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The Best Indoor Garden Systems for Growing Greens at Home, Tested by Us

ByWade 2023年5月14日

Interested in growing your own veggies but lack the necessary outdoor real estate? Or, simply want to skip the soil and sweat? With hydroponic gardening, you can grow plants in nothing more than a Keurig-sized pod and a simple solution of water and nutrients. Many of today’s ready-made “smart” kits even allow you to do so inside the comfort of your own home. You can skip the weed maintenance, minimize the risk of pests, garden with less space and less water, and have fresh ingredients on hand year round.

To find the best indoor garden systems, we tested 18 options in our own homes to evaluate their ease of setup and use, features, design, quality, value, and plant growth. For expert insight, we consulted Leslie Halleck, horticulturist and author of Gardening Under Lights: The Complete Guide for Indoor Growers.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall :

AeroGarden Harvest Elite at Amazon
$117

Best Budget:

inbloom Hydroponics Growing System at Amazon
$46

Best Small :

AeroGarden Sprout at Amazon
$64

Best for Herbs:

Click & Grow The Smart Garden 3 at Amazon
$100

Best for Vegetables:

AeroGarden Bounty Basic Indoor Gardening at Amazon
$180

Best Design:

Rise Gardens Personal Garden and Starter Kit at Amazon
$349

Best Overall

AeroGarden Harvest Elite

AeroGarden Harvest Elite with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit

PHOTO: Amazon

$117 at Amazon

View on Aerogarden.com

What Stands Out

This system is easy to set up, compact, and low maintenance.

What Could Be Improved

The grow light on the system is bright and can be disruptive in small rooms.

The AeroGarden Harvest Elite Indoor Garden Hydroponic System can grow up to six different herbs and veggies, thanks to the 20 LED lights that simulate natural light and an adjustable lamp that can accommodate different-sized plants.

We found that the garden was very easy to maintain with minimal effort. It has a self-watering system that goes off every 20 minutes and a water-level sensor that indicates when you need to add more water. Plus there’s a two-week timer that reminds you to add plant food. All of these features make the entire system very automated and hands off; you mainly just need to check on the plants and trim them as needed.

Setting up the system was extremely easy. It comes with everything you need to get started (including seed pods and humidity domes), and it only took about five minutes to assemble. You fill with water, add two capfuls of plant food, and insert the plant pods with humidity domes. Then you select the plant pod setup you have. The display prompts you to add water and plant food when necessary, though we didn’t have to add water until a little over a week. As the plants grew, they gradually used more water.

Each herb variety came with an estimated sprouting time range, and most of them sprouted within their given range. During the test period, most of the plants seemed healthy; some leaves withered, but only those under the main canopy that didn't get enough light. None of the six plants died, and the basil, when harvested, tasted comparable to fresh basil from a store. After six months of use, the system is working up to par.

The garden doesn't take up much room nor is it heavy, making it great even for people who live in apartments or don’t have a lot of extra space. The light can be quite bright, though, so in smaller homes, it may be tough to find a spot for the garden where the light won't be too bothersome.

Size: 6.25 by 10.5 by 17.4 inches | Plant Capacity: 6 | Wi-Fi Compatibility: No

PHOTO: Wade Review / Brendan Harkness
PHOTO: Wade Review / Brendan Harkness
PHOTO: Wade Review / Brendan Harkness