A big part of sustainable, eco-friendly living is eating fresh, local, and seasonal produce. The best way to do this is to grow your own food. However, few of us have the space, time, or resources to maintain a full-scale veggie garden, so an indoor, hydroponic system like AeroGarden could be the perfect solution.
The best AeroGarden products for indoor harvests
AeroGarden is one of the best-known brands offering ready-built hydroponic gardens that you can virtually unbox, plug in, and start growing your own herbs and vegetables without sunlight or soil, all year round. Thanks to their huge popularity, the brand now offers a wide range of products in various sizes and with different features.
We’ve picked out five of the best AeroGarden farm products to meet the needs of different indoor gardeners. Let’s take a look at each in detail, and discuss their features, pros, and cons.
1. AeroGarden Harvest 360
AeroGarden’s Harvest range features good, mid-size models that offer plenty of bounty without taking up too much space. Like all Harvest models, the Harvest 360 can accommodate six seed pods and up to 12-inch grow height, and we particularly like this model’s nine-inch round diameter that makes it easy to fit in different spaces.
It has a built-in control panel that prompts you when you need to add water and plant food for optimal growth and automatically controls the full-spectrum 20-watt LED lights. The AeroGarden Harvest 360 has a simple, push-button interface that makes it easy to control the system’s functions.
There’s also a handy water level indicator: a blinking red light will let you know when you need to top up the hydroponics.
The AeroGarden farm kit includes not only the hydroponics system but also enough liquid plant food for one season and six seed pods so you’ll have all you need to start growing. The domed seed pods are very easy to use: you simply place them as are in the AeroGarden: no mess, no fuss!
This model gets overwhelmingly positive reviews, but some online reviewers complain that the instruction manual is very basic and lacks a lot of information. So you’ll probably need to search online to troubleshoot issues and maximize your harvest.
Others also mention that the lights are super bright so may keep you awake if visible from your bedroom.
What we like:
- Compact: This round AeroGarden farm is just nine inches in diameter so fits easily in most spaces, making it a good option for apartment living, or for people who don’t have much countertop space.
- Versatile: Despite the small size, it has space for six different seed pods, allowing you to grow a range of different plants at the same time
- User-friendly: The simple interface is easy to use, letting you control everything at a touch of a button.
What we don’t like:
- Poor instruction manual: The limited manual doesn’t tell you too much about how to deal with problems and have a successful harvest.
Overall, the AeroGarden Harvest 360 is an excellent, all-purpose indoor garden that will suit most people’s needs. Compact and easy to accommodate on a kitchen countertop or windowsill, this user-friendly system will let you grow up to six different types of plants with minimal effort.
2. AeroGarden Harvest Elite
Like the Harvest 360, the Harvest Elite has space for six plants, up to 12 inches tall, with the same 20-watt LED lights as other Harvest models. It also comes with six seed pods and plant food.
The key difference is that the elite version has a digital display control panel with illuminated, heat-sensitive buttons that dim when the grow light is off.
This AeroGarden farm model offers advanced settings not found in the Harvest or Harvest 360 models, including a vacation mode function to look after your plants while you’re away. You can also customize the light schedule and choose when the lights turn on and off to support a wider variety of plant species.
The Harvest Elite has a rectangular base measuring 6.25 x 10.5 inches, and there’s also a slim version that is 15 inches long but only five inches wide, so you can place it on a countertop without losing too much work space.
On the downside, the AeroGarden Harvest Elite does not have any battery backup. This means that if there’s even a brief power outtage, you will need to reset the clock in order to get the light back on the right schedule.
What we like:
- Advanced controls: Features like vacation mode and a customizable light schedule gives you more control over your indoor farm.
- Different sizes: You can choose between the standard and slim versions to make the best use of your space. The slim version would be good for use on a windowsill, for example.
- Easy-to-read display: The control panel is illuminated for easy reading, and the lights dim automatically when the grow light goes off.
What we don’t like:
- No battery backup: You’ll need to reset the clock every time the power goes out, as there is no battery backup, and the clock resets whenever the power is turned off. This could be an inconvenience.
The Harvest Elite is another solid, mid-sized Aerogarden, that offers more advanced features than the Harvest range.
Some online users note that it can be worthwhile getting an external water tank, otherwise you may need to refill the water every couple of days. The tank is not included in the kit, but can be purchased separately.
3. AeroGarden Bounty Basic
If you’re looking for an AeroGarden farm that’s a little larger, with many of the same features as the Harvest Elite, AeroGarden’s Bounty range accommodates nine different types of plants.
The base of the AeroGarden Black Bounty is only a little larger at 16 x six inches. However, notably, you can grow plants up to 24 inches tall, allowing you to grow a wider variety of plants such as tomatoes, and to greater maturity.
The Bounty comes with 30-watt LED lights and an extendable lamp arm to adjust the light distance depending on the type of plants you’re growing and how tall they are. The kit comes with an attachable trellis to support taller plants, though it’s worth noting that the Bounty is much heavier than the Harvest models, so this may affect where you can place it.
This kit also includes a nine-pod heirloom salad seed kit, with pre-seeded grow pods including Black Seeded Simpson, Deer Tongue, Parris Island, Marvel or 4 Season, Rouge D’Iver, and Red Sail.
The Bounty has full controls and a touch screen to control the lights, which can be dimmed up to 30%, along with special features including vacation mode. As well as getting automatic water and plant food reminders, the screen also displays over 140 handy tips, making your indoor farm virtually foolproof.
This model also has WIFI connectivity, allowing you to control your garden remotely through an app. However, some online reviewers reported issues with the WIFI function and were unable to log into the app.
What we like:
- Allows for generous growing height: With up to 24 inches of growing height, you’ll be able to cultivate a wide range of herbs and veggies to maturity – you’re not limited to smaller plants – you can even grow things like tomatoes.
- Small footprint to save countertop space: The Bounty allows you to grow up to nine different plants, without taking up too much surface space.
- Advanced features like on-screen tips and wifi connectivity: With a range of special features, you can customize the system for different plants, with plenty of support to help you along the way.
What we don’t like:
- WIFI function can be problematic: While the majority of users reported no issues whatsoever, there were some who had issues with the app and couldn’t get the WIFI functionality working, so this is something to be aware of.
If you’re prepared to invest a little more in your AeroGarden, the Bounty Basic allows you to grow up to nine different plants up to 24 inches in a relatively small kit. With an adjustable lamp arm, detachable trellis, and a range of features, you’ll be able to grow anything from herbs and salad greens to tomatoes.
4. AeroGarden Sprout
The AeroGarden Sprout is an excellent option if you want to try indoor farming on a super small scale, or if you have very limited space to work with. You can grow up to three plants to a maximum of 10 inches high in this compact indoor garden that measures just five by 11 inches, making it perfect for small apartments, offices, and studios.
This model has a new design that is sleek and modern, with updated features including a super silent pump and a user-friendly soft-touch button that allows you to easily control the lights or start a new growth cycle.
A good introduction to hydroponics for beginners, the Sprout has energy-efficient 10-watt LED lights and comes with three herb seed kits: Genovese basil, curly parsley, and dill. Also included is a three-ounce plant nutrient bottle, which will see you through an entire growing season.
On the other hand, some users say the lights on this small model are too low, which can burn the plants.
What we like:
- Very compact: This tiny indoor AeroGarden farm takes up very little space, making it suitable for small countertops, windowsills, or even for sitting on a desk.
- Beginner-friendly: The kit is easy to use and has everything you need to get started, so it’s a good option to get you started with hydroponics if you have no experience.
- Quiet: The new pump is super silent, so won’t distract you in a small apartment or office. This means it’s super non-intrusive, so you could even place this kit on your desk at work, without it causing any issues or annoyances.
What we don’t like:
- Lamp arm is on the low side: With only 10 inches of growing height, you may find your plants get burnt when they grow too tall, so you’ll have to pay attention to what’s growing and how high!
If you’re looking for a compact, affordable indoor hydroponic setup to grow a few herbs or lettuce, the AeroGarden Sprout is a good option. However, if you want to cultivate more than three types of plants, or grow larger veggies or flowers, you’ll need a more extensive model.
5. AeroGarden Farm 24XL
At the other end of the scale is the impressive AeroGarden Farm 24XL. This very large indoor hydroponic system can fit up to 24 different herbs, vegetables, or flowers, with an adjustable grow height of up to 36 inches.
It also features two powerful 60-watt LED grow lights that are fully customizable, and an automatic timer to control when lights turn on and off for the exact right grow time. The digital display prompts you to add water and plant food while allowing you to monitor and control your crops.
The kit comes with plant food and two salad bar seed pod kits, with nine lettuce pods, three herb pods, and 12 tomato pods.
You can also stack the Farm 24XL with other AeroGardens to make a vertical garden and maximize the yields of your indoor farms.
On the downside, some online reviewers complain that this model is pretty difficult to assemble. They report that the holes don’t line up well so you may have to make fiddly adjustments to make everything fit together.
What we like:
- Very large: Far bigger than any of the other models on this list, you can grow up to 24 different plants up to 36 inches high with this AeroGarden farm. This is great for people who want to experience more variety in the things they grow (and eat).
- Can accommodate different types of plants: The 24XL is versatile. With an adjustable lamp arm and customizable grow lights, the farm can accommodate a range of plants and growing conditions.
- Stackable: You can combine the Farm 24XL with other models to make an extensive vertical garden.
What we don’t like:
- Can be hard to assemble: The extensive kit isn’t very user-friendly when it comes to putting it together.
If you have enough space and want to create a substantial indoor farm, the AeroGarden Farm 24XL will let you grow a bumper crop of 24 herbs, veggies, or flowers. Even though it’s the largest of the AeroGarden models on our list, it’s still a compact solution for growing fresh produce indoors easily.
What is AeroGarden?
The AeroGarden brand offers a range of high-tech, hydroponic systems that allow you to grow almost anything, year-round, without dirt or sunlight. Their kits have built-in LED lights that produce the ideal combination of blue and red light to maximize plant growth and crop yields.
The high-quality systems are designed to provide an optimal growing environment. The LEDs are arranged in the perfect pattern to help the plants to absorb more light and the kits contain everything you need to start hydroponic gardening even if you have zero experience. They feature ‘plug-and-go’ seed pods that can be ready to harvest within a couple of weeks.
AeroGarden farm advantages
AeroGarden farm products allow you to grow healthy plants by using a small amount of light, water, and nutrients, with minimal effort and virtually no mess. Let’s take a look at the benefits of using these indoor farms.
They’re ideal for beginners
One of the key advantages of AeroGarden indoor farms is that they’re incredibly easy to use, and can help you to cultivate a range of different kinds of plants even if you don’t have experience with hydroponics or even gardening in general. You could buy all the components and set up your own hydroponics system, but this would involve a lot of effort, not to mention the expertise to do things properly.
Instead, AeroGarden products come with everything you need to get started, and will also prompt you when you need to top up the water or add more plant food. Some models even have automated controls that virtually take care of everything for you.
Everything is closely controlled
Successful indoor farming involves carefully balancing a range of delicate factors, from the amount of light and number of light hours to the water levels and nutrients given. AeroGardens are precision-designed to provide the ideal growing environment, from monitoring water levels to turning the lights on and off automatically for the perfect amount of light for growth.
Source: AeroGarden- Source: AeroGarden
You can also customize many AeroGarden farm models depending on what you’re growing and how mature the plants are, by dimming the lights, adjusting the lamp arm height, or changing the lighting schedule. This way, you can grow virtually any crop in a controlled, indoor environment regardless of the season, and won’t be affected by the climate, unseasonable weather, or pests.
You’ll enjoy regular harvests
In a normal farm or garden, you’re limited in when and how often you can plant your crops because of the weather, seasons, and the need to let the earth rest between harvests. This isn’t the case with a hydroponic system: you can plant crops anytime, many will be ready within weeks, and after harvesting, you can immediately start growing more!
AeroGarden seed pods can be refilled, so you can enjoy harvest after harvest throughout the year.
They’re highly-efficient
Not only is growing plants in an AeroGarden farm incredibly easy, but it’s also a highly efficient way to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers with minimal use of energy and resources. These systems are engineered to use a minimal amount of electricity, water, and nutrients to produce an excellent harvest.
This makes them much more efficient than inferior hydroponic systems or outdoor farming.
AeroGarden farm drawbacks
Although AeroGarden farm products are high-quality, efficient, and user-friendly, they also have their disadvantages. We’ll look at both the positives and the drawbacks that can be associated with these systems.
The best models are expensive
AeroGarden products can be pretty pricey. Although there are some affordable models, like the AeroGarden Sprout, the cheapest options tend to be pretty small and fairly limited in terms of features.
If you want to be able to grow a larger number of plants or make use of the more advanced features and customization options, you’ll need to invest in one of their more expensive products.
You’ll need to buy seed pods refills
All AeroGarden kits come with enough seed pods for one harvest. However, once you’ve harvested your crops, you’ll need to refill them in order to grow more.
These pods can be refilled with new grow sponges, which you can buy on Amazon, so it requires an ongoing investment.
Ongoing maintenance is required with an AeroGarden farm
Although many of the processes are automated in an AeroGarden system, it does require some degree of ongoing maintenance to keep things working properly. You’ll need to clean the reservoir, change the water and clear the roots after every harvest.
The better care you take of your AeroGarden, the longer it will keep working well. In particular, it’s important to protect the fragile pump from root debris.
Final thoughts
An AeroGarden farm offers a range of user-friendly, efficient, and high-quality indoor farms to suit a range of households. If you have very limited space or want to try out hydroponic gardening with something simple, you can start with the very compact AeroGarden Sprout.
The AeroGarden Harvest 360 and AeroGarden Harvest Elite are solid, mid-sized options, with the latter offering more advanced features. For a slightly larger, more versatile indoor garden, go for the AeroGarden Bounty Basic, or if you want to build a truly impressive hydroponic farm, consider the AeroGarden Farm 24XL.
If you’ve enjoyed this AeroGarden review, take a look at our post on how to compost in an apartment for more on sustainable, indoor living.
