various Forum Boards in the Plant Categories and then maybe again in the Gardeners Retreat, you might find that some strike your fancy or your needs more than others. Or the pictures in the Members' Gardens might lead you in one direction or another. Focus on what you like and what you might use, but keep in mind that some things are easier than others. Do you want a garden that is producing in a few days or are you willing to wait for some months for the fruits or your labor to start paying off? And, then, do you want something that will keep giving or something that is more one harvest and end it?

All that said, herbs are super fun to have fresh and ready, right there in the kitchen. And, since most of them are used in small amounts, the garden will be useful and productive for quite some time. And they certainly have a lot more flavor than the store bought stuff. And herbs tend to be easier, I think. They sprout quickly and start to be useful quicker too. Maybe that's an easy way to get back into hydroponic gardening?

Let us know your thoughts, please?   d565

Just Creepin' it real

Somewhere in the PNW

airscapes
AGA Bounty

Lettuce eat Cake!

Posts: 642

Hello! New Gardener with various questions to get me started Sept 17, 2021 14:47:58 GMT -5 lynnee likes this

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Post by airscapes on Sept 17, 2021 14:47:58 GMT -5

Will comment on the outdoor question. Plants that need full sun, prefer the real thing. The issue with AG and sun is that any light that gets into the unit can cause algae to grow.. So if you plan to have the unit in the sun you need to over all openings where sunlight can get in. This is a problem with the light, never mind the sun.. but much worse with sun and I assume outdoors where there will be many more spores of all types in the air. The other issue is your roots need to stay cool, so if the unit is cooking in the sun, the water is going to get very hot.. not a good thing at all. It is not impossible by any means, but AG are really meant to be inside where the temp can be controlled.

Shawn
Administrator

Posts: 16,266

Hello! New Gardener with various questions to get me started Sept 17, 2021 15:15:51 GMT -5 Sher, campingcorgis, and 1 more like this

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Post by Shawn on Sept 17, 2021 15:15:51 GMT -5

We kind of have the algae situation under control which is also listed in another thread. Once the leaves and foliage start to cover up the deck the algae issue seems to back away.

I always had my harvest in the kitchen on the counter growing herbs and I never had an issue and it could get hot in there. However I would also put ice cubes in the water if it would warm up. There are several ways around that as well. You can always shut the lights off earlier raise the hood or add ice. I know they say less light is slower growing but on many of my machines from the harvest to the farms I have shut the lights off earlier then they should and my plants still grow great.

I will say that I don't grow anything outside because I have a black thumb there LOL well I may transplant flowers or a plant here or there are that is not the same as growing them outside. At least in my opinion.

Last Edit: Sept 17, 2021 15:17:34 GMT -5 by Shawn

~ Shawn