Thu, 2010/09/16 - 5:30pm
I'd like to build a small aerogarden farm in my garage. It's closed and I live in San Diego so it's not too extreme in the winter. The summer however can get a 115 degrees in the garage. I'm wondering if this is bad idea. I'd mostly like it for tomatoes in the winter but some summer use would be nice so they don't go to waiste.
Any ideas, concerns?
Fri, 2010/09/17 - 12:45am
#2
There's only a few months of the year where it gets really hot in there and that's worst case scenario. The wife will only let me keep one indoor. Possibly two. I'd like to get a bunch but the garage is my only free place. I guess if I stick to the 9 months and go for heat tolerant tomatoes I might have a shot :)
I was also thinking I could develop a minor cooling system. Hmm... the possibilities. It sits right next to a refrigerator that I've already put a beer tap on it. Perhaps I can heat exchange with a water pump on a timer.
Fri, 2010/09/17 - 12:53am
#3
How long have you had AG's? Your wife might come to like them better. Find out what she likes grown... Lettuce is very endearing - it grows fast.
But good luck with the cooling system. 
Fri, 2010/09/17 - 9:34am
#4
She's pretty strict on this kind of stuff. If it were up to me I'd have lots of plant life all over the place. I can probably just have a swamp cooler on a timer worst case. You're correct though, I need to give it some time and let the idea "grow" on her.
Fri, 2010/09/17 - 12:16pm
#5
Or perhaps just have a half year garden in the garage.
Hi, dj - I don't know of any plants that actually grow at 115 degrees - some survive it. Depending on the variety, tomatoes probably do OK from 60 to 90 degrees, prefering something around 80, I think. Lettuce likes it cooler - ideal is around 60 degrees, and only a few (romaines) tolerate up to 80.
An aerogarden farm in the human-comfortable temperatures of the house could grow more of the year. Distributing AG's around the house makes for nice lighting.