January 6, 2010 by Peat
Whilst I await some parts for my hydroponic grow room, I wondered about how to grow some broccoli in the AeroGarden. As it stands the basic AG cannot grow broccoli due to it's small grow holes, so, why not rip it all apart and convert it to something that can...
Briefly, here's how it's all done - although it's an involved process which requires some hydroponic parts (hydroton, air pump + airline, airstone, net pots and rockwool - or some other grow medium).
1. Remove the complete central column and pump from inside, plus also the front hinged flap.
2. Using the AG as a template, cut out a new top grow base - I used plywood.
3. Cut out a hole for a 2" net pot which will take the hydroton and grow our broccoli.
4. Wrap everything in black plastic bags to keep the water away from the wood. I also used heat reflective tape to cover the top.
5. Put your airstone inside and connect it all up to your air pump, cover the electrical contacts at the back with plastic to stop them getting wet. We'll leave everything turned all off at the moment while the seeds germinate.
6. Germinate your seeds first in rockwool in a warm dark place. I planted two in case one did not sprout.
7. Once they have sprouted give them light from the AeroGarden lights, grow them a little while longer before transferring them to your net pot and hydroton.
8. Add your hydroponic nutrients (or spare AG tablets) and grow your broccoli...
I'll expand on some more of this as I go through the process of getting this grown. I know it's a little involved but what the heck, something different. 
Weekly Grow Pictures (Click to Enlarge)
Wed, 01/06/2010 - 11:47
#2
Aha. So you're growing something else in your new LED light cabinet. 
Wed, 01/06/2010 - 14:02
#3
They could go in there but I'm keeping this grow in the kitchen, much cooler in there.
Wed, 01/06/2010 - 14:54
#4
T&M doesn't say, but Park Seed says Belstar broccoli grows 16-20" tall. I thought that was more the size problem with broccoli in a classic-sized AG?
Thu, 01/07/2010 - 03:41
#5
That's why I only put one hole in the new base, the Classic will only just support that.
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:52
#6
Hi Peat,
Looking forward to this grow! I wonder how cabbage would grow? I've got seeds for mini head cabbage. Hmm... I've had it with the mega cherries. I might give it a shot. Good luck!
Beth
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 17:46
#7
I wish I could say that they'll definitely work, it's something I've never tried.
I'd hazard a good guess that you will be OK, some websites list the EC for cabbage and I've not seen anything that says you can't.
Give it a shot, I'd like to know how they get on also.
Sat, 01/09/2010 - 03:42
#8
Week 0 + 3 Days
All sprouted now.
They have now been placed under the AG lights to grow some leaves and a good root system, once they are big enough I'll select the best and put it in the net pot.
Thu, 01/14/2010 - 21:03
#9
Hi Peat,
Cool! Glad to see the sprouts. I'm curious how Broc roots grow hydroponically.
Beth
Fri, 01/15/2010 - 13:30
#10
Messed this one up...
I neglected to check on the rockwool, it dried out under the lights and all the sprouts died - doh!
Planted some more which will be better looked after.
Thu, 01/21/2010 - 11:44
#11
Week 0 (Starting Week) + 5 Days
After replanting, this is now 5 days growth - I won't be letting this one dry out!
No nutrients yet, water only with the light from the AG. Not sure which one I'll use for the grow, I'm thinking the one on the right as the left one has stretched quite a bit.
Sat, 01/30/2010 - 03:37
#12
Week 2
The seedling was planted seven days ago into the net basket, one week on and it's doing fine.
Dosage: FloraMicro 2.1ml, FloraGrow 2.1ml, FloraBloom 2.1ml, EC is 0.8 and the pH is at 6.2
Sat, 02/06/2010 - 05:21
#13
Week 3
Growing slowly... The 90 days to cropping seems a long way off!
Nutrients upped to a higher level, EC of 1.2 and the pH set to 6.2
Sat, 02/06/2010 - 11:16
#14
Looks good Peat! Can't wait to see how this works out!
Beth
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 03:59
#15
Week 4
The leaf at the front seems to be having a hard time, a little yellow with some tip burn. The other two don't have these issues so I'll stay on the same feed schedule - perhaps I'll move things on next week to the 'Growth Stage'.
It's still quite a fragile plant, the hydroton needs to hold it up and the roots are few at the moment.
GH Mild Growth Stage - EC kept at 1.2 and the pH is now 6.0
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 15:42
#16
Does seem kinda slow, but then I've never grown broccoli - some plants are just slow.
Have you grown any brassicas before, Peat? My experience (and Aerogrow's advice) is that they're far more sensitive to the tap water than most plants, at least when you try to grow them in water. Maybe at least leave tap water to outgas 24 hours before using? Might help. Though... my experience is also that brassicas don't grow particularly faster in water than potting mix. Possibly related.
Sun, 02/14/2010 - 07:29
#17
First time with broccoli, it's something I've wanted to 'have a go' at for some time. There's not much information on growing this in hydroponics, I'm armed with some pH figures and some, conflicting, EC charts but that's all I've got, I'll just take it slowly and see what happens.
Fair point on the water, it could be this or it may be the flora mix/EC level at fault? The newly forming leaves still look fine at this point so I'll leave the nutes alone but evaporate off the chlorine when I next fill.
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 15:02
#18
Peat - dunno if you're interested, but Park Seed's "Know Before You Grow" episode this week is Broccoli and Cauliflower.
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 16:11
#19
Thanks, I'll take any information I can get my hands on. Quite a good article on this, the best I've seen.
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 16:40
#20
I like that series a lot. On that particular article, the bit about "low nitrogen fertilizer" caught my eye.
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 16:45
#21
Yes, completely different from what you think for some reason?
I'll be continuing mine though with the GH growth stage for the duration, this means a higher nitrogen level so I'll see how this gets on in hydro.
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 16:55
#22
Well, what is a 'low nitrogen fertilizer' - simply more balanced, right?
I've got to say, lettuce and herbs grow much faster in the AG than in soil. But with the brassicas, that just hasn't been my experience. They're exceedingly touchy about water quality. Maybe they really would be happier with a different nute mix than we usually think of for "growth" and "flowering"?
Though for the first one, it makes sense to stick with what you know.
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:08
#23
It would be difficult to mix something specific for them without knowing what they actually want nutrient wise, there is nothing on the internet that I can find which details their requirements unfortunately. I did find a good article in Growing Edge Magazine though, this, at least, gave me the ideal EC which turned out to be 1.8 in the end.
As you say, it's better to stick to my tried and tested methods for now - it's doing fine so far so I hope it will continue this way.
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 03:44
#24
Week 5
Reposted after server problems when it was lost.
The nutrients have now been changed to the GH Growth Stage - EC is now 1.3 and the pH at 6
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 03:50
#25
Week 6
Growing well, just a little yellowing on the older leaves with some small brown spots. I'm hoping the EC is still too low so I'll up it a little.
GH Growth Stage, I've upped the EC to 1.5 and the pH remains at 6.0
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 12:08
#26
It's beginning to look like broccoli.
Sun, 03/07/2010 - 04:05
#27
Week 7
Still coming along nicely, the urge to taste a piece is being resisted!
There has been no more recurrence of the spotted leaf problem on the older leaves since I upped the EC (I'll be sticking on/around this for some time), I'll raise it properly again once the plant gets bigger... I'm thinking I need a larger AG now!
GH Vegetative Growth Stage: EC 1.6 and the pH at 6.0
Sat, 03/13/2010 - 11:03
#28
Week 8
Growing fine with no more issues.
GH Vegetative Growth Stage: EC 1.6 and the pH at 6.0
Sat, 03/13/2010 - 11:29
#29
Still resisting the urge to taste a piece? 
So pretty soon it'll start forming a broccoli head, right? Any signs of that yet?
Sat, 03/13/2010 - 12:05
#30
The urge is still resisted.
Wish I knew about the head, I've not grown broccoli before so I can't even say if this is on track, or even if it's growing correctly... It crops in 90 days so hopefully by week 13 I'll have something that's worth eating.
There is a flurry of leaves, or the formation of a head, in the centre at the moment though - hard to tell what's happening yet.
To be continued once the broccoli I planted today (Belstar F1 Hybrid) sprouts...
Of course, you don't have to limit yourself to broccoli - cauliflower, cabbage, butter head lettuce for example. Plants you were unable to grow before due to the constriction by the original holes.