By Peat
Cucumbers Grown in the AeroGarden? - Episode II (Return of the Cuke)
Submitted on Sun, 2009/05/03 - 5:49pm
Last updated on Wed, 2009/09/30 - 12:40pm
Posted in
Episode II
I have already grown cukes in the AeroGarden, they produced only 10 in 22 weeks. It was not a very productive grow and was beset by problems, shrivelling cukes and dry/brittle leaves. The plant was only able to produce two at any one time, what the problem was is hard to pin down - possible nutrient issues (not exactly sure of the correct feed for this plant), lack of light or, that the AG was just too small to contain this large plant?
The original grow is here, have a read through and Episode II will make more sense.
The cukes I will be growing are all female (no pollination required) and are Thompson & Morgan Zena F1 Hybrid. They will be grown in my modified Classic with an AG6 pod, rockwool, air stone and using the General Hydroponics 3-Part Flora Series nutrients.
Thanks to Beth, she has given me a table of the nutrients required to grow cukes. They are from the book Hydroponic Food Production by Dr H.M. Resh
PPM Levels
NH4 NO3 PO4 K Ca Mg B Fe Cu Zn Mo
128 3 27 175 100 20 0.3 0.8 0.07 0.1 0.03 - Seedling
267 7 55 350 220 40 0.3 0.8 0.7 0.1 0.03 - 10 days until 1st fruit set
255 7 55 400 200 45 0.4 0.8 0.1 0.33 0.05 - Maturity
After much number crunching using the GH calculator, I have come up with the following feeds which have been adjusted for the AeroGarden.
N P K Ca Mg
130 27 166 25 21 - Seedling (AG Dosage - Hardwater Micro 7mL, Grow 7mL, Bloom 2mL)
267 55 349 51 45 - 10 days until 1st Fruit set (AG Dosage - Hardwater Micro 14mL, Grow 15mL, Bloom 4mL)
256 55 395 40 46 - Maturity (AG Dosage - Hardwater Micro 11mL, Grow 19mL, Bloom 3mL)
This is pretty close, note the low calcium levels! I'm using hardwater micro, this has little calcium in it - what I will be doing is using some hydroponic calcium supplement to bring this level up.
Let's see if Resh's formula and my extra calcium can solve the problem...
Weekly Grow Pictures
Miscellaneous Pictures
Thu, 2009/05/07 - 3:13pm
#2
Hi Peat! Can't wait to see how this goes. Check my glog for my own updates. Finally got the Flora Mato.
I think the grow has a lot to do with light. The side shoot of the left cucumber drooped down, staying in the light, and it's doing very well. EC 2.4, feeding 10 ml across the board. The main stalk went up the window, but lost all it's leaves and that's the one that's only produced 1 cuke so far, so that's the one I flushed and started with the flora mato. (they only got sun about 2 hrs per day.
Will be interesting to watch all this.
Enjoy!
Sun, 2009/05/24 - 10:40am
#3
Week 0 - Starting Week (Sunday 24th May 2009)
After some delay, sorry... I've now started this new cuke grow.
The new feeding schedule: Seedling Phase - Flora Micro (Hardwater) 7mL, Flora Grow 7mL, Flora Bloom 2mL (all per 3.2 litres, the AG capacity). The EC level was adjusted to 0.8 and the pH set to 6.0, I have also added 3mL of hydroponic Calcium supplement to bring mine into line with Dr Resh's chart.
As usual with my grows, my Classic is running with an AG6 pod and no water pump (more details here), aeration is being provided by an air pump/ air stone. I've added some silver reflective foil to help with the light situation. The cucumber seed was planted in some pH adjusted rockwool.
So, lets see if more calcium can sort the dry/brittle leaf and poor cuke harvest out...
Sun, 2009/05/24 - 5:21pm
#4
I think you might be very right. The Mato has more calcium, and those leaves haven't shown any of the dry brittle leaf problems.
Can't wait to see how this goes. I'm hoping you can get it solved.
Enjoy!
Wed, 2009/05/27 - 12:04pm
#5
3 Days Growth
The seed has cracked and I'm on the way, the seedling is doing fine so far in the new nutes - a long way to go yet though... Looks like my planting was wonky, it's emerging from the corner! Never mind, it will fill the rockwool when it grows. 
Sat, 2009/05/30 - 2:15pm
#6
I was browsing today, looking at the tech behind the LED lighting systems out there, I'm interested in this being an engineer sort. Well, I came across a website where someone had grown a cuke using a 90 watt UFO LED and the flora series of nutes - he had exactly the same result as us all, shrivelling cukes and a poor crop. So, it's definitely the nutes at fault then and not the lighting...
Another person had tried the same, he pushed the EC up to 3.5 and it solved his problem - the plant started producing more. I'll keep that in mind for later, if the plant exhibits the same symptoms with me then I'll push on up the EC scale...
Sat, 2009/05/30 - 2:58pm
#7
VERY interesting! Then maybe the GH rep was correct in suggesting more concentration of nutes? Please explain.
Thanks.
Sun, 2009/05/31 - 9:06am
#8
Week 1
No problems so far, the added calcium is not having any adverse effect.
I've decided to pull forward the next feeding from day 10 to today - day 7.
10 Days to First Fruit - Flora Micro (Hardwater) 14mL, Flora Grow 15mL, Flora Bloom 4mL (all per 3.2 litres, the AG capacity). The EC level was adjusted to 1.6 (needed diluting lots!) and the pH set to 6.0, I have also added 3mL of hydroponic Calcium supplement.
As the plant develops, and dependant on how it looks, I will adjust the EC up/down as appropriate. This feeding schedule will be here for some time, around another 3-4 weeks probably
Sun, 2009/05/31 - 9:18am
#9
VERY interesting! Then maybe the GH rep was correct in suggesting more concentration of nutes? Please explain
If the plant had a desire for a certain chemical(s), then it would deplete the nutrients of said chemical - making it deficient as it could not get anymore. If you up the EC to a high level the chemicals will be abundant, the plant will take what it wants but there will be more to go round in the mixture - it then cannot become deficient.
Sounds simple eh? Just up the lot and all will be well... Unfortunately no, the mixture will then be very strong and the plant will then exhibit properties of nutrient burn... It's a balancing act.
Sun, 2009/05/31 - 11:59am
#10
To first fruit, Peat? Not first blooms?
Sun, 2009/05/31 - 12:59pm
#11
To quote Dr. Resh - "10 days until 1st Fruit set".
So in this instance I'm going with fruit and not bloom.
After the first fruit it's onto the 'Maturity' phase, it's all different from the GH mix, no transition phase either. As the stock GH nute formula is somehow wrong, then I may as well stick to his feed and see what happens...
Sun, 2009/05/31 - 1:08pm
#12
Ah - first fruit set. Dunno why I read that the other way... never mind. 
Sun, 2009/06/07 - 5:17am
#13
Week 2
No problems so far, feeding is the same as week 1 with the EC at 1.6 and the pH at 6.0
The plant looks in good condition with the new feed, really green and healthy.
Sun, 2009/06/07 - 2:05pm
#14
Peat,
Looks good! Day 21 was when I started noticing problems. I can't wait!
Beth
Sun, 2009/06/07 - 2:43pm
#15
Thanks Beth, I'll be biting my nails until next week - I hope this all works out this time, if it does, serious kudos to you for bringing the Dr Resh feed to this site. 
Sun, 2009/06/14 - 12:02pm
#16
Week 3
The plant is still problem free and it looks a little bigger, with more leaves than week 3 on the original grow.
I'm upping the EC to 1.8 now, Resh recommends 2.2 to 2.7 so I'll slowly head off in that direction...
Tue, 2009/06/16 - 10:49pm
#17
that leaf is huge!!!! lol!
Tue, 2009/06/16 - 11:23pm
#18
No! That's just a baby! 
Wed, 2009/06/17 - 12:03pm
#19
Week 3 + 3 Days
Just attending to the plant today, pH drifted a little low (you know what I mean gisette ), and discovered a handful of tiny cukes on the plant. Here's one, everyone say ahhh...
Wed, 2009/06/17 - 12:53pm
#20
OH MY WORD!!!!! That's FANTASTIC!!!! Can't wait to see how mine do.
(I'm updating my log now)
Wed, 2009/06/17 - 1:33pm
#21
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
Hey a cute cuke at 3 weeks & 3 days! Wow! Is that the result of them there nutes u use? lol
Wed, 2009/06/17 - 1:49pm
#22
Yep, you know it makes sense...
Wed, 2009/06/17 - 8:06pm
#23
awwwww. 
That is very quick, Peat.
Sun, 2009/06/21 - 4:50am
#24
Week 4
As per the original grow, the plant has outstripped the height of my lowly Classic... The main growing tip has now been cut off, I'll let it vine like the last one but keep this within the confines of the AG.
Still looking fine, leaves green, cukes developing.
EC has been pushed to 2.0 now, pH kept at 6.0 (keeping the same feeding schedule at the moment - Hardwater Micro 14mL, Grow 15mL, Bloom 4mL + 3mL of extra Calcium).
Sun, 2009/06/21 - 10:11am
#25
Absolutely beautiful! I'm sooooo impressed!
Mine is no where near this size. I'm hoping it'll catch up in a week or two, since changing things around. I also have some strange spots on a couple of leaves that lead me to believe I needed to reduce the nutes. I did that. Will know the result in a couple of days. (will post particulars in my grow log later today)
ps: I'm copying your log for my next grow. You do such good work!! 
Sun, 2009/06/21 - 11:48am
#26
Nice, Peat! The leaves still look beautiful!
Sun, 2009/06/21 - 12:21pm
#27
Thanks, it's still OK so far... Still some way to go yet, the critical point is when it starts churning out cukes - can it work this time using Resh's formula...
I would love to get this cuke grown in the DIY unit, under proper lights and a decent sized container. Why did I plant toms instead. 
Sun, 2009/06/21 - 12:24pm
#28
You like tomatoes better?
It's a macho thing? Guys have to prove themselves by best-tomato production?
Semi-seriously, though : cucumbers really hate their roots being disturbed. They might be wildly happier in the aeroponic unit.
Sun, 2009/06/21 - 12:36pm
#29
I like toms better, the better half prefers cukes - she is getting them grown in the AG though, just doesn't know yet that they may not work!
My macho image will be destroyed if the toms turn out very small and weedy...
Sun, 2009/06/21 - 4:44pm
#30
Yeah, cherry tomatoes in general aren't quite the macho thing, are they? The Big Beefy type 1.5 pounders are more the stuff of macho competitions.
Hi Peat,
Wow, I can't believe you got so close to the book numbers with the flora calculator. Great job! I am really looking forward to your grow.
Beth