By jessijordan
Thyme
Submitted on Fri, 2009/03/20 - 6:59pm
Last updated on Fri, 2009/04/17 - 1:25pm
Posted in
I wasnt satisified with the thyme I grew in my AG3.
Like the chives there just isnt enuff space in the pods for alot of seeds so I thought I'd grow my own.
Fri, 2009/03/20 - 8:04pm
#2
Cool! Thanks Gisette, I'll go cut a couples pieces right now. I finally got the emergency blanket today & a wire storage shelf and put everything into my homemade grow tent. I am so pleased with myself.
http://picasaweb.google.com/princessjessijordan/MyHomemadeGrowTent?feat=...
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 12:04am
#3
Looking good, Jessi but monitor your temperature. With the top covered and all the lights inside your heat will build up quite a bit, plus you said your apt. got very warm in the summer. You may want to leave the mylar off the top.
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 12:11am
#4
Will definitely monitor the heat factor. I already found that the top soil of the plants is drying out faster than usual so I'm spritzing more often already. I have a fan blowing the reflector up and the sides open for ventilation. Do you think I still need to take the top off?
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 1:00am
#5
In the picture, the sides looked closed in? Definitely need the sides open. And closing the top does no good for light, only trapping heat. Those blankets trap heat really really well. So, yeah, I'd suggest that you blanket only back and front, with top and sides open.
That's quite an array, Jessi! Does it glow nicely through the blankets?
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 1:14am
#6
Hey Gisette!
There sure is a nice glow in here! And I loooooove it! I can actually have some darkness in my apartmrnt around 10pm if I so choose which I havent had since December 2008.
Re: the tent
I guess the picture doesnt tell the story so here are the details...
the emergency blanket is draped over just the front of the rack, and only half way over the top (so the bottom of it doesnt hit the floor), the sides can wrap around the right side half way (which is the angle I took the pic from) but I dont leave it that closed with the lights are on. I closed them at night just to keep it dark in there. (AG said peppers & tomatoes need at least 6 hours of dark to fruit) and my apt never goes truly dark (bf stays up late watching tv & playing games). I have a fan blowing into the unit when the lights are on & it blows up the blanket just a little bit as it oscillates back and forth. The back is open to a white matte wall.
So now with that do you still suggest I change something?
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 2:04am
#7
Jessi - ah! Now I get it.
No, sounds good. Except, as Bruce said, do keep an eye on the temperature in there. I thought I could get away with draping 3 sides of my Pro100 when I got my blanket. My peppers - which love heat - definitely got too hot. Lettuce likes it cool, btw. So you may find some are getting too warm, even if others aren't.
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 8:02am
#8
Yea I thought about that when I laid it all out! I put the peppers (sweet, pepperoncini & jalapeno) and tomatoes on the top shelf because heat rinses and they would like that. And I put the lettuce and the herbs on the bottom shelf which would stay cooler by comparison. All I need now is a small timer to turn on & off the additional lights, which by the way I forgot to mention. I picked up 2 - 26w clip on lamps for $8.44 each & 2 - 26W 6500K daylight CFL bulbs for $6.97 @ Walmart! And the shelving unit which is adjustable was only $39.99 @ Target. 
Woo hoo!
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 7:10am
#9
Great setup Jessi!
One more thing to consider --- even growing outside, it's very seldom total darkness. You can usually see somewhat by the light of the moon, nearby street lights, etc. So don't worry so much about total darkness. You turn off the lights and the tv when you go to bed, you sleep 6-8 hrs., and that's enough darkness for the plants. Check some gardening books, (library?) for details. (that's about the only thing I do know - lol ) It mostly means -- don't run the grow lights any longer than your kind of plant needs.
ps: The AG site has a chart that shows how long lights are on for the different plants. Here's the link: http://www.aerogrow.com/community/index.php/aerogarden-info-a-troubleshooting-faq/51-orders-returns-a-warranty-info-category/142-ltiming-of-light-and-pump-cycles.html
Enjoy your great gardening! And never lose your enthusiasm. (you're the reason I'm trying new things - until last month my only growing was outside - I'm now experimenting with inside food and loving it!) With all the help we get from the great people on this site, we'll both soon be enjoying the fruits of our labors. 
Sat, 2009/03/21 - 8:05am
#10
Thanks Judith!
Esp for the link & the darkness info. (Funny my bf said the same thing & I was like nah uh! Now I owe him something nice...lol) Although in my mind, the way we live they would have some light on almost all night. Sometimes bf doesn't go to bed till daybreak (ah - life as musicians). But I guess as long as there is a contrast in light we'll be ok.
Enthusiasm? Lose it? Nope! I have spent more $ on growing food than I have on eating food the past few weeks. How's that for a spring diet! I am so glad I have inspired you but girlfriend you have surpassed me with your set up! Wow! The 5 gallon setup & mixing nuts... that impresses me. One day maybe I'll get there although I have to say soil is doing better for my sprouts than my AG3s! The germination rate in here has beat all expectations.
I guess my enthusiam is contagous! I got my mom all excited too. She has 2 AG3 doing better than mine. Her chives actually look great! Yesterday per her request, I planted snow peas, rosemary and cilantro in pots for her and she was so happy. She has a huge bay window with light all day and will be getting some of my extra tomato and pepper plants. That also got me thinking in addition to pansies I should plant broccoli raab in my grandmas yard for her. I just can't stop myself!
I think I will plant extra lettuce tomorrow. That's the other thing about the AG3. It doesn't really provide enough lettuce for me to have a great salad daily. I still have a free window sill which gets direct sun light from 6am to about 2pm so a nice heat tolerant one that can grow well in direct sun and partial shade would be great.
You know Judith. There was a time. A simpler time when people grew their own food. When pesticides were not invented. When a few seeds, some dirt and the sun could feed an entire family season after season. Its amazing that we have returned to that and we shall spread the message!
So my dear, What are you going to plant next?! This is going to be the best spring & summer for us Judith! Not only to enjoy the fruits of our laor but the vegetables, greens & herbs of our labor too!
Ha ha! I can't wait!
Tue, 2009/03/24 - 12:40pm
#11
Yay! The time has come for thyme to come! It sprouted today!
Tue, 2009/03/24 - 1:07pm
#12
Yea for your Thyme!
Not sure what I'll do next. I planted peas the other day. I really want to get my cilantro going. What are you doing next?
Tue, 2009/03/24 - 1:30pm
#13
Well my love.. yesterday I thought I was done but then since I woke up this morning I have been thinking about growing the small cucumbers that Beth is growing
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5600/
or these...
http://www.burpee.com/product/vegetables/cucumbers/bush/cucumber+spacema...
or these...
http://www.burpee.com/product/vegetables/cucumbers/bush/cucumber+salad+b...
My brain finally found a way to do it in my apt! 
I figured I could put the pot at the top of my 6 foot tall tent and as the vines grow they can hang down. I am debating but more than likely knowing me I will get a few more lights and do it.
I also want to grow red, yellow sweet spanish and cipollini onions and garlic!
Tue, 2009/03/24 - 5:18pm
#14
Onions take a long time, don't they?
Garlic is a great idea. Go for it.
Tue, 2009/03/24 - 5:38pm
#15
oh yea... just 110 days! lol!
Tue, 2009/03/24 - 6:49pm
#16
Peat sent me over to this site & baby these just take 80 days! I'm so getting them!
Good luck with these, Jessi.
With thyme, you might want to also trying rooting a cutting from your AG plant in a water vase. If it works, it'll get started faster than the seeds.