Hello, Darlings
This is a special article and not my usual journal entry. First I want to share with you photos of the progress of the plants grown in my 50-pod hydroponic tower, and the growth rates of the six cherry tomato plants growing in the 20-pod countertop systems. In the 50-pod hydroponic tower the Green Glaze Collard plants have grown well with large leaves, which are ready for their first picking. The three Amaranths seedlings that I saved have adapted to the tower and are rapidly growing. The Pak Choi has given us a couple of fresh salads mixed with Parris Romaine Lettuce, as well as a one-dish meal of Chicken and Pak Choi Teriyaki Noodles. However, unlike the lettuce, I believe the Pak Choi must be reseeded frequently, because I discovered that once the leaves are picked the plants do not grow new ones.
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| Green Glaze Collards |
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| Green Glaze Collards, side 2 |
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| Pak Choi Plants with Amaranth Plants above |
Since I have not had much success with growing cucumbers in the small 2-pod trellis hydroponic growing system, and one of the 20-pod countertop systems, I moved the 2-pod trellis hydroponic growing system to the sunroom with new seeds. I also added cucumbers seeds to the 50-pod hydroponic tower, and soon discovered that the difference in the size and grow rate of these plants as oppose to the one in the smaller growing system is striking, not only are the cucumber plants growing and flowering with baby cucumbers, their leaves are amazingly larger than my hand. The vines are also attaching themselves to nearby structures. As of now the baby cucumbers look as if they might survive.
Tower cucumbers with smaller ones in background & wonder pepper plants above 
Tower system one of many baby cucumbers
The California wonder pepper plants have grown, but I believe I will need the move them into a growing system of their own. Because while the plants are large enough to bud, the crowding of the other plants are preventing the pepper plant buds from fully developing, so they die without blooming. However, I fear pulling the plants out of the tower, because the root systems are very large, and removing the plants might mean root damage and death for them.
Moving on from the tower plants, back on Monday, January 12, 2026 I replaced the exhausted Tiny Tim tomato plants with new seeds. However, in their place I planted two K2 Golden Cherry tomato seeds in one system and two Tiny Tim tomato seeds in another system. The K2 Golden Cherry tomatoes plants are new to me and have surpassed my expectations and are maturing much faster than their cousin the Tiny Tim plants. Both plants varieties were seeded the same day.
K2 Golden Cherry tomatoes (color is richer than what is pictured)
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| New Tiny Tim tomatoes |
The Tiny Tim Cherry tomatoes are growing straight up with side branches, which are normal for them. However, the K2 Golden Cherry tomatoes, while the same height have stems and branches that are thicker and denser. While the Tiny Tim plants are flowering, the K2 Golden Cherry plants have many green tomatoes. The leaves on both types of plants get so dense that I have to prune the larger leaves frequently.
In addition, about two to three weeks before removing the old Tiny Tim plants, I cut off a couple healthy branches and placed them in a hydroponic system with a basil plant. While the basil plant has finally exhausted itself the two Tiny Tim branches have grown into full grown plants and are heavy with green tomatoes, which will be ready for harvest in the near future.
Tiny Tim Cherry tomatoes side branches
While not mentioned, my other vegetable plants are growing healthy.
It is the growing progress of the ones above that I wanted to share with you
today. I hope you find this article informative and useful for your own indoor farming
projects. 
50-pod hydroponic growing system
I also have another special hydroponic system DIY makeover I will be sharing with you soon.
So, until then,
Chow, Darlings.