AeroGarden 1-Season User manual

Plant & Grow Your Own Seeds*
*Seeds not included
GUIDE
Quick, Plug & GrowTM Planting with Your Own Seeds
MASTER
GARDENER
English

Introduction
Introduction ....................................3
Additional Supplies Needed .....................4
Designing Your Garden
Plant Type.......................................5
Plant Height.....................................5
Nutrients........................................6
Life Span ........................................6
Plant Habit & Layout.............................7
Building a Grow Pod
Number of Seeds................................8
Prepare Pod Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Place Seeds & Grow Sponge .....................9
Attach Pod Labels ..............................10
Place Stem Cuttings ............................11
Planting Your Garden
Plant Grow Pods................................13
Feeding Your Garden
Choose a Nutrient Regime......................14
Nutrient Feeding Schedule Options.............15
Add Nutrient(s).................................16
Signs of Stress..................................16
CONT

Tending Your Garden
Remove Domes ................................17
Add Water and Raise Lamp Hood (Light[s]) ......18
Thin Plants .....................................18
Pollinate Plants.................................19
Prune Plants....................................20
Keep Your Garden Healthy ......................23
Support Plants .................................23
Harvesting Your Garden
Leafy Greens ...................................26
Bunching Herbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Branching Herbs ...............................27
Appendix
Troubleshooting ...............................28
ENTS
Images of the AeroGarden Classic and
AeroGarden 3 are shown throughout this guide,
but instructions apply to all AeroGarden models.
You will occasionally need to reference
your Quick Start Guide when planting and
growing a Master Gardener Kit.
If you no longer have your model’s Quick Start
Guide, you can obtain the latest version at
www.aerogardensupport.com

In t r o d u c t I o n
3
Introduction
Each Master Gardener Kit is designed for AeroGardeners
who want to plant their own seeds or root their own
cuttings. Each kit includes the supplies needed to plant
and grow one to three custom gardens.
While the AeroGarden provides the ideal environment
for growing plants, there are many decisions you need
to make that will impact the outcome of your garden.
This Guide will assist you in deciding what to plant, how
to plant and how to care for your plants once they are
growing. We recommend that you read the entire Guide
before starting your Garden.
NOTE: Planting an AeroGarden with your own seeds or cut-
tings is a bit of an experiment. We hope your efforts will
be successful and you enjoy the discovery process. To
get started, refer to “Designing Your Garden” for helpful
guidelines. Contact a garden center, hydroponic shop,
or university for answers to more in-depth questions.

4
Introduction
In addition to what is included in your Master
Gardener Kit, there are a few additional items you
will need.
A
dditional Supplies Needed
An AeroGarden An Iron
A Permanent Marker
Seeds Plant Cuttings
Whether this is the first or fifth garden you are
planting in your AeroGarden, you will need to
reference your Quick Start Guide.
If you have planted a garden in your AeroGarden prior
to this one, please refer to “Replanting Your AeroGarden”
in the Quick Start Guide before you proceed.
If you no longer have your model’s Quick Start
Guide, you can obtain the latest version at
www.aerogardensupport.com

5
Designing Your Garden
de s I g n I n g Yo u r ga r d e n
P
lant Type
While we encourage you to try growing a variety of
plant types in your AeroGarden, there are a few that
will not do well in an aeroponic system.
Subterranean plants, such as carrots,
beets,potatoes or peanuts should
not be planted in an AeroGarden.
In addition, plants that require
very dry conditions and have
very low water requirements,
such as cactus and succulents, will
not thrive in an AeroGarden.
SELECTING PLANTS
The following guidelines will help you plant and
grow a thriving indoor garden.
Take the time to plan
your Garden and you’ll reap the rewards of healthy
plants and bountiful harvests.
P
lant Height
The maximum height of most
AeroGarden Lamp Hoods is 12”
from the Grow Surface (24” for
Deluxe, PRO200 and AeroGarden
6 Elite+models).
It is important
to select plants that will not
grow taller than this – or to
choose plants that can be
pruned to stay within this
height restriction, such as basil.
12”
When choosing seeds, look for dwarf
or miniature varieties.

6
Designing Your Garden
P
lant Height (Continued)
If you decide to grow a
garden with a variety of
different plants, you will also
need to consider their relative
heights.Try to grow plants that
will be about the same height
as they mature.You may be
able to prune some plants in
your Garden to achieve this.
Using plants that grow at the
same rate lets you adjust the
Lamp Hood so plants all receive
the optimal amount of light.
Plant a garden with plants
that have similar growth
rates and heights, like Salad
Greens (shown).
N
utrients
Choose plants that have similar nutrient requirements.
For example,mixing plants with fairly low requirements
(such as lettuces) with plants that have much higher
requirements (such as basil) is not recommended.There
are two (2) different types of nutrients to choose from in
a Master Gardener Kit, and more specific nutrient guide-
lines are provided in the“Feeding Your Garden”section
of this Guide.
L
ife Span
Try to choose plants that have similar life spans for your
Garden. For example, dwarf tomatoes and basil are a
great flavor combination, but would be hard to grow in
the same AeroGarden. Basil will be nearing the end of
its growth cycle just as dwarf tomatoes are starting to
ripen!

7
Designing Your Garden
P
lant Habit & Layout
Some plants are bushy, others feathery, some grow
straight, others branch out. As you plant your Garden,
think about shape and growth habits of plants.You may
want to put a feathery leafed plant in front where it
can be seen and use the back row for plants that grow
straight or bushy. Even after you’ve planted your Garden,
you can remove Grow Pods and rearrange them. (Just be
gentle with the roots!)
Horizontal Spreading
If you grow plants that have extensive branching or
will spread horizontally, you may want to leave some
Grow Surface Openings empty. Example: for 3-Pod
AeroGardens, plant only 1 Grow Pod for tomatoes and
peppers and leave the remaining 2 Grow Surface
Openings empty; for 6-Pod models, plant 3 Grow Pods
and leave 3 openings empty; and for 7-Pod models,
plant 3 Grow Pods and leave 4 openings empty. This will
give plants room to grow and assure they get the light
they need.
Be sure to cover unplanted
Grow Surface Openings to
inhibit algae growth. Our Plant
Spacers are a perfect fit and can
be re-used in any Garden. Plant
Spacer Kits include 6 spacers
and can be purchased at
www.aerogardensupport.com.
Or, choose a material that will stand up to moisture, such
as aluminum foil or a plastic milk jug cap.
Quick Start Guides available at:
www.aerogardensupport.com

8
Building a Grow Pod
Bu I l d I n g agr o w Po d
N
umber of Seeds
It is important to plant extra seeds to ensure success.
For larger seeds and fruiting plants, sow only a few extra
seeds. Increase number of seeds as seed size decreases
and for plants that grow in bunches, such as chives.
Typically, 6 seeds per Grow Pod works well.
P
repare Pod Labels
Here are a few preliminary steps that will help the Grow
Pod building process go smoothly.
•Preheat iron to a moderate temperature (between silk
and cotton settings on most irons, 300°- 400°F). Do not
use steam.
•Write the name of seeds or
plant cutting on Label(s)
with permanent marker.
Doing this before you
start planting prevents
accidental mislabeling of
Grow Pods.
•If you are re-using a
Split-Apart Basket, be sure
to scrape residue from
previous Label off the
surface. Remnant glue
will prevent new Label
from adhering.

9
Building a Grow Pod
P
lace Seeds & Grow Sponge
•Place seeds into Dibble
(hole located on end of
Grow Sponge).
•Insert Grow Sponge into
Split-Apart Basket.
•Make sure Grow Sponge
base rests in bottom of
Split-Apart Basket.

10
Building a Grow Pod
A
ttach Pod Labels
The Pod Label reminds you of planting date and what
you planted, and also promotes germination and inhibits
algae growth. Be sure to fill out and apply Pod Labels.
IMPORTANT!
If you are planting SEEDS in your Grow Pods…
Attach Pod Labels AFTER Grow Pods are assembled
and seeds are in place.
If you are planting CUTTINGS in your Grow Pods…
Snap Split-Apart Baskets together and attach Pod
Labels BEFORE planting cuttings.
WARNING: Burns can occur from touching hot metal parts,
hot water or steam. Extreme caution should be used near
children. Never leave iron turned on or unattended, especially
when children are present.
Remember: Preheat iron to a moderate temperature (between silk
and cotton settings on most irons, 300°- 400°F). Do not use steam.
Attach Pod Labels
•Place Pod Label on top of Split-Apart Basket.
•Iron for a total of 10 seconds as follows:
– 5 seconds with iron in one place.
– 5 seconds moving Grow Pod around outside edge of
iron – to ensure Label is secure.

11
Building a Grow Pod
Using stem cuttings is a common method for
propagating many plant varieties, but it does require
a bit of care on your part. A number of vegetables and
shrubs root very easily, but stem cuttings from tree
species can be difficult to root. We have found that
some difficult species may be stimulated to root by
treating them with root-promoting compounds.
The following steps describe how to start plants from
both herbaceous (non-woody plants such as tomatoes,
peppers, chrysanthemum and dahlias) and softwood
cuttings (soft, new growth from plants such as lilacs, roses,
and rhododendron). It is best to take your cuttings early
in the morning when it is cool and damp.
NOTE: Be sure to attach Pod Labels to Split-Apart Baskets BEFORE
doing the following (see page 10 for instructions).
Rooting Stem Cuttings
•Use scissors or a razor-
blade that has been
sterilized in isopropyl
alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
to cut the stem 4”to 6”
from its tip.
•Before placing cutting in
Grow Sponge, remove any flowers, buds or leaves from
the lower half of stem at this time.
If using a root-promoting compound, apply it at this time.
Be sure to follow all manufacturer’s recommendations.
•Make a ½” to 1”deep
slit across the top of
Grow Sponge.
P
lace Stem Cuttings

12
Building a Grow Pod
•Moisten Grow Sponge and
insert cutting 1/3 to 1/2 of its
length into Grow Sponge.
•Carefully push Grow Sponge
(with cutting in place) through
Pod Label and into Split-Apart
Basket.
•Insert assembled Grow Pod
into Grow Surface Opening
(see page 13 for instructions).
•Repeat above steps with each
cutting and Grow Pod.
With all Grow Pods placed in Grow Surface…
•Completely cover Grow Pods using a clear plastic bag
(1-gallon size), or plastic container(s) to maintain
high humidity levels. Cover all plants in groups or
individually – just be sure each Grow Pod is covered.
Mist cuttings with water once or twice daily to maintain
humidity levels.
•Do not add nutrient tablets until you see roots extend
from bottom of Grow Sponges.Once roots extend from
Grow Sponges, start adding nutrients (see pages 14-15
for feeding recommendations).
•Plants are sensitive to pH levels.To eliminate potential
concerns regarding pH levels, we recommend using
distilled water UNTIL you begin adding nutrients.
•Continue to monitor cuttings and water level in Bowl.
Within a few weeks you should start to see roots extend
from the Grow Sponges.
•Check cuttings regularly and remove any unhealthy
(rotten or dried up) plants.Use these plants as a guide
to determine if the growing environment is too moist
or too dry.
Quick Start Guides available at:
www.aerogardensupport.com

13
Planting Your Garden
Pl a n t I n g Yo u r ga r d e n
P
lant Grow Pods
Planting a custom Grow Pod is the same as planting
a Seed Pod from any AeroGarden Seed Kit.
We recom-
mend recording the planting date and number of seeds
planted in a notebook or on a model-specific
Gardener’s
Log (located at www.aerogardensupport.com).
This will
be a great reference when planting future Gardens.
•Insert Grow Pods into
Grow Surface Openings.
All Grow Surface Openings
should contain a Grow Pod or be
covered by a moisture-tolerant
covering (see page 7).
• Seeds Only - Place a
Dome on each Grow Pod.
Make sure that…
•AeroGarden Bowl has water up to “Fill to Here.”
•Lamp Hood is at the lowest setting on Lamp Arm.
See your model’s Quick Start Guide for detailed instructions
on adding water and lowering Lamp Hood. If you no longer
have it,you can find the latest version of your model’s Quick
Start Guide at www.aerogardensupport.com.
• Use room-temperature water. Very hot or very cold water
will hurt your plants.
• For Seeds - use municipal tap, bottled or purified water.
For Cuttings - use distilled water until you begin using
nutrients, then use municipal tap, bottled or purified water.
Well or softened water SHOULD NOT be used.The extra
minerals in these sources may be harmful to aeroponically
grown plants.

14
Feeding Your Garden
Fe e d I n g Yo u r ga r d e n
Each Master Gardener Kit comes with two different
types of nutrient tablets to meet the needs of a
variety of plant types.
The amount of nutrients in your
Garden increases with tablet size.
Each tablet also contains ingredients that will keep the
water in your AeroGarden at a pH level that is ideal for
aeroponically grown plants.
C
hoose a Nutrient Regime
Most gardens will need a combination of small and large
nutrient tablets. If you are planting cuttings,you will not
have to add nutrients until you see roots extend from
Grow Sponges. Since we don’t know what’s growing in
your AeroGarden, we can only offer some guidelines for
deciding which tablets to use.
“Small” Nutrient Tablets
These tablets should always be used when first
planting seeds in your Garden – one (1) for 3-Pod
AeroGardens, and two (2) for 6- and 7-Pod models.
Leafy greens (such as lettuces), and woody herbs (such
as oregano and thyme), grow best with “Small” nutrient
tablet(s) at each feeding for their entire life cycle.
For cuttings, start adding “Small” nutrients when you
see roots extend from Grow Sponges – one (1) tablet for
3-Pod, and two (2) for 6- or 7-Pod AeroGarden models.
“Large” Nutrient Tablets
Most plant types other than leafy greens and woody
herbs need the higher amount of nutrients found in a
“Large” nutrient tablet after 4 weeks (the third feeding.)
Mint, basil and parsley are examples of herbs that grow
well with “Large” nutrient tablet(s) at each feeding
for the remainder of their life cycle.

15
Feeding Your Garden
Nutrient Feeding Schedule Options
Options A B C D
Plant
Description
Set Up
S (1), S (2) S (1), S (2) S (1), S (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 2 S (1), S (2) S (1), S (2) S (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 4 S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 6 S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 8 S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 10 S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 12 S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 14 S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Week 16 S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1), S (2)
Subsequent
S (1), S (2) L (1), L (2) L (1), L (2) S (1) , S (2)
Feedings
Lettuce/Leafy Greens/ Woody Herbs Non-Woody Herbs Fruiting Plants (with upright main stem*) Fruiting Plants with vines**
The table below shows a suggested feeding schedule
based on plant type. Use it as a starting point for selecting
a nutrient regime.Keeping a watchful eye on plants will
be the best way to learn the ideal nutrient regime.
For cuttings,do not use nutrients until you see roots ex-
tended from Grow Sponges. Once roots are seen, start with
Set Up regime,then use the appropriate plant type regime.
*Such as dwarf tomatoes, chili peppers and eggplant
**Such as squash, strawberries and peas
S (1) = 1 “Small” Nutrient Tablet – 3-Pod AeroGarden models only
L (1) = 1 “Large” Nutrient Tablet – 3-Pod AeroGarden models only
S (2) = 2 “Small” Nutrient Tablets – 6- and 7-Pod AeroGarden models only
L (2) = 2 “Large” Nutrient Tablets – 6- and 7-Pod AeroGarden models only
Nutrient Recommendations for Plant Types

16
Feeding Your Garden
A
dd Nutrient(s)
Every 2 weeks you will need to add one (1) nutrient
tablet (3-Pod AeroGardens) or two (2) nutrient
tablets (6- or 7-Pod AeroGardens) to the Bowl.
For instructions, see “Add Nutrients” (Feed Garden
- Basic Feeding) in the Control Panel Features section of
your Quick Start Guide.
S
igns of Stress
Overnourished
If tips of leaves are brown,
your plant is probably
getting too many nutri-
ents. At next feeding, you
may decrease tablet size
or just use 1/2 a tablet
(3-Pod AeroGardens), or
1 tablet (6- and 7-Pod AeroGardens). Look for signs of
improvement on new plant growth.
NOTE: If browning is severe, you may need to empty all water from
Bowl, put in fresh water, and add nutrient tablet(s). If you do
this, remember to reset Nutrient Timer. See “Replanting Your
AeroGarden” in Quick Start Guide for reset instructions.
Undernourished
Undernourished plants
become yellow. If increased
yellowing is noticed over
time, you may want to add
an extra 1/2 tablet, whole
tablet or increase tablet
size at next feeding.
Signs of improvement will mainly be apparent on new
growth. Plants will need time to absorb additional nutri-
ents, so please be patient.

17
Tending Your Garden
te n d I n g Yo u r ga r d e n
A little bit of care for your Garden will ensure rapid
growth and healthy plants.
This section provides some
general guidelines to follow as your Garden grows.
R
emove Domes
•Shortly after planting Seeds in
your garden (4 days to 2 weeks),
tiny plants will appear through
the hole in each Grow Pod Label.
When this occurs, remove
Domes from each Grow Pod
and save for your next Garden.
Do not remove Label.
•Only remove Domes from Grow Pods with emerging
plants.
•When a Cutting’s roots begin to extend from the
Grow Sponge, remove plastic bag or container that is
covering plant.
•To reduce plant stress, we recommend removing
Domes or Cutting Cover shortly after light(s) turn off or
near the end of the light cycle.
Never remove Labels.They promote
germination,inhibit algae growth and
identify your plants.
Don’t let this happen!
If a plant is curled inside
Dome, it was left on too long.
Immediately remove Dome.

18
Tending Your Garden
T
hin Plants
Herbs, lettuces, and plants that grow in bunches
(such as chives) do not require thinning.
However,
with broad-stemmed varieties, such as fruiting plants, it
is best to thin plants as described below.
•When plants are about 1”(2.5cm) tall, check each Grow
Pod for multiple plants. Using
scissors, snip the smallest
plants at the stem base, leav-
ing ONE healthy plant in each
Grow Pod.
•Thinning seedlings ensures the remaining plant in each
Grow Pod has room to grow, gets enough nutrients and
water, and produces many, many fruits.
Be sure to cut,not pull, the extra seedlings to avoid damaging
roots of the remaining plant in each Grow Pod.
!
A
dd Water and
Raise Lamp Hood (Light[s])
As your Garden grows, it’s important to keep water
in the Bowl of your AeroGarden, and
1-2” (2.5-5cm)
of space between the top of plants and the light(s).
For instructions, see “Add Water Using a Spouted Con-
tainer” and “Raise Lamp Hood (Light[s])” sections in your
model’s Quick Start Guide.
Quick Start Guides available at:
www.aerogardensupport.com

19
Tending Your Garden
P
ollinate Plants
The table below shows some common plant types
and recommended methods for hand pollination.
For plants not listed below, you may need to do some
additional pollination research – the internet and seed
suppliers are good sources of information.
HELPFUL HINT: If you find your
Garden is producing many flowers
but no fruit, chances are you need
to pollinate or change your pol-
linating method. Dead blossoms
on the Grow Surface are a good
indicator that your chosen pol-
lination method is not working.
Pollination Method Plant Examples How to Hand Pollinate
(After Flowers Appear)
Self-pollinating Legumes (such as No hand pollination
peas and beans) and necessary
English cucumbers
Shaking Dwarf tomatoes Shake plant gently every
and peppers other day when the lights
are on.
Eggplant Shake plant vigorously
every other day when the
light(s) are on. An electric
toothbrush works well.
Move male pollen to Pumpkin, squash, Use paintbrush to move
 femaleower watermelonand pollenfrommaleowerto
  commoncucumbers femaleower.Pollinate
when the lights are off.
Dwarf tomato plant
being pollinated by
gently shaking.
Pollination Methods for Common Garden Plants