Spinach Substitute Taste Test

 For those who have been around indoor hydroponics groups for any amount of time, it's common knowledge that spinach just doesn't do well.  Either it is extremely difficult to germinate, or if you get it to germinate, it bolts almost immediately, before you can even really harvest any leaves.

Thus, finding a decent substitute for spinach - in salads or cooked - is a common pastime. 

As such, I set out to test two of the more commonly-touted substitutes, tatsoi and komatsuna, as well as a third, a relatively new hybrid heirloom of the two, chijimisai.

Raw Eating Results

Which AeroGarden Model is Right for You

Another question that is asked repeatedly in many forms: "Which model is right for me?"

Ultimately, you are the only one who can answer this question.  And of course, like most things in life, you get what you pay for.  However, whether you need the extra bells and whistles is the real question.

The first question to ask, and arguably most important, is what you want to grow.

Cucumber Grow Winter 2020 Taste Test!

 So, one of my current experimental grows, is three different varieties of cucumbers.  In terms of growing them in the AeroGarden, I planted them in one bay of my FarmXL, one plant for every three holes (4 plants total in the bay, the 3 cucumbers and one snow pea), and fed them just as recommended on the bottle of AeroGarden nutrients, save for feeding half strength for the first two feedings.

Left, Ukraine Heirloom; right back Puccini; right front Ronda Cornichon

As you can see in the pic, the Ronda Cornichons are significantly smaller, and I haven't gotten a fully developed fruit from it, so it isn't included in the taste test.  If I get developed fruit from it later, I will update.

However, the Ukraine Heirlooms and Puccinis both came about ripe at the same time, so on to the tasting!

Tomato Variety Roundup Review

 This is a post that will get added to over the months and years as I grow various different varieties.  It reflects my personal thoughts and preferences; everyone will have their own, so just because I don't like a variety, doesn't mean you shouldn't try it for yourself!  For instance, I prefer particularly tart/acidic tomatoes, while most prefer sweeter ones.  It is also particularly true given that with fruiting plants in general, and tomatoes especially, 'minor' differences in your particular growing conditions and how you care for your plants (temperature, water composition, even how often you fill up the water, etc.) can have very large differences in the resulting fruit.

Lettuce Variety Roundup Review

 This is a post that will get added to over the months and years as I grow various different varieties.  This is my personal thoughts and preferences; everyone will have their own, so just because I don't like a variety, doesn't mean you shouldn't try it for yourself!

If you don't really want to read the specific reviews for each variety, here are my favorites/recommendations, roughly in order:

• Marvel of 4 Seasons
• Red Sails
• Any of the Romaines (Romaine, Rouge d'Hiver, Parris Island)
• Black Seeded Simpson
• Mustard Greens (IF you like wasabi-like spiciness)
• Deer Tongue
• Tatsoi (if you have room, not great for small gardens)
  
• Mizuna (again, if you like the spiciness)
  

Non-AG:

• Buttercrunch
• Green Ice
• Ruby
• Batavian Rouge
• Blonde Romaine
• Komatsuna
• Lollo Rossa
• Little Gem
• Queen of Crunch (if crunch is one of your priorities)