hello, just planted first crop! Hopefully this one works!

[hpartsch]

Hello, I having been reading this website for the last few weeks. More like obsessing. This is facinating stuff, I love to grow but never though i could do it inside so easily and quickly.

Anyways, I have just created my own aerogarden using a small plastic container.  I planted lettuce in it last night, and most of the seeds are germinating already (guessing due to the fact of the liquid nuts, the 3 part ones i forget what they are called from general hydroponics)

I tried to post a picture, however for some reason this site doesnt like my picture, and thats why you guys could not see my first post.

Maybe I will try once i get some real growth again.

Herb

- yes my name is herbert and everyone calls me herb

[bab43]

Hi Herb,

Welcome to forum.  Glad to see your message for real this time. 

Great work building a rig and getting the lettuce to germinate so quickly.  Hoping you will post pictures - the forum instructions for pictures are at "http://www.aerogardengrowers.com/index.php/topic,34.0.html".  If there's a problem posting, just ask and one of the members will help.

Hope to hear more about your garden once it gets going! 

[Melissa in Michigan]

Herb!!!     Your name makes me HAPPY!!! 

How wonderful that you have created your own aerogarden!  I love when people have the ability and ingenuity to create things for themselves!  Good for you!   

It's really nice to have you here with us!   

[Amy185]

Hi Herb!!  Glad your lettuce is already sprouting, thats great!  I'm new to the aerogarden too, however not smart enough to make my own!!  You'll love this site just like I do! 

As for the pictures, I go to  www.tinypic.com and upload the pictures to there, then just copy the link and paste it in my post.  Works every time!  But you have to adjust the size from default to web size or something like that.  Hope that helps!

-Amy

[hpartsch]

Hi Herb!!  Glad your lettuce is already sprouting, thats great!  I'm new to the aerogarden too, however not smart enough to make my own!!  You'll love this site just like I do! 

As for the pictures, I go to  www.tinypic.com and upload the pictures to there, then just copy the link and paste it in my post.  Works every time!  But you have to adjust the size from default to web size or something like that.  Hope that helps!

-Amy

Last night I made a mistake, oh well you live and learn. I added a tiny bit more fertilizer thinking what can it hurt. lol Well it did they are all brown and dead today.

So I started a new batch in a container with a paper towel and am planning on just waiting to fill the actually unit untill I get to school (currently on spring break). It will save me from getting the car all wet since I have to go up, down, and around plenty of mountains.

I will post a new pic with new growth in approx a week.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will give that site a try!

Herb

[bab43]

Sorry to hear the plants didn't survive.     We've all done that and try not to do it again.

Looking forward to seeing the new batch - as you've discovered, they grow quite quickly. 

[Amy185]

That stinks...  Like you said, live and learn!!  I learned the hard way about too much fertilizer as well, but that was with a big patch in my front yard   Never came back the same either. 

Hopefully once your back at school,you'll get it going and grow some great things!! 

-Amy

[hpartsch]

Hi Herb!!  Glad your lettuce is already sprouting, thats great!  I'm new to the aerogarden too, however not smart enough to make my own!!  You'll love this site just like I do! 

As for the pictures, I go to  www.tinypic.com and upload the pictures to there, then just copy the link and paste it in my post.  Works every time!  But you have to adjust the size from default to web size or something like that.  Hope that helps!

-Amy

okay here is my homemade aero garden with the lettuce in it. It is day one, I put seeds in a container with a paper towel, but they grew too fast, so I just started over.

Hopefully you can see the pictures.  I plan on drilling a hole and using a special rubber thing (forget what its called) so the tubes are not hanging out like that, but right now it seems to work.

I also put the aluminum foil on top because I had to spray paint the container black... I could not find any suitable containers.
This will keep all the light out (lets hope), because the black paint doesn't keep that 200w equivalent CFL out by itself.

Thanks the tiny pic worked!

Herb

[bab43]

Thanks for sharing the picture - it will be interesting to see these grow!

Are you using an airstone in the tank?

[hpartsch]

Thanks for sharing the picture - it will be interesting to see these grow!

Are you using an airstone in the tank?

yep, i'm using 2 of the really small ones, but I want to get a bar or circle one, just have not been able to find one at the pet stores around here/walmart. I saw a great one in pittsburgh but assumed I'd be able to get it in my hometown; however, I was wrong.

The pump I got is overkill, I saw an actual aerogarden working and couldn't believe how little bubbles it made. So I will be able to hopefully put those extra 3 air ports to use sometime.

[shane arthur]

You cannot have too much air in a dwc system. It's true AG doesnt put out a lot of air, but in systems i build i try to have at least two air stones in there. the more o2 the better.

[hpartsch]

So here is my lettuce. I just took this picture. The lettuce has doubled in size in the last 1.5 days!



My nutrient level is 720 so really 520 with my water. I'm going to try and get it to 600 in the next few days if I dont see any signs of over fertilization. I've been slowly increasing it and actually its gotten muuuch greener!

Guys thanks, I couldn't have done this without you!

Herb

[bab43]

You're getting excellent results - well done! 

[hpartsch]

So here is my updated pic.

I did harvest a few of the bigger leaves today for a salad (put them on a salad I bought at school, it really didn't amount to anything)

Just wondering if you guys think I should harvest more or wait.

Do you guys think that my plants are spaced too close together? Just curious.

[Jen in Ft Worth]

Herb, The color on those leaves is beautiful!  Nicely done!

[Amy185]

They look great!!  I don't think they are too close together, they aren't any closer than the aerogardens themselves!  I would wait another few days to harvest more, and you'll probably be able to get quite a bit by then.  Your a great gardener there!!  Keep it up!

[hpartsch]

thanks so much, I can't wait to have a salad!

[Lija]

Wow, this is a beautiful salad! Well done!