Okay: The temperatures have soared and you’ve taken a day trip to the beach to beat the heat, but when you get home, ready to do a light and fresh dinnerthe basil in your planter is dried and crunchy.
Growing herbs can be tricky. Not enough light, too much water, extreme heat or cold, the wrong type of plant food, and boom: there are your pesto plans. Not to mention, store-bought herbs seem to go bad almost instantly. Indoor Herb Gardens can manage your plants for you (telling you when to water them and featuring built-in grow lights), and our favorite, the AeroGarden Elite Harvest– is currently at a whopping $84 off.
Serious Eating / Irvin Lin
Buy: AeroGarden Harvest Elitel was $206, now $122 at amazon.com.
Why it won our review
We tested eight indoor herb gardens, and the AeroGarden Harvest Elite was the most versatile. Even though we had to watch a few videos to set it up, it ended up being quite simple to get started. It’s big enough to grow six plants and it comes with six seed pods to get started, but you can plant your own seeds with the Grow kit anything. Plus, it has a digital display that tells you exactly when to water and fertilize each plant, without guessing! No overwatering or underwatering! Its grow light can also be programmed to suit a variety of plants and herbs, and it even has custom settings if you need to override a pre-programmed schedule. We also loved its Vacation Mode, which reduces water usage and dims the lights while you’re away to slow plant growth. Finally, when it comes time to clean (because yes, you have to clean your indoor garden since mold or algae can form), the top of the unit comes off and you can easily wipe out the water tray. And while it was our most expensive pick, it’s currently 40% off, making it a great deal for anyone who loves fresh herbs.
Good to know:
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.125 x 11 inches
- Delivered with: Pod Garden Unit with LED Grow Lights, 6 Seed Kit, Grow Domes, Plant Fertilizer, AC Adapter
- Number of pods: 6
- Guarantee: Limited to 1 year
- Good to know: Guaranteed germination; will replace the pods if not
FAQs
What is the difference between AeroGarden Harvest and AeroGarden Harvest Elite?
THE AeroGarden Elite Harvest features a digital display that tracks when you planted your pods so you don’t have to write in dates manually. It also has customizable settings for its grow light and built-in reminders for watering and adding plant fertilizer, making it a great option for people who want a less hands-on approach. THE Aerogarden Harvest doesn’t have a digital display, which, while not a deal breaker, doesn’t allow for the same degree of customization.
Can I plant my own seeds in the AeroGarden Harvest Elite?
Yes, you can plant any seed you want AeroGarden Everything Grow Kit. This system allows you to grow whatever you want, although some plants perform better than others with the AeroGarden. They also note that anything growing underground (like beets, carrots, or radishes) can be started in the AeroGarden but must be moved outside to fully develop.
