I love Italian food and, hence, I love fresh basil and use quite a bit of it. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find in my shitty little local grocery store (not to mention really expensive when it is available). In the summer, I grow it in the garden, but in the winters I was severely lacking. So, a couple of years ago, I found this video and started growing my own hydroponically in the winters. It's easy to do and it grows fast. Just thought others might be interested in giving it a whirl.



* I did upgrade my grow light to a better one as the one he suggests puts out a ton of RFI and it was really interfering with my ham radio. Otherwise, I do the same as him.

I was gifted an aerogarden a few years ago, and it excels at leafy vegetables. I really enjoyed growing veggies in it during the winter when I lived in Canada. In Houston's summer, it's nice to grow lettuce and spinach as Houston is too hot.

BTW, I added two 2.4" airstones to it and a $16 air pump, and it made the system even more productive.

Great info.

Also, trying to figure out how to grow things like green onions, cilantro and parsley here in NW Montana. Loathe buying it from the store, stupid expensive, especially green onions that are half dead.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
I was gifted an aerogarden a few years ago, and it excels at leafy vegetables. I really enjoyed growing veggies in it during the winter when I lived in Canada. In Houston's summer, it's nice to grow lettuce and spinach as Houston is too hot.

We did one of those for years in Seattleish. Was nice to always have a selection of a few varieties of fresh basil to choose from. Haven't started it since we moved to Phoenix, but the basil the wife has tried to grow in the yard gets cooked, so it's probably time.

quote:

Originally posted by sooma:
Also, trying to figure out how to grow things like green onions, cilantro and parsley here in NW Montana.

I've done cilantro (in a planter) indoors with a grow light. Three years ago, I let my summer stuff go to seed and dried them out really well. I then scattered a handfull in a smallish planter and lightly covered with soil. Kept it moist under the grow light and boom! I had more cilantro than I knew what to do with. Three year old seeds are still good, but I'll probably get some fresh ones this coming summer.

Haven't tried parsley inside, but I'm sure it would work similarly. Not sure about hydroponically.

Most years I grow several basil plants in the in-ground garden. This gives us more than enough for multiple rounds of pesto, normal cooking, and also to dry for off-season use. This year, the lovely Mrs. A. grew several plants in pots on the patio. She moved them inside when the weather got cold, and they are still growing, if more slowly now. I expect to have fresh basil until at least February. They do not get supplemental lighting, just a South-facing window, nor any special treatment, just watering. She also did this with oregano and rosemary pottings. Last night we had a very tasty rosemary chicken breast, a nice treat.

Fresh pesto in the middle of Winter is a true delight.

My point being, you don't have to put in the effort and go whole hog hydroponic, but it would probably increase the yield.

^^ Speaking of cutting effort and keeping the results.

My buddy put his wife's pots on dollies, and can roll them directly from the patio into the garage. We don't get freezes for long in the Houston burbs so he can wheel them in for a night or two and then when the weather warms up roll them back out on the patio without tweeking his back.

I visited my cousin in NYC this year, and he mentioned that he and his wife had a system called “Letpot” complete w lighting. I had toyed around with the idea for a couple of years, but that conversation kind of sparked the fire and I got one when I returned home.
Right now I’m growing basil, thyme, oregano. I think the sage might’ve failed but I just put some lettuce in and everything is sprouting up. It has an app that I can control from anywhere that keeps notes on the type of seeds that I’ve planted, lets me know if water is low, and manages the lighting if I want.
I’m liking it so far!