One of the most well-known indoor gardening kits available is the AeroGarden. AeroGardens allow almost unlimited quantities of food to be grown indoors throughout the year. But this abundance does not come cheap.
You’ll require seed pods to grow anything in an AeroGarden. Although aerogarden’s grow domes, sponges, grow baskets, and grow labels are readily available, the cost may prove prohibitive.
You can use the grow domes and the grow baskets from the initial seed pods again and again.
What Materials Make Up an AeroGarden Pod?
When using an AeroGarden smart garden, you’ll need some AeroGarden Pods, which are basically replacement seed cups. The pods have a peat moss and soil sponge interior and a plastic grow basket outside.
The seeds inside the pods are organic and were grown without harmful chemicals. Popular seed pod sets for the AeroGarden include small cherry tomato plants, mixed lettuce salad greens, and herb pod blends.
Each kit comes with a growing guide insert, liquid plant food ingredients, a clear plastic germination dome, and pre-seeded pods. Hydroponic systems typically have one to 2 weeks of germination time for seed pods. Harvesting can begin just four to six weeks after planting.
AeroGarden’s flower pods, lettuce pods, herb pods, and tomato pods are some of the most sought-after seed kits.
Most seed kits are available in variety packs except for a few single-type exceptions, such as heirloom cherry tomatoes and Genovese basil. Order a specialized seed kit if you want to grow just a few plants of a specific variety.
Planting AeroGarden pods in the soil
Once the seeds have grown and the seedlings have outgrown the AeroGarden, you can replace the pods in the soil. Perennial herbs and flowers are the most typical candidates for transplanting into outdoor soil or a planter.
Plants with a shorter lifespan, such as determinate tomatoes and lettuce, are typically thrown away in the compost bin after harvest instead of transplanting.
What is the lifespan of an AeroGarden pod?
Your seed pods for an aerogarden should last you around six months. Remember that how you tend your plant significantly affects how long it will live. Some users have reported that their pods survived for even longer than a year.
Make sure you keep the seeds in a dark, cool place. Here, they won’t become too hot to grow effectively, and the seed pods will last as long as two years.
It maintains a chilly, inactive environment for them until you’re ready to start growing them in an AeroGarden. Refrigerator vegetable drawers are a common place to keep produce in an airtight container for later use.
Your flowers and trees may have varying lifespans, depending on what you plant. Vegetables have the longest-lasting pods, followed by flowers, herbs, and salad greens.
Tomatoes, for example, have a longer expected lifespan than corn, but they also take significantly longer to mature and become harvestable. Tomatoes typically ripen in a window of eight to ten weeks.
The time it takes to see your first harvest from a crop of salad greens is drastically reduced.
Can You Reuse AeroGarden Pods?
Except for the grow sponges, you can use the AeroGarden again and again. The grow sponges used in the seed pod’s cultivation medium will need replacement.
You can reuse the seed pods when the old sponge or growing medium and any remaining plant roots are removed. Get the seed pod wet and dry it off.
Then you can plant the seeds in the pod after inserting the new grow sponge. The process of recycling AeroGarden pods ends here.
How Many Seeds Should I Put in AeroGarden Pods?
AeroGarden is a popular company that sells gardening kits and instructions for starting plants from pods. The nicest thing is that it will allow more people to engage in gardening and growing.
The AeroGarden really does simplify gardening. You may be curious about how many seeds to put in AeroGarden pods, especially if you are new to gardening or using AeroGarden materials.
Aerogarden suggests sowing about three seeds per pod for the best germination results. Verify the information on the seed packaging to be sure you’re growing the right plant.
One seed can be planted for larger seeds like squash, and you can plant up to five for smaller ones like kale.
Keep in mind that only some of the seeds you plant will grow, as germination rates are not always high. You can boost your chances of success by overseeding pots, holes, or cells.
Preserving Seeds in AeroGarden Pods
Here are some of the best practices for storing seeds in an AeroGarden:
Avoid Freezer
Most people assume that because seeds can be stored in a fridge, they can also be safely stored in a freezer. But that is not the case.
As a result, you shouldn’t freeze your seeds if you care about maintaining their quality. If you keep them in the freezer, they might never sprout in a pod.
Cell wall damage occurs when freezing a seed that has not been adequately dried. As a result, cultivating a plant will be a challenging task. Worse yet, there is no foolproof way to tell if the seed has dried sufficiently.
Seeds should be stored in an airtight container only after they have been air-dried for at least a week. After that, place the container somewhere cool and dry. The seeds will need protection from the elements all year.
Store Properly
Proper seed storage is important for increasing their viability. They need to be stored in a dry, cool environment. In addition, ensure that you don’t expose the seeds to direct sunlight, as it disrupts their dormant state.
You should also make sure there will be minimal temperature swings at the site. This is why a refrigerator is an excellent place to keep seeds. Maintaining a constant temperature and avoiding direct sunlight are simple.
How to Store Seeds Properly
- The best place to keep seeds is usually in the fridge. Tomato seeds, for instance, can be stored for more than four years.
- Allow your fresh seeds to dry out in the air for a week before storing them in an airtight container.
- Store the seeds in a sealed container at room temperature to avoid moisture buildup.
- The seed pods will stay fresher if stored in a cool, dry place where they will have exposure to indirect sunlight. Also, the temperature will not fluctuate too much.
- Store the seeds in a cool, dry place throughout the year.
- Ensure that your seeds have been dried thoroughly.
Understanding the Plant
Every plant has a unique lifespan; therefore, it’s important to consider carefully which seed you’ll be planting. Tomato seeds will last at least four years if properly dried and stored.
Before deciding where to put your plant in storage, research the topic. Some seeds may also have more specific environmental requirements. Because of this, solid knowledge is necessary. You can hire a gardener for this purpose as well.
Get your Aerogarden starter kit today
All AeroGarden models can grow the vast majority of available pod varieties. Some larger vegetable seed pods, such as eggplant and bell peppers, can only be grown in the taller AeroGarden models.
Because of their size, fruiting plants like peppers and giant size tomatoes benefit from being separated from one another. The AeroGarden Grow Anything Kit includes pre-assembled seed-free pods, so you can plant whatever you wish.
The seed pods have a half-year shelf life. The longevity benefits of vegetables are well worth remembering. Flowers come next, then it’s on to leafy greens and herbs, and finally, we have your typical vegetables.
If you take good care of your plant, it will live longer. Reusing plastic components from dead plants or recycling the rest can help you save money for your next planting.
Be sure to clean your system thoroughly after each harvest. This will help eliminate lingering germs and stop the spread of root infections.
