After 11 weeks of growing in my AeroGarden Farm Plus, I harvested my second jalapeno pepper! Now, I have 4 jalapeno peppers, 3 bell peppers, 3 Manitoba tomatoes, and 4 purple super hots! I also changed the way I layout my journal.
Eleven weeks in, and the Farm Plus is really producing a lot of herbs and fruits.
Time to jump into this week’s maintenance details, some exciting and sad changes to my fruits, and, of course, comparison photos to blow your mind.
AeroGarden Farm Plus Garden 3 Week 11 Overview
As with each week, there have been so many changes since my AeroGarden Farm Plus Week 10 update. Aside from some new fruits, I had to raise the lights on the fruit side to their full height for the first time.
My catnip’s dome came off! The cumin should sprout any day now. And I have a few super cute purple super hots.
Aside from harvesting a lot of herbs in the left garden, this week’s maintenance also involved a small amount of pruning of the right garden. This weeks’s maintenance probably took 45 minutes for the left side, 30 minutes for the right side and 20 minutes preparing herbs for freezing. But, I was in my garden room for about 2.5 hours also maintaining one of my Sprout LEDs and spending a lot of time taking photos and journaling.
Before we get to the walk through of each plant, here is a comparison of the condition of the Farm Plus last week after maintenance and this week before maintenance.
AeroGarden Farm Plus Garden 3 Week 11 Overview
There was both a fair amount of herb growth, as well as a fair amount of new leaves on the pepper plants. The tomato plant had the most growth in terms of bulking out.
AeroGarden Farm Plus Garden 3 Week 11 – Left Side Walk Through
At 11 weeks, I’m beginning to get fairly substantial harvest from all herbs and not just the Thai basil and mint.
I’m still harvesting from back to front, with some detours to be able to take better before and after pictures. I did forget to take one photo because I got called away, which is a shame. And I will continue to go through each herb from back top left to bottom row right.
To begin, Week 10 left side after harvest compared to Week 11 left side before harvest.
Now, let’s walk through each herb on the left side of my Farm Plus.
Rosemary
I think we are now off to the races with the rosemary.
Last week, my rosemary was 8 cm (3.14 inches) tall. This week, it is 10 cm (34 inches). This is the most growth it has had in a one-week period. The new growth doesn’t have the woody stem, so I added a bamboo skewer to help support it.
Sage
The sage still continues to do quite well. After last week’s harvest, the sage measured 17 cm (6.7 inches). This week, before harvesting, it measured 24 cm (19.4 inches). After harvesting, the sage measured 21 cm (8.3 inches). I did my best to get it as low as possible so that I could lower the lights lower than I usually but it was rather difficult this week because the new growth isn’t quite ready to be harvested. I did cut off a few entire stems to reduce its bulk.
And here is a comparison of the sage last week after harvest vs this week before and after harvest.
Thai Basil
The Thai basil continues to be a problem, for lack of a better word. It just wants to grow all over the place no matter what I do.
After week 10 harvest, the Thai basil measured 22 cm (8.7 inches). Before this week’s harvest, it once again measured 30 cm (12 inches). After the harvest, it measured 23.5 cm (9.3 inches).
Harvesting was not quite as daunting this week but it was still a bit tricky because of how it grows. Yet again this week, I cut off entire stems of Thai basil in what may turn out to be another vain attempt to keep it in its own place.
Above is a comparison of the Thai basil last week after harvest, this week before harvest and after harvest.
Oregano
I made an oops this week. As I was about to take the before photo of the oregano, I was called away. This resulted in me forgetting to take the before image. Sorry.
Not only is the oregano getting more beefy with each day, the stems are also becoming quite woody. After last week’s harvest, the oregano measured 12 cm (4.7 inches). This week, before harvesting, it measured 15.5 cm (6.1 inches). This week after harvest, the oregano measured 10 cm (4 inches).
To make up for this week’s oops, above is an image of the oregano harvest pile. Hopefully it gives you some idea of just how thick and beefy the oregano is becoming and how much I now get to harvest each week.
Italian Parsley
There was no change to the Italian parsley this week because its light keeps getting blocked. Not only from the mint and the Thai basil but also by the bell pepper plant. I made some changes to mint, Thai basil and bell pepper plant that I hope will solve this issue once and for all. If it doesn’t, then I’m going to move the Italian parsley to the empty pod in my second AeroGarden Sprout LED.
Last week, the Italian parsley measured, 7 cm (2.6 inches). This week, it still measured 7 cm (2.6 inches). Because there wasn’t any major changes again this week, there is no comparison photo this week. Hopefully this isn’t a sign that it’s about to die.
Cilantro 1
This week, the first cilantro plant not only grew much taller but it’s also bulking out like its neighbour. Last week, this cilantro plant measured 7 cm (2.6 inches) after harvesting. This week before harvest, it measured 22 cm (8.7 inches), yet again more than doubling its height in one week. After harvest, it measured 9 cm (3.5 inches).
And below is the comparison photo of last week after harvest, this week before and after harvest.
Cilantro 2
While the older second cilantro plant didn’t grow, once again, as tall in the last week as its neighbour, it again significantly increased its bulk.
After last week’s harvest, it measured 8 cm (3.15 inches). This week, before harvesting, the second cilantro plant measured 15.5 cm (67.1 inches), almost double its height. After this week’s harvest, it measured 7.5 cm (3 inches).
And here is the comparison shot of last week after harvest, this week before and after harvest.
Mint
Yet again, the mint grew by quite a bit in the last week. The upside about the last week’s growth is that tying the base helped somewhat with the issue of the mint crowing neighbouring plants. That said, some new shoots managed to escape their confines and there was a bit of tangling to solve. This week, I also cut off a couple more entire stems.
After Week 10 harvest, the mint measured 20 cm (7.9 inches). This week, before harvest it measured 28.5 cm (11.2 inches). After harvesting, it once again measured 20 cm (7.9 inches).
Catnip
I replanted the catnip on March 7 and on March 20, the dome came off! This week, the catnip measured 2.5 cm (1 inch). I can’t wait until it’s time to harvest it and I can feed my cats and dogs fresh catnip.
Thyme
During the last week, I added support to the thyme so that it could get the light it needs as its stems are still quite thin. Yet again, harvesting it this week was a bit of a task because it was all tangled in a rat’s nest and tangled among other plants. Harvesting it still scaring me a little because its stems are just so fine.
Last week, after harvesting, the thyme measured 8 cm (3.15 inches). This week, before harvesting, it measured 12 cm (4.7 inches. After this week’s harvest, it measured 9.5 cm (3.7 inches).
And now the comparison shot!
Cumin
I replanted the cumin last week. There is nothing to report yet.
And here is what the the left side of the Farm Plus looked like before and after harvest.
Hopefully every herb will be happy this week and grow like gangbusters. Below are some images of the harvest, both the entire harvest pile and the pile of Thai basil prepared for freezing.
AeroGarden Farm Plus Garden 3 Week 11 – Right Side Walk Through
I got to harvest my second pepper this week! Plus, there have been a lot of other exciting and sad changes to my fruits.
Before we get to all the new fruits and more, just as a reminder, below is a comparison of the right side last week after pruning and this week before pruning.
There was a lot of leaf growth during the last week. However, I decided to be a little more conservative with my pruning this week, with a couple of exceptions.
Manitoba Heirloom Tomatoes
Thanks to the Manitoba tomato plant, I had to raise the lights to full height this week. And, I seem to have lost two of my itty bitty tomatoes. They have to be in there somewhere, but I can’t find them, even after pruning the plant.
As a reminder, the Manitoba Heirloom were planted on January 11, 2019. Last week, after pruning, it measured 63 cm (24.8 inches). Here is a breakdown of its maintenance and changes in the last week:
- Water added to the right side tank March 17, 19, 20 and 21.
- This week, before and after pruning, the Manitoba tomato measured 66 cm (26 inches).
- Continue to pollinate every day after the lights turn on.
- Pruned March 21.
This week, I continued to prune the Manitoba tomato plant as if its a tree: cutting off a few limbs that are getting really big and taking away resources from new growth. I also put some of the longer limbs through the wires of the left side lights to force them under the right light. I know I’m behind updating the site’s FAQ with these instructions, but it will get done. I’ve been lacking free time over the last phew weeks.
And here are some comparison photos of the Manitoba tomato plant before and after pruning, plus an image of the first tomato’s progress:
Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes
I’m truly surprised that it’s still alive! And this week, it grew a bit in height! Last week, the cherry tomato measured 5 cm (2 inches). This week, it measured 6 cm (2.4 inches). Plus, the branches and leaves continue to get thicker.
Serrano Peppers
Another reminder about the Serrano peppers: Like the Manitoba tomatoes, this was planted on January 11, 2019.
This week, I didn’t do any pruning to the plant. A bunch of new flowers grew over the last week and now that the Serrano is well above other canopies, I want lots of leaves to suck in the light and transfer it to hopefully growing peppers soon.
Last week, the Serrano pepper measured 37 cm (14.8 foot). This is how the last week’s maintenance looked:
- Serrano pepper measured 38 cm (15 inches) on March 21.
- Continue to pollinate every day when the lights turn on.
- Too many flowers to now count.
Maybe this next week will actually be the week I’ll get a Serrano pepper that will survive. We’ve been waiting long enough for this!
Below is a comparison of last week after pruning and this week.
Sweet Bell Peppers
I’m back to having 3 bell peppers. Sad trombone! The baby bell pepper flew off during pollination one day. Here is a summary of other changes and maintenance details:
- Lost 1 bell pepper March 18.
- Pruned March 21.
- Continue to pollinate daily after the lights turn on.
Last week, it measured 27 cm (10.6 inches). This week, it measured 28 cm (11 inches) after I pruned it. Pruning involved not only cutting off some leaves, but also cutting off a couple of branches to let the peppers and neighbouring herbs grow. I didn’t take individual photos of the peppers this week because you can clearly see them in the after pruning shot below.
The bottom left is the bell pepper last week after pruning. The centre image is this week before pruning. The right picture is this week after pruning with peppers in full glory!
It won’t be long until I can harvest my first bell pepper.
Jalapeno Peppers
This week, I got to pick my second jalapeno pepper!
There are still no new jalapeno peppers, but a lot of new flowers are starting to bud. As with the bell pepper, this week’s pruning of the jalapeno involved cutting off a couple of entire limbs.
The jalapeno pepper plant had few changes since last week, other than the peppers growing in size. Here is a breakdown:
- Continue to pollinate daily when the lights turn on.
- Second pepper harvested March 21.
- Pruned March 21.
- Too many flowers to count, even with losing some during pruning.
Last week, the jalapeno pepper measured 29.5 cm (11.5 inches). This week after pruning, it measured 29 cm (11.4 inches). Below are some photos of the peppers this week. I broke my wooden ruler today when I got some good news, so excuse the measuring tape.
And here is a comparison of the jalapeno pepper plant last week after pruning, and this week before and after pruning.
Red-Fire Chili
This week, I didn’t prune anything. But, I did find buds on March 19! So last week’s pruning gave it the kick it needed to grow.
Last week, the red-fire chili measured 13.5 cm (5.3 inches). This week, the red-fire chili plant measured 15 cm (5.9 inches). I can’t wait to see some peppers though I’m sure that is still weeks away.
Purple Super Hot Peppers
The purple super hot was planted on January 11, while the majority of the garden was planted on January 3, 2019.
This week, I found three new super-hot peppers and they are just as cute as the first one! I didn’t prune this week, but here is a breakdown of other changes:
- Continue to pollinate daily when the lights turn on.
- Second pepper found March 16.
- Third pepper found March 18.
- Fourth pepper found March 20.
- Too many flowers to count, even with losing some during pruning.
Last week, the super hot measured measured 22 cm (8.7 inches). This week, it measured 25 cm (9.8 inches). Below is a compilation of cute peppers for you to look at.
Since I didn’t prune the purple super hot this week, there is no comparison photo.
After I was was done pruning everything, the pile of leaves and branches was a fair size even though I pruned very little.
Because so much was covered and so much was pruned, below is an image of the right side before and after this week’s pruning session.
The top part of the image is the right side this week before pruning. The bottom is after.
Finally, below is an image of the entire garden before and after this week’s maintenance. Now every herb once again has its own light and so do the fruits.
My AeroGarden Farm Plus Garden 3 Week 11 Journal Update
This week, I changed up how I keep track of my AeroGarden Farm Plus’ progress with my journal. I adapted the Farm Plus Weekly plus Daily layout I created as a reward for my first Patreon Patron.
I like this layout because even though there is very little I need to note each side for the herb side, I still had to cram a bunch of stuff into tiny ovals.
I didn’t change the layout I created for Jen all that much for my needs. The picture is missing until I get my new Polaroid Zip to replace the one that decided it didn’t want to print anymore when I went to print of this image.
As I said above, I got some really good personal news while tending to my gardens this week, so this week’s journaling was about just really enjoying the news while I sat in it.
So, that is all the exciting things!
Let me know if you have any questions! And if you’re brand new to my Farm Plus series, you can catch up here.
Until next time!
