Essential Tips for Optimal Plant Growth
Harvesting your plants at the right time is crucial for achieving optimal yields, maximizing taste profiles and maintaining plant health. In this resource, we will guide you through the key factors to consider when determining the perfect moment to harvest. By understanding the risks associated with plants growing too big, you can ensure a successful harvest while promoting the overall well-being of your hydroponic garden.
1. Check your Replace By Date
Always check the ‘Replace By’ on your Plant ID Tag or ‘My Farm’ section of the Lettuce Grow App for individual plant harvesting recommendations. Keep in mind that the growth time of plants can vary depending on your specific environment.
2. Prevent Bolting and Flowering
Bolting is the process where a plant transitions from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. This happens as the plant ages, but can also be a result of an imbalanced growing environment. When plants start to bolt, depending on the variety, their stems typically elongate and/or they start to flower. Bolting negatively impacts the flavor, texture, and overall quality of your crops. To avoid bolting, it's essential to harvest your plants before they reach this stage.
3. Avoid Light Blockage
As your plants grow larger, their leaves can block light from reaching neighboring plants and lead to lower yields. To prevent light blockage, regularly cut and come again or consider a full harvest. By maintaining proper light distribution, you'll ensure optimal growth on your Farmstand.
4. Ensure Adequate Airflow
Proper airflow is vital for plant health in all types of gardens. When plants become too big, their dense foliage can impede the circulation of air, which can result in a favorable environment for pests and diseases. To maintain adequate airflow, it's crucial to harvest or prune your plants before they become excessively large.
5. Keep an Eye on your Brassicas
Brassica * plants, such as broccoli and cabbage, can develop large stalks that may expand the grow cups in your Farmstand. When this happens, it may become challenging to remove the plants for harvesting or maintenance. To avoid this issue, monitor your Brassica plants closely and harvest them before their stalks become overly large.
*The Brassica family includes plants such as: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Rainbow Chard, Kale, Cabbage, Mustard Greens, Bok Choy, Komatsuna, Collard Greens, Arugula, Tatso and more.
6. Protect Indoor Plants
When plants grow too big in indoor Farmstands, their leaves may come into direct contact with the LED grow lights. This can result in burn marks on the leaf tissue. To prevent this, carefully monitor the proximity of your plants to the grow lights by regularly pruning and harvesting.
Conclusion:
Knowing when to harvest your plants is essential for maximizing yields, maintaining plant health, and keeping up with routine maintenance. Remember, a well-timed harvest will contribute to the success of your Farmstand and ensure a bountiful yield of fresh and healthy produce.