Reviews

I started late this year so I was debating whether or not to grow seeds and hope they worked or buy more expensive plants and just maintain them. I obviously bought seeds...and glad I did. I laid these about every 6 inches thinking I wouldnt have all of them grow. Needless to say EVERY single one took. Its been just under 2 weeks since I've planted them and they're already 4-5 inches off the ground and have produced 3 big leaves. I planted them in organic humus/manure mix, top soil and natural dirt on hills and I can't honestly see how these plants could get any bigger in 2 weeks. I planted other veggies as well but these seem to be doing the best.

Reviews

I'm growing the Marketmore cumcumbers in very difficult conditions, in a screened-in, plexiglassed-in porch greenhouse that I built last year. I'm growing them in the Winter, and they are growing! They are now blooming. Will they fruit? Other things I've planted are, but cucumbers like more heat. If the cucumbers decide it's hot enough, they are going to do well. The plant itself looks healthy. The seeds originally sprouted quickly enough, but then the seedlings were taking their slow time doing anything. Now, FINALLY, they are looking like they are going to fruit. This is an experiment for me at this point. I think I'll be able to hand-pollinate them and keep it warm enough for them to grow. If my experiment fails, I feel confident that they will grow with a little warmer environment, the way they were intended to grow. It's always amazing to me that anything grows in the middle of Winter, but they are looking good at this point. I recommend them to those of you who, like me, are DARING and CREATIVE gardeners, when interpreted means people who break the rules, and to those who do things the way they are intended to be done. These are quality seeds, a good product. I recommend them. I'll be back to report later when I see edible fruit. :) I can't wait, but I guess I have to. EDITED to say that they are beginning to fruit. I'm hopeful.

Can't give a much better rating yet - will review later. So far the vines are growing well and I am seeing blossoms, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get some cucumbers by the end of June.

Reviews

I'll make this brief: you need to store these nutrients in the FREEZER! Trust me - it makes a world of difference! I had to call AeroGarden customer service on another issue, and he asked me if I had any other questions. I discussed the poor growth I have repeatedly experienced with my salad greens and how they seem to grow white instead of green. He asked me where I store my nutrients, then suggested I keep them in the freezer! My whole family has been amazed by the difference it has made: the lettuce plants very quickly started turning green and the growth rate significantly improved. Try it - it will make you a much happier AeroGardener!!

To obtain a decent crop of tomatoes you need to feed them regularly. AeroGarden know this and have an easy way to rip off consumers. The nutrients are in standard tablet form but you get woefully few for your money. In my case, they also arrived in poor condition - a condition best described as "damp". It looked like they were previously used! If there was an alternative supplier I would definitely recommend using them, but there isn't an obvious one. Maybe AeroGarden could sell a liquid version, but no doubt they would charge an arm and a leg for that too? This is a classic case of a monopoly and one which may stop me using my AeroGarden - which is a shame 'cause the original product is a nice idea.

I was discouraged to see these were very discolored and sticky/watery in the individual packets. Maybe they're old or they were stored incorrectly? I hope they provide the necessary nutrients for my newest aerogarden.

All you need is a hydroponic nutrient solution from, for example, General Hydroponics. It, like other systems, have two or three components, that contain micro-nutrients your plants need all the time and growth phase specific nutrients. For herbs like basil or chives and other non-flowering plants all you need is the growth formula. If you grow vegies and other plants that will bloom or flower, you switch to the other nutrient solution when they start to develop. For ~$35 kit(s/h included), you can get a pint of each solution. You use up 1-3 tsp/gal from each solution. 96 tsp = 1 gallon, which is a little over the capacity of the classic aerogarden. That's about 32 feedings per $25. Each feeding will last about 2 weeks, more or less, depending on the size of your plants. You will have to get a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter to monitor the nutrient concentration or just wing it. 16 months for $35 versus the 6 months for the equivalent price.

These tablets are way, way, way overpriced. This is nothing more than some garden variety (yuck yuck) chemicals and buffer agents, but they are charging almost 20 bucks? Are you kidding me? Clearly, this is where they make a lot of their profit. I am quite fond of our little AeroGarden here, but the cost of these nutrients will probably lead us to retire it. Get real, Aerogarden.