Paulette's AG7 Cherry Tomatoes

[Moontiger]

I just joined the forum a few days ago, but I've been following it (lurking) for a couple months now, so we'll see how it goes.

Background -- I started with an AG3 that came with the salad greens.  When those quit producing, I planted my own cherry tomato seeds in 2 of the pods and kept one lettuce pod going.  Then 7 days later, I started the 3rd pod with cherry tomato seed.  I had already posted some pics (very bad ones) in the General Discussion section.

This morning I moved my pods from the AG3 to the AG7 I just got.  They went into shock, totally laid over on their sides.  But 2 hours later they were standing tall again (whew!!).

Please be kind about the pictures -- I'm in the learning stage as far as getting the light right goes.  These are much better than the ones I posted yesterday though.

The plants at the back are the same age, but the one on the right seems to be just a tad bigger.  The one at the center front is the youngest at 3 days old; it still has 2 seedlings in it because I haven't decided which one to pull out yet, and will probably go in my dirt container anyway.



This pic is the one at the back right.  It really looks great.


This is the baby at only 3 days old.


This is the plant at the back left, 10 days old - not quite as big as the other 10-day old plant, but still looks really healthy.


By the way, these pods are the ones from Aerofalls -- they stick up higher than the AG ones do, but they fit the Classic perfectly (he makes them from PVC).

Wish me luck!

[Ellen]

Your pictures look great Paulette! Looks like you're off to a great start.   

My only question is about the Aerofalls sponges. Corrine also ordered some of those and has had major problems with algae growth. What you've posted look nothing like hers. I wonder if he has changed something.

http://www.aerogardengrowers.com/index.php/topic,1923.20.html

[Moontiger]

The sponges I got look almost like the AG, slightly lighter gray color.  And not as tight-fitting; it was too loose and my plants wanted to fall out.  So I improvised by tearing another sponge in half and sticking it next to the one I used.  That's why my plants aren't centered in the pod.

I'm also using the home-made labels that someone was kind enough to post in this forum.  I just printed them on one of my label sheets, then cut them out.

I started them in my AG3 and had the algae problem with the AG sponges.  I think it was because I didn't have labels on them.  As soon as I covered the pods with labels, the algae problem went away.  I know I used to get algae in my aquarium when my light needed to be replaced.

Thanks for the heads-up; I'll definitely keep my eye on it.  I don't want algae killing my plants.

[callisto9]

Plants are so cute when they're young. I'm looking forward to see your tomatoes progress.

[Moontiger]

Here's an update on my cherry tomatoes:

The two back plants are now 2 wks old; the center front one is 1 wk old.  All three are still doing great.  I have been carefully watching the Aerofalls sponges, but there have been no signs of algae so far (some others had that problem).

The right back plant has nearly doubled in size in the last 3 or 4 days.  Here are some updated pics (I really need a better camera, LOL).  I took them 2 days ago, and I placed a C cell battery in the pictures for scale.

This plant is at the right on the back row and is the largest at 14 days old.


This plant is at the left on the back row, also 14 days old and not quite as tall as the other plant.


And here's the baby at 7 days old.  Sorry for the weird purple tones.


I'm really pleased with the progress so far.  The plants are really growing now, and they look really healthy.

[bab43]

Your tomatoes are looking very good Paulette.  They certainly have recovered from the move and are a good size and colour.  I expect they're happy in their permanent home.  Yours have a different number of leaves on each branch it looks like, three rather than five, so they're different from the AG cherry tomatoes.

Mine are three weeks ahead of yours and the first flower buds just appeared.  It's very exciting but also nerve-wracking.  I've never watched tomatoes grow, let alone grow them myself.

I'm interested in your pod holders.  I received a Master Gardener kit for my birthday and looking at the pod holders they seem a bit flimsy.  Are the aerofalls ones fairly sturdy?

[Ellen]

What nice looking plants Paulette! You are doing a great job with these!   

[Moontiger]

Bab43, the pod holders from Aerofalls are very sturdy, virtually indestructible, and made out of PVC.  You can order those without the sponges if you want and just use your preferred planting medium. Just go to the Aerofalls store on eBay.  If I remember correctly, shipping is free at his eBay store.

As far as tomatoes go, I've grown cherry tomatoes in pots indoors many times.  I don't get any direct sunlight on my apartment balcony - maybe 1 hr a day in mid-summer, so that's why I gave up on trying to grow them outside on the balcony.  Tomatoes need lots of light; that's why I'm hoping this will work in the AG.  I plan to do severe pruning to keep them from getting too tall.

My cherry tomatoes are seeds I had left over from last year.  They are the Burpee Extra-Prolific Cherry.  They are the indeterminate hybrid variety, extremely delicious, although they don't get very big (usually about 1" - 1.5" in diameter).  They remind me of a miniature version of those expensive "stem" tomatoes you see at the grocery store.

Ellen - thanks!  They recovered from being moved to the classic from the AG3, thank goodness.

[bab43]

Thanks Paulette.  I still have the ebay page open and he does offer free shipping to Canada as well, which is great.

I'm looking forward to seeing how your tomatoes turn out.  It will be interesting to see how they grow in comparison to the AG ones.

[Moontiger]

And I forgot to mention what I'm doing for the ferts.  To be honest, I have only used a general off-the-shelf fertilizer for years with great success.  I don't really remember the brand, but I know it's not Miracle Gro.  It might be Schultz, not sure.  It's granules that you mix with water.  I have it in a plastic bag labeled "one tsp per gal for monthly feeding or 1/4 tsp per gal for continuous feeding."

Anyway, when I got my first AG (3), I started out with the AG tablets, but didn't like the fact that they never really totally dissolved.  So I mixed up my own with my generic baggie of goodies, LOL.  And my salad greens grew like the dickens.  I tend to use the formula for continual feeding on most of my container plants.

I have ordered the Ultra Grow liquid nutrients to try, but so far my generic nutes have worked just fine.  And I'm using regular municipal tap water.

[bab43]

That's good to know.  I'm afraid to try the tap water again although I'm fairly certain the problem with my first garden was nutrient burn.

You'll get your fourth AG before I get mine.  I might hold off till the fall, but I confirmed it with my husband today that I will be getting another one.  (I didn't ask whether he thinks it would be a good idea...)  I was going to go by Canadian Tire to see if they have any sales on, but didn't get there.

[Moontiger]

It looks like I'm going to have to raise the lamp.  I started them at the 2nd notch, because the 1st notch is so hard to move.

My tallest tomato plant is about 1.5" from the bulb.  They are growing so fast, I'll probably have to do the 1st pruning before the 4-week point, too.

Since these are different from the AG seeds, I really don't know how tall they'll get in the AG, but they got really tall in my container pot last year, so I'm sure I'll have to be really aggressive with the pruning to keep them manageable.

They will be 3 wks old tomorrow (except the front one is 2 wks old now).  I'll post some pics later (I'm on my lunch break right now) and use the same C battery for scale.  They've more than doubled in height from one week ago, and they still look great.   

Edited to add pictures:

My AGClassic with 3 cherry tomato plants, 3 wks old, front one is 2 wks old.


Plant at back right - in 1 week it has more than doubled in height.


Plant at back left - although not as large as the other plant, it's also doubled its height in a week


The 2-wk-old plant in the center -- also grown tremendously.

[bab43]

Have they ever grown in a week - WOW!

I find my classic arm a bit difficult too compared to the others.

Keep up the good work. 

[Moontiger]

Thanks, Marianne!

I received my universal trellis system and installed it today as well.  It's basically 4 badge holders with velcro and sticky velcro pads.  I installed them on the outside of the back of the hood since I was afraid the heat from the bulbs might melt the velcro adhesive.  Hope it works!

Also got the liquid Ultra Grow I ordered, so I am going to switch to that the next time I empty and refill the basin.

[bab43]

I also got a universal trellis for my Classic but haven't installed it yet because I'm just growing salad in there at the moment.  I'll be interested in how it works for you.  I did wonder where to install it - back or under the hood, I hadn't decided yet.  The back sounds good.

[shane arthur]

the trellis is supposed to go on the back side on the flat edge. i lined mine up with that edge and put the velcro there. then i used badge reels that were colored instead of the AG default ones.

Im charging my camera battery or id show you a pic.

[bab43]

I took a look at the hood and see where it would go.  Thanks Shane!

[Moontiger]

Thanks, Shane -- I figured that was the only logical place for me to put it.  It's reassuring to know that I guessed correctly. 

[Moontiger]

I swear, my tomato plant at the back right looks like it's grown another inch overnight.  I just raised the hood a notch yesterday, and now it looks closer to the light than it did then.

I might have to prune before the 4-week point.

[bab43]

I top-pruned the first one at three weeks.  The other two were also done before the four-week mark.  This was based on the five branches being there and the fact that others had done so as well - lol.

An inch overnight is a lot