Just curious. I do not have the time or patience for outdoor gardening.
I assume this is what you are talking about?
http://www.aerogarden.com/aerogardens-cat-index
What ever you grow it takes patience.
But, it looks interesting.
I don't think you should grow your own.
I have always wanted to try one of those. Last year I took a long 16" wide strip of garden behind my swimming pool, amended the soil and put in a lattice of drip irrigation, then covered with weed cloth and a couple inches of red mulch. I have had very good luck growing tomatoes, squash, and sugar-snaps this year.
Now that it is hotter than mercury, my production has fallen off and the idea of an indoor alternative sounds good. The problem is that this Aero is too small. I've seen them at Brookstone, and Sears. They would only be good for a small harvest of herbs or other items.
Go see Enid at Urban Gardens at 15th & Gary. They've got hydroponics and air garden supplies. She's a wealth of knowledge and an occasional TNF poster as well.
Buy local.
At first I thought they seemed a little expensive but then I thought about how much I spend on raising my potted garden.
By the way if anyone's wondering where my silver thyme is, a damned squirrel ran off with it. He rests his oversized squirrel package on the deck railing and steals herbs. If my youngest dog was 100% healed she'd've ended him.
Anyway, I'm interested to know how the aerogarden works out if you get one.
We built raised garden beds this year with drip irrigation. Even with the heat we are seeing fruit, just reduced.
Quote from: rdj on August 01, 2011, 09:26:50 AM
We built raised garden beds this year with drip irrigation. Even with the heat we are seeing fruit, just reduced.
Yeah, same here. Really surprised at that. Usually this heat kills the pollen. Production on my Cherokee Purples and Black Krim is diminished, but they are still setting fruit, I just have to hit them with more mist and drip.
I even have some Early Girl's still pumping out fruit.
Unfortunately, I don't think my New Mexican chiles are getting pollinated. I've got blooms but not getting fruit at this point. It's disappointing as this is my first go-'round with them.
Should be fun. You could use some "patience tutoring" and doing a small outdoor garden might help, too. Make it a 4' x 8' with cedar boards for a border. Could be very soothing to your type AAAAAAA personality!!
Once established, that size only takes about an hour in the spring to prepare for planting. Can put an amazing amount of stuff in there, too. Take out some weeds once in a while, throw a little water on it, and you are good to go!
It is tough for peppers, tomatoes, or most everything to set fruit when average temp is above about 90. And daytime highs of 100+ require shade and the misting thing. Even then, it is tough to get to set.
Conan, you might try a gentle shake on your plants early in the morning. For self pollinating plants the heat & lack of breeze can keep them setting fruit.
If you are interested in raised bed gardening you should read Square Foot Gardening. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591862027
Quote from: Conan71 on August 01, 2011, 12:57:28 PM
Unfortunately, I don't think my New Mexican chiles are getting pollinated. I've got blooms but not getting fruit at this point. It's disappointing as this is my first go-'round with them.
Sounds weird, but the pollen for peppers dies at 88 degrees. Tomato pollen is supposed to die at about 90-95.
Our cool nights only give your peppers a tiny window for pollen production and plant sex. You would think that peppers would have a higher pollination heat tolerance.
I have bells, lipsticks, and poblanos. I've gotten ziltch from them this year.
Our peppers are doing okay, but not great. Have you tried a shade cloth? I just haven't time to rig one up for our plants.
Quote from: rdj on August 01, 2011, 01:09:28 PM
Our peppers are doing okay, but not great. Have you tried a shade cloth? I just haven't time to rig one up for our plants.
Thought about it, but that would require going outside.
My in-laws take a bale of hay and sprinkle it over their peppers and tomatoes. It looks messy, but it seems to shield them from the heat of the sun and increase production. I'm not too worried, my plants are healthy, they just need a week or two below 90, and a good rain to cool the soil.
FMC is getting jalapenos still at her house in MWC and we had a real bumper crop last year. They seem to love the heat.
Quote from: Conan71 on August 01, 2011, 01:19:09 PM
FMC is getting jalapenos still at her house in MWC and we had a real bumper crop last year. They seem to love the heat.
Cut around the tops, pull out the seeds then, stick em in a smoker at about 190 (if you can get it that low) with some apple wood for about 3 hours. They will get dark, sweet, and lose most of their heat. You can freeze them and use anytime you need chipotles.
Quote from: Gaspar on August 01, 2011, 04:35:23 PM
Cut around the tops, pull out the seeds then, stick em in a smoker at about 190 (if you can get it that low) with some apple wood for about 3 hours. They will get dark, sweet, and lose most of their heat. You can freeze them and use anytime you need chipotles.
I've got a new, black weber (I love early bday presents), so if I stick it in partial sunlight I think I can maintain that temp, with no fire needed
Quote from: Gaspar on August 01, 2011, 04:35:23 PM
Cut around the tops, pull out the seeds then, stick em in a smoker at about 190 (if you can get it that low) with some apple wood for about 3 hours. They will get dark, sweet, and lose most of their heat. You can freeze them and use anytime you need chipotles.
Check. Already done with last year's crop except I used pecan. It's nuclear chipotle and used sparingly. For everyday use I prefer the chipotle powder I get at the market in Espanola, NM. We canned a bunch and still have gallon bags full of sliced jalapeno's in the freezer.
Most of my pepper plants are doing OK with regular watering. It's difficult to tell how much. I usually let them wilt a bit then give them a deep watering. The ones in the ground (backyard) have drip irrigation. Okra is doing well. Eggplants are hanging on but I have only harvested one so far with 2 more nearly ready. I had some early good returns on yellow squash and cucumbers until the squash bugs got them along with some butternut squash plants that hadn't produced anything. Tomato plants are hanging on barely. I have a few green tomatoes but only a couple have started to ripen.
I also have some peppers in pots in the front yard.
Peppers: Jalapeno, Mucho Nacho (large Jalapeno), Cayenne, Poblano, Big Jim (several plants have croaked), Anaheim, Tabasco, Thick Cayenne, Red Habo, Regular Orange Habo, Hot Banana and Serrano. I have harvested several Habos, red and orange, Cayennes, a few Jalapenos, 1 Serrano, some Big Jims after the plants gave up.
Quote from: Conan71 on August 01, 2011, 06:00:23 PM
We canned a bunch and still have gallon bags full of sliced jalapeno's in the freezer.
Let me know if I can take some of those off your hands. I mean, I am worried about you. You already live a very stressful life and having all those jalapenos just laying around is an unnecessary stressor. In other words, let me help you.
Quote from: Gaspar on August 01, 2011, 04:35:23 PM
Cut around the tops, pull out the seeds then, stick em in a smoker at about 190 (if you can get it that low) with some apple wood for about 3 hours. They will get dark, sweet, and lose most of their heat. You can freeze them and use anytime you need chipotles.
I try to keep the temperature less than 150 to keep from cooking them. I smoke them for about 8 hours with Pecan (typical of southern New Mexico) and finish drying them in my dehydrator. I cut the tops and cut them in half from top to bottom but leave the seeds in. The best info I have found is that the original method was to smoke them whole for several days until they are dried in a huge brick smoker/oven.
I also let them turn red before picking them.
Quote from: guido911 on August 01, 2011, 09:15:42 PM
Let me know if I can take some of those off your hands. I mean, I am worried about you. You already live a very stressful life and having all those jalapenos just laying around is an unnecessary stressor. In other words, let me help you.
Hahaha! I'll check the inventory and see what we've got left of last year. FMC said she got home tonight and found some sort of worms devouring the leaves on the jalapeno plants out front.
Red- Big Jim doesn't seem to be too different a variety of my "180's". According to the fellow who gave me the seeds, the 180's are developed for the shorter growing season in northern NM vs. the 220 day season in the Mesilla Valley. It's been a weird experience, Yet I have two hanging in there really well, they just aren't putting on pods yet. they have bloomed, but no pods. The ones in the back yard don't appear to get enough full sun all day, yet the ones closest to my banana trees (love full sun) got chewed up by something which leaves damage like a cut worm. I've got two plants out front in pots, one is really stout, the other has not developed as well. Both were planted as equally-sized seedlings at the same time and get the same sun, water, and sustenance. Go figure.
Conan,
I have the two pot thing going with tomatoes and have the same thing happening. One much better than the other. The good one is in an older "insulated" foam type pot that is much bigger than the other. The smaller one is a single layer non-foam type pot. Small holds about 1.5 cu ft (guess) and the bigger one maybe 2.0 cu ft.
The root ball on the larger one is probably staying cooler than the smaller one. The both get shade after about 1:00 pm.
No tomatoes forming - the pollen just can't survive this.
Quote from: Red Arrow on August 01, 2011, 09:25:55 PM
I try to keep the temperature less than 150 to keep from cooking them. I smoke them for about 8 hours with Pecan (typical of southern New Mexico) and finish drying them in my dehydrator. I cut the tops and cut them in half from top to bottom but leave the seeds in. The best info I have found is that the original method was to smoke them whole for several days until they are dried in a huge brick smoker/oven.
I also let them turn red before picking them.
I'm curious. Where precisely is this garden of yours? I want to learn about the soil conditions, lighting and shade proportion, how it's watered and, and, and, aw hell, I just wanted to rip you off. I'm sorry.
As for the aero garden, I am going to get the three pod started kit to grow herbs. I'll report on the success/failure of the product.
Quote from: guido911 on August 02, 2011, 01:45:12 PM
I'm curious. Where precisely is this garden of yours? I want to learn about the soil conditions, lighting and shade proportion, how it's watered and, and, and, aw hell, I just wanted to rip you off. I'm sorry.
As for the aero garden, I am going to get the three pod started kit to grow herbs. I'll report on the success/failure of the product.
Herbs?? Ahem...
(http://www.420magazine.com/gallery/data/500/AeroGarden_001.jpg)
guido,
Here is a quick and easy little 4 x 8 garden that is manageable by anyone with very small amount of time. And the fence panels are optional, 4 sides with 2" x 4" metal fence material - but they keep out the rabbits. The tall posts allow string to tie up stuff - just about any configuration you want - or if you don't want tall posts, leave them the same height as the sides. Make a hole for the corner boards to secure the corners and give a place to screw the side panels to.
Tall posts allow use of shade material for summers like this - they are 4" x 4" cedar, 8 feet long. Bury two feet in ground.
Only thing to make sure is that you use cedar. Three pieces, 1 x 12, 8 foot long. Cut one in half for the ends. Use 1 and only 1 deck screw at end of each board to prevent splitting. Dig a small trench, a couple inches deep for the sides to sit in. Fill with some compost, plant. Then mulch with hay - lots of it. Leave it over winter to decompose and become organic matter for the soil. Good smile, Maynard!
Grow corn! This picture was early in year before the corn got tall. Ended up about 11 feet tall. Hominy corn called Hickory King.
Sorry about size of picture - cannot get them smaller! Any ideas?
(http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l598/stealthcamper90/S7308358.jpg)
Thanks for the info heiron, but if I started digging around in my backyard I'm afraid the wife would perform a very painful surgical procedure on me in a very sensitive area while I'm sleeping.
Quote from: Conan71 on August 02, 2011, 02:55:23 PM
Herbs?? Ahem...
(http://www.420magazine.com/gallery/data/500/AeroGarden_001.jpg)
I'll check aero garden's seed packages to see if this herb is available.
Quote from: guido911 on August 02, 2011, 01:45:12 PM
I'm curious. Where precisely is this garden of yours? I want to learn about the soil conditions, lighting and shade proportion, how it's watered and, and, and, aw hell, I just wanted to rip you off. I'm sorry.
In the back yard. I believe the dogs will alert us to your arrival.
Quote from: Red Arrow on August 02, 2011, 06:21:35 PM
In the back yard. I believe the dogs will alert us to your arrival.
Yeah, I recall you mentioning those in the past. lol
I remember years ago that the asian community in the Meadows Apartments, at 31st and Garnett, would use the creek bank to do some serious crop growing. I've always wondered if someone was to go through and do some harvesting, would they really have any recourse?
Quote from: guido911 on August 02, 2011, 06:07:02 PM
I'll check aero garden's seed packages to see if this herb is available.
TN HH on Guido's porch.
I know everyone has been on pins and needles awaiting my report on the Aerogarden I purchased. It didn't end well...
It's a plant, plants need dirt and water. Air too, but it doesn't seem to end well without lots of dirt and water ;)
Quote from: guido911 on May 04, 2012, 12:06:41 AM
I know everyone has been on pins and needles awaiting my report on the Aerogarden I purchased. It didn't end well...
What happened?
Quote from: GG on May 04, 2012, 06:33:20 PM
What happened?
Think Mossberg... ;D I just couldn't get enough quality product out of it. Besides, I can get into the gardens of other TNFers here in Bixby if I need fresh. RA, cough cough..
Quote from: guido911 on May 04, 2012, 07:03:55 PM
Think Mossberg... ;D I just couldn't get enough quality product out of it. Besides, I can get into the gardens of other TNFers here in Bixby if I need fresh. RA, cough cough..
I stopped by Carmichaels yesterday to get some replacement plants for ones taken by varmints. They still have a pretty good selection. There is still time for you to start a regular garden in the yard or grow some plants in pots. You'd better get started soon though. :D
Quote from: Red Arrow on May 05, 2012, 10:38:49 AM
I stopped by Carmichaels yesterday to get some replacement plants for ones taken by varmints. They still have a pretty good selection. There is still time for you to start a regular garden in the yard or grow some plants in pots. You'd better get started soon though. :D
Three of my big jim plants have fruit already and the Anaheim's just started blooming. We've had lots of tomato blooms, but no tomatoes thus far.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 05, 2012, 11:22:06 AM
Three of my big jim plants have fruit already and the Anaheim's just started blooming. We've had lots of tomato blooms, but no tomatoes thus far.
Some of my peppers and tomatoes have blooms :D, but no fruit yet :(
Quote from: Red Arrow on May 05, 2012, 02:33:12 PM
Some of my peppers and tomatoes have blooms :D, but no fruit yet :(
I've got one orange bell pepper that is coming along nicely, other than that (and the strawberries) nothing in mine yet either. And ants are pissing me off. I hear marigolds are good for getting rid of them
I can see we have several green thumbs in this forum. Good to know. If you folks don't know, when it comes to plants/gardening, etc., my thumbs are up my exit. (T, I'm going to beat the crap out of "exit" in here)
I noticed the Cherokee Purple is setting fruit this weekend and we are getting some cucumbers as well.
Quote from: guido911 on May 06, 2012, 04:04:04 PM
(T, I'm going to beat the crap out of "exit" in here)
Every response I had was too offensive to post on here.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 07, 2012, 09:30:36 AM
I noticed the Cherokee Purple is setting fruit this weekend and we are getting some cucumbers as well.
Yum!
CP is good stuff!