The JULY 2025 Farm Report

garysjordan
Jun 27
10 min read

Updated: Jul 4

2025-07-01

I have eight AeroGarden Sprouts,

I have four AeroGarden Harvests named Harvey, Harvey Too, Seble, and Teresa, one Harvest Elite named Crusie, and one Harvest 2.0 named Mildred.

I have three 12-pod iDOOs named Lillian, Liam, Justice, and one in dry lay-up. Only Liam is planted as of June 1.

I have three 12-pod Lykos named Cecile, Alice, Faith, and one in dry lay-up. Only Faith is planted as of June 1.

I have two cute little 3-pod units named Cutie Patootie and Shirley.

I have one narrow-mouth one-quart amber mason jar named Katemcy, one wide-mouth one-quart amber Mason jar named Vidalia, and one wide-mouth one-pint clear Mason jar (with a sweater) named Darla. The jar is Darla, not the sweater. I have an assortment of empty clear and amber mason jars with irrelevant names.

There are six Click & Grow Smart Garden-3s in dry lay-up. They will be renamed if returned to service.

2025-04-24 update

What follows is the planting 'schedule'. If a numbered position is not shown, it is empty and covered.

**The master templates for the gardens.**

Main Unit First Shelf

From Left to Right

Sprout 1

1 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden (planted 2025-05-01) germinated 2025-05-24

2 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden [Planted 2025-05-15]

3 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01)

Sprout 2

1 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01)

2 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden [Planted 2025-05-15]

3 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden (planted 2025-05-01)

Sprout 3

1 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden (planted 2025-05-01)

2 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden [Planted 2025-05-16]

3 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01)

Sprout 4

1 Tiny Tim Dwarf Tomato. Seeds from ZuluSeeds (planted 2025-05-01) [2025-05-05 germinated]

3 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01) [2025-05-08 germinated]

Sprout 5

1 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01) [2025-05-05 germinated]

3 Tiny Tim Dwarf Tomato. Seeds from ZuluSeeds (planted 2025-05-01) [2025-05-08 germinated]

Sprout 6

1 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden planted 2025-05-01

3 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01) [2025-05-05 germinated]

Main Unit Second Shelf

Harvey (Harvest 1)

3 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden planted 2025-05-01

5 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden [Planted 2025-05-16] Germinated 2025-05-28

6 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden planted 2025-05-01

Harvey Too (Harvest 2)

1 Tiny Tim Dwarf Tomato. Seeds from ZuluSeeds planted 2025-05-01 [2025-05-05 germinated]

6 Patio Fire and Ice Peppers. Seeds from Pepper Joe's planted 2025-05-30

- A Tiny Tim Dwarf Tomato planted in hole 6, Seeds from ZuluSeeds, died without germinating.

Mildred (Harvest 2.0)

3 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden [2025-05-16 planted]

1 Tomato, World's Smallest (Tomberry). Seeds from Seed Therapy (planted 2025-05-01)

Crusie (Harvest Elite)

1 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden planted 2025-05-01 [2025-05-05 germinated]

6 Tiny Tim Dwarf Tomato. Seeds from ZuluSeeds planted 2025-05-01 [2025-05-05 germinated]

Seble (Harvest 3)

2 Tomato, World's Smallest (Tomberry). Seeds from Seed Therapy planted 2025-05-01 [2025-05-05 germinated]

5 Tomato, World's Smallest (Tomberry). Seeds from Seed Therapy planted 2025-05-01 [2025-05-05 germinated]

Teresa (Harvest 4)

1 Tomato, World's Smallest (Tomberry). (planted 2025-05-01) Seeds from Seed Therapy [2025-05-05 germinated] Now over 11" tall.

6 Tomato, World's Smallest (Tomberry). Seeds from Seed Therapy planted 2025-05-01 [2025-05-05 germinated]

5 Greenhouse Level Indicator from VINTORKY via Amazon

Second Unit Top Shelf

Darla (wide-mouth clear Mason jar) (planted 2025-05-28

Katemcy (narrow-mouth amber Mason jar) (planted 2025-05-20 [Germinated 2025-06-01]

Vidalia (wide-mouth amber Mason jar) (planted 2025-05-25

Shirley [Cute Little 3-pod Unit 1 (Changshou through Walmart)] (planted 2025-05-10)

Cutey Patootie (Cute Little 3-pod Unit 2 (Changshou through Walmart)) (planted 2025-05-01)

Second Unit Second Shelf

Sprout 7

1 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01)

3 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01) [2025-05-05 germinated]

Sprout 8

1 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden planted 2025-05-01

3 Salad Greens, seed pod from AeroGarden (planted 2025-05-01) [2025-05-05 germinated]

Third Unit Top Shelf

Faith (Lyko 3)

1 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden planted 2025-05-01 [2025-05-12 germinated]

2 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden planted 2025-05-01 and still not germinated.

3 Rainbow Lunchbox Peppers from SURVIVAL GARDEN SEEDS planted 2025-06-05.

4 Rainbow Lunchbox Peppers from SURVIVAL GARDEN SEEDS planted 2025-06-05.

8 Rainbow Lunchbox Peppers from SURVIVAL GARDEN SEEDS planted 2025-06-05.

9 Orange Hat Tomato. Seeds from SeedsofMindsGarden planted 2025-05-01 and still not germinated.

11 Rainbow Lunchbox Peppers from SURVIVAL GARDEN SEEDS planted 2025-06-05.

12 Rainbow Lunchbox Peppers from SURVIVAL GARDEN SEEDS planted 2025-06-05.

Liam (iDOO 12-pod Unit 1)

2 Patio Fire and Ice Peppers. Seeds from Pepper Joe's planted 2025-05-01

3 Green Onion, leftovers replanted 2025-05-20

4 Green Onion, leftovers replanted 2025-05-20

7 Green Onion, leftovers replanted 2025-05-20

8 Green Onion, leftovers replanted 2025-05-20

9 Patio Fire and Ice Peppers. Seeds from Pepper Joe's planted 2025-05-01

11 Patio Fire and Ice Peppers. Seeds from Pepper Joe's planted 2025-05-01

12 Green Onion, leftovers replanted 2025-05-20

Third Unit Bottom Shelf

Ranch Five (Smart Garden 3)

1 Yellow Sweet Pepper. Seeds from Amazon

2025-05-03 - The peppers ripened and were harvested.

The Smart Garden 3 was emptied, cleaned,

disassembled, and stowed.

Useful Videos

A Few Useful Notes

In many of the proffered videos, the originator will point out that light + fertilizer + water -> green slime or white algae. Usually, the simplest remedy is to cover any place that light can reach water. AeroGarden seed pods come with a paper covering with a small hole to minimize exposure. Such covers are also sold separately or bundled with other parts, like baskets and sponges. Another alternative is a plastic barrier. Its advantage is that it can be installed or removed without adhesives. I linked to an example.
Looking at the first picture above, you will note the twelve AeroGarden Aerovoir reservoirs behind the seven Sprouts and five Harvests. If you are more attentive to water levels than I've managed to be, reservoirs aren't necessary. Also, if you examine some older posts, you'd find the reservoir side-by-side with its garden, instead of behind it. I find the current arrangement more esthetically pleasing. It makes access to the plants easier. Also, I can walk behind the shelving where access to the reservoirs is much easier, too. I filled them all up today, 2025-04-03 14:30:00.
I did more research before the May 1 planting than any previous planting. Because the Sprouts only rise to 10" (ten inches) and Harvests only rise to 12" (twelve inches) of room between lights and plant deck, I read articles about tiny plants. It isn't enough that it says "Dwarf" on the seed packet. Dwarf just means it will only grow to 36" or so. "Micro" or "patio" are words to live by. Of all the seeds listed in my planting schedule, none grow taller than a foot, and those get planted in my modified taller units. iDOOs only have 11.2" and Lykos have 19". The cute little units have 12.5". Micro plants are the way to go.
Happy World Naked Gardening Day, May 3, 2025. I gardened naked in the plant room, if only for a brief period and with a robe readily available. The basement is often chilly.
2025-05-05. Germination. Sprouts. little two-leafed shoots rising beneath their domes. The surprising thing to me is that five shoot I observed are from a tomato plant of some variety! I'd expect all those AeroGarden Salad Greens seed pods to be faster and firster, but only two were. The lettuce seeds from Sereniseed are the only other non-tomato sprouting.
2025-05-07. I purchased Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food. It may have been a mistake. It appears I misread the description - it seems to be something you dissolve in water and spray on your tomatoes outdoors. We'll see what we see.
2025-05-07. I also purchased EZ-GRO 4-18-38 Hydroponic Nutrients for Tomatoes, Peppers & Leafy Greens. This will supplement the regular liquid plant food.
2025-05-08. I finally succumbed to the suggestion that AeroGarden makes the best watering jug.
My modified taller units mentioned above are two Harvests with height extenders, giving them five extra inches. (17") I had another, but used it too close to a heater, and it melted.
I planted my remaining free range AeroGarden Salad Greens Seed Pods in Sprouts 1 & 2. Free range means in this case that they were not carefully stored nor in the original packaging. Any seeds might have been bounced out. Half of the seed pods from that group have not germinated 15 days after planting. I'll give these a week, then begin systematic replacement with other salad greens still in their original packaging. Alternately, I have an unopened box of Mixed Romaine Seed Pods.

2025-05-16 AeroGarden Seed Pod Inventory

AeroGarden Seed Pod Kits all contain pre-assembled seed pods with domes and 1 three-ounce (88mL) bottle of Miracle Gro Liquid Plant Food 4-3-6 with measuring cup.

Eight Gourmet Herb Seed 3-Pod Kit containing Genovese Basil, Curley Parsley, and Dill. The seeds are in the sponges, the sponges are in the baskets, and the covers are on the baskets as shown. Each seed pod comes with a dome. (One kit opened, liquid food removed.)

One Gourmet Herb Seed 6-Pod Kit containing Banquet Curly Parsley, Genovese Basil, German Winter Thyme, Peppermint Mint, Superdukat Dill, and Thai Basil. The seeds are in the sponges, the sponges are in the baskets, and the covers are on the baskets as shown. Each seed pod comes with a dome.

Two Salad Greens Seed 9-Pod Kit with Red, Green, Romaine and Butter Leaf Lettuce. The seeds are in the sponges, the sponges are in the baskets, and the covers are on the baskets as shown. Each seed pod comes with a dome. 20% Lettuce, Galactic, 20% Lettuce, Red Sails, 20% Lettuce, Marvel of the 4 Seasons, 20% Lettuce, Romaine Parris Island, 20% Lettuce, Dear Tongue

One Mixed Romain 6-Pod Kit containing 6 Romaine Lettuce. The seeds are in the sponges, the sponges are in the baskets, and the covers are on the baskets as shown. Each seed pod comes with a dome.

Other Seeds

Pepper Joe's Patio Fire and Ice Pepper Seeds – Pack of 10+ Mild Hot Chili Seeds – USA Grown – Ornamental Pepper Seeds for Planting. Comes in a brown envelope, for planting in seed pods provided by user.

Snack Mix Patio Pepper Seeds for Planting - 1 Packet with Instructions to Plant and Grow Rainbow Lunchbox Peppers in Your Vegetable Garden - Non-GMO Heirloom Variety - Survival Garden Seeds

Visit the SURVIVAL GARDEN SEEDS Store

Received from Amazon 2025-06-03

Leafy Greens seeds.

Lettuce. Seeds from Sereniseed

These lettuces might be superior to AeroGarden's seeds.

Seed Pods

The gardens I have chosen use three distinct and mostly incompatible seed pod designs, namely the round AeroGarden compatible seed pods, the square iDOO/QYO/Lyko compatible seed pods, and the Click & Grow seed buckets.

Round

The so-called "compatibility" of these pods is one of those "grain-of-salt" issues. The width varies very slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, plus some baskets have "wings" that make the basket ride higher in the hole.

The basket shown at left is an IDOO short basket. The sponge sticks all the way through a hole at the bottom.

The kit at right shows everything. Baskets, sponges, domes, and light-blocking labels. Some vendors sell what you see here plus seeds, ergo "some assembly required."

Typically, AeroGarden sells kits with all the parts shown and the seeds in the sponges and the labels affixed atop the baskets. Insert the pre-assembled pod in a hole in the grow deck of your hydroponic unit, pop on a dome, and grow something. I like to use a vendor on Etsy, https://www.etsy.com/shop/GH3DLabs , for an adapt=a-pod basket.

The iris cap takes the place of a label or the round light cover shown at left.

Square

The original iDOO hydroponic units appear to have used square baskets and then switched to round for AeroGarden compatibility. Now, QYO and Lyko and a few others own the square pod market. Lyko sells kits which include the labels and seeds, but the seed pods are not preassembled. You have to put the seeds in the sponges, the sponges in the baskets, the labels or covers on the baskets, and so forth.

As shown at left, there are light covers available for square baskets. Or you can apply labels. Or another method to block light is to apply foil and poke a hole in the middle.

Click & Grow Buckets

There are dozens of methods and styles of hydroponic gardening. Click and Grow's claim to fame is that once you assemble the unit, stick in seed pods and water and plug it in, you're done Just add water as necessary. No plant food. It's built into the seed pods.

It isn't quite that easy - there's pruning and pollinating and possibly trimming roots. Here is the Setup Video. You will also find comparison videos between the Sprout and the Smart Garden 3 below.

Some Things Must Be Endured

2025-07-01

I have eight AeroGarden Sprouts,

I have four AeroGarden Harvests named Harvey, Harvey Too, Seble, and Teresa, one Harvest Elite named Crusie, and one Harvest 2.0 named Mildred.

I have three 12-pod iDOOs named Lillian, Liam, Justice, and one in dry lay-up. Only Liam is planted as of June 1.

I have three 12-pod Lykos named Cecile, Alice, Faith, and one in dry lay-up. Only Faith is planted as of June 1.

I have two cute little 3-pod units named Cutie Patootie and Shirley.

There are six Click & Grow Smart Garden-3s in dry lay-up. They will be renamed if returned to service.

2025-04-24 update

What follows is the planting 'schedule'. If a numbered position is not shown, it is empty and covered.

Main Unit First Shelf

From Left to Right

Main Unit Second Shelf

Second Unit Top Shelf

Second Unit Second Shelf

Third Unit Top Shelf

Third Unit Bottom Shelf

Useful Videos

A Few Useful Notes

2025-05-16 AeroGarden Seed Pod Inventory

Eight Gourmet Herb Seed 3-Pod Kit containing Genovese Basil, Curley Parsley, and Dill. The seeds are in the sponges, the sponges are in the baskets, and the covers are on the baskets as shown. Each seed pod comes with a dome. (One kit opened, liquid food removed.)

One Gourmet Herb Seed 6-Pod Kit containing Banquet Curly Parsley, Genovese Basil, German Winter Thyme, Peppermint Mint, Superdukat Dill, and Thai Basil. The seeds are in the sponges, the sponges are in the baskets, and the covers are on the baskets as shown. Each seed pod comes with a dome.

One Mixed Romain 6-Pod Kit containing 6 Romaine Lettuce. The seeds are in the sponges, the sponges are in the baskets, and the covers are on the baskets as shown. Each seed pod comes with a dome.

Other Seeds

Pepper Joe's Patio Fire and Ice Pepper Seeds – Pack of 10+ Mild Hot Chili Seeds – USA Grown – Ornamental Pepper Seeds for Planting. Comes in a brown envelope, for planting in seed pods provided by user.

Snack Mix Patio Pepper Seeds for Planting - 1 Packet with Instructions to Plant and Grow Rainbow Lunchbox Peppers in Your Vegetable Garden - Non-GMO Heirloom Variety - Survival Garden Seeds

Leafy Greens seeds.

Lettuce. Seeds from Sereniseed

These lettuces might be superior to AeroGarden's seeds.

Seed Pods

The gardens I have chosen use three distinct and mostly incompatible seed pod designs, namely the round AeroGarden compatible seed pods, the square iDOO/QYO/Lyko compatible seed pods, and the Click & Grow seed buckets.

Round

The so-called "compatibility" of these pods is one of those "grain-of-salt" issues. The width varies very slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, plus some baskets have "wings" that make the basket ride higher in the hole.

The basket shown at left is an IDOO short basket. The sponge sticks all the way through a hole at the bottom.

The kit at right shows everything. Baskets, sponges, domes, and light-blocking labels. Some vendors sell what you see here plus seeds, ergo "some assembly required."

The iris cap takes the place of a label or the round light cover shown at left.

Square

As shown at left, there are light covers available for square baskets. Or you can apply labels. Or another method to block light is to apply foil and poke a hole in the middle.

Click & Grow Buckets

There are dozens of methods and styles of hydroponic gardening. Click and Grow's claim to fame is that once you assemble the unit, stick in seed pods and water and plug it in, you're done Just add water as necessary. No plant food. It's built into the seed pods.

It isn't quite that easy - there's pruning and pollinating and possibly trimming roots. Here is the Setup Video. You will also find comparison videos between the Sprout and the Smart Garden 3 below.

Useful Videos

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