Does Anyone Have Opinions on Aero Gardens?

[guido911]

Just curious. I do not have the time or patience for outdoor gardening.

[GG]

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.  

[RecycleMichael]

I don't think you should grow your own.

[Gaspar]

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.

[Conan71]

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.

[Townsend]

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.

[rdj]

We built raised garden beds this year with drip irrigation.  Even with the heat we are seeing fruit, just reduced.

[Gaspar]

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.

[Conan71]

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.

[heironymouspasparagus]

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.

[rdj]

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

[Gaspar]

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.

[rdj]

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.

[Gaspar]

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.

[Conan71]

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.