Aerogrow by Miracle Grow

Does anyone use an AeroGrow garden?  

I bought the Classic 6 for my daughter's birthday last year and then was given a Sprout CFL in early summer.  Our first planting in the Classic 6 included spinach and lettuce.  Both did real well but both bolted quickly - probably from the heat in our house.  The Sprout CFL just didn't provide enough light for the plants.  They got leggy and never recovered.  

We did start some tomato and peppers in the Classic 6 and had excellent results.  The tomato plants had real thick stalks. By the time they were about 8 inches tall the stalk was already close to an inch in diameter.  They were so advanced over the tomato plants I bought at the greenhouse.  I'm really thinking about getting tomato seeds started in the Classic 6 pretty early to put in the greenhouse in late winter.

DorothyG wrote:Does anyone use an AeroGrow garden?  

I bought the Classic 6 for my daughter's birthday last year and then was given a Sprout CFL in early summer.  Our first planting in the Classic 6 included spinach and lettuce.  Both did real well but both bolted quickly - probably from the heat in our house.  The Sprout CFL just didn't provide enough light for the plants.  They got leggy and never recovered.  

We did start some tomato and peppers in the Classic 6 and had excellent results.  The tomato plants had real thick stalks. By the time they were about 8 inches tall the stalk was already close to an inch in diameter.  They were so advanced over the tomato plants I bought at the greenhouse.  I'm really thinking about getting tomato seeds started in the Classic 6 pretty early to put in the greenhouse in late winter.

Last Spring I lucked in and got an unused Aerogarden Ultra for $60 Canadian (about $40 USD) at a thrift store. I used the light to start some seeds in 6-packs, etc. I have not yet used it as it is supposed to be used but hope to do so in November. I only have the herb kit at this time.

Sounds good with the tomatoes.

I have a 9 pod Aerogarden that I purchased last year about this time.  It came with pods for herbs which grew very well.  I grew lettuce over the winter.  I have the one that has an LED light and it worked just fine for the lettuce and herbs.  Then I bought one of the Aerogarden seed starting trays but have not used it yet.

Wow trolleydriver the regular price is around around $280!  What a find!   I was pleased with the performance of the Classic 6 but don't have the seed starting tray.  The Sprout has a seed starting tray.  The light on the Classic 6 is incredible.  I cannot say enough about the speed of germination and growth under it.

yolos, I think I will order the seed starting tray for the Classic 6.  Just can't get enough bedding plants when I can only start 6 at a time.

Hey TD, Show some Pictures! What a grand find, I have been thinking of one of those forever.

I've got three used ones that I bought for fair prices (one garage sale, two Craigslist): two 7-pod, one 6-pod. All three use the old U-shaped fluorescent bulbs rather than the new LED hoods. I use one for herbs, and the basil usually takes over because I neglect to trim and pinch like I should. I used the second for a single round of greens, and haven't set up the third yet. I have the tomato pod-set for it, but haven't gotten a roundtuit.

I've decided they are best for fall/winter for me. Aphids come in if I use it during the summer because of where they are vs the doors/windows. And I need to have them done and dry before I get too far with the spring indoor seedlings because of fungus gnats.

I tried the original (styrofoam) seed starting insert with the fluorescent light aerogarden but I wasn't impressed enough to buy a refill of the peat plugs - I can get commercial seed starting mix for much less. But I still use the aerogarden as a growlight for starting seeds. I put small pots/cell-trays on the deck part, rather than using pods.

I hadn't been to their website in some time.  Yesterday I noticed they have a rectangular grow light for starting bedding plants in a flat as well as the flood light type grow lights.  

If I had my way, and I don't, I would have the house full of them with greens and such all winter.
I especially like to grow things in the winter.  

Beetles, if you ever tried the LED ones you would be beside yourself.  The difference is just so amazing.  Hope you can find an LED one for a bargain price!

bigdogrock wrote:Hey TD, Show some Pictures! What a grand find, I have been thinking of one of those forever.

Here it is. I'll show more later once I get something growing in it.

Ok, I got an LED one at a daily-deal site! ALL the pods germinated. However, the Thai basil pod seems to be two Thai basil plants, and one some-other-not-Thai basil.


The dill has been dominant plant this round, because my basil got damaged by thrips. I think they came from the pepper I tried (and failed) to overwinter inside. I tried to plant my 6-pod fluorescent garden with Dolce Vita basil mix seeds. I got germination, but the thrips basically killed all but two plants. One seems fine (lemon or lime basil), as do the Thai basils - but the 'regular basils' are messed up. Damaged plant:


I dipped that^ survivor in rubbing alcohol (close to lights-out time, to reduce photochemical 'burning'), and I think it worked - there are new leaves now, and they look right (i.e. undamaged edges.) I haven't seen any new thrips, but they are extremely tiny, so I can only see them if they are moving. I also dipped the other pods in alcohol, and let them dry, before re-seeding.

My old 7-pod is growing happy lettuces -- and a mizuna from a stowaway seed.
 

Nice Beetles.

Here is what mine looks like.  Mostly herbs except two pods did not germinate. I sowed kale and lettuce in thise two pods.

Those look fun!  Thrips, eh?  You were overwintering something, Beetles?

Scorpio Rising wrote:Those look fun!  Thrips, eh?  You were overwintering something, Beetles?

Aji Dulce pepper in a 7-gallon bucket. It hadn't really fruited much before the season ended so I'd been moving it in and out of the garage before the cold really took hold hoping to get some fruits from it. Then it hung out in the dim of the living room for awhile. I eventually purchased a growlight for it, but it didn't recover. Thrips would explain why (though it had aphids, too...and I think they in turn had itty bitty parasitic wasps...ecosystem in the house ) I'll start this pepper sooner now that I understand it's not the same species as a regular pepper and needs a longer season... it was an impulse seed purchase that I didn't really research.

Crap, I guess I forgot to hit send.  So here goes again.  This is the current state of my Aerogarden.  Lettuce dead as a door nail and dried out.  Things just got in the way this last summer and I did not refill the tank with water when the computer told me to refill it.  It has been sitting in my family room in this shape since the summer.  I guess I need to clean the dead plants out, sterilize the tank and replant.  Ya Think.

Yep.

LOL! 'Fraid so.....