12 Best Indoor Gardening Systems for Fresh Produce Year-Round
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Between the rising price of groceries and the dregs of winter produce at the farmers market, sometimes we wish we had our own edible garden to pick ingredients from. But while we all don't have the outdoor space (or free time) required to help plants thrive, the best indoor gardening systems take the joy of self-grown food and make it accessible. Yes, even if you live in a studio apartment, you can grow your own herbs, produce, and even flowers with these innovative systems. With app interfaces, smart watering, and grow lights on timers, you'll want to embrace your green thumb year-round—especially because they're shockingly easy to use. Most, in fact, are self-watering and don't require soil or sunlight.
While there may not be much physical exertion required to actually grow your plants, there is some effort required to find the best one. Luckily, we tapped three gardening experts who can help guide your shopping process and answer some often-asked questions, including the most basic: How do indoor garden systems work?
"A hydroponics system, sometimes called a smart garden, grows plants inside." Jane Dobbs, a U.K.–based gardening expert says, "It doesn't matter where you live; this technology allows you to grow any plants in controlled conditions regardless of the weather. In fact, plants grow faster and more predictably because of the stable environment."
So, you may wonder, who are indoor garden systems meant for? Anyone who likes to grow their own produce, of course. There's no need to carve out a massive nook in your kitchen or get rid of your countertop appliances to make space for your new indoor garden because plenty of our picks are small enough to tuck in a corner or on the edge of your prep space. Shop our favorites ahead.
Additional copy by Jessica Cherner.
More inspiration for green thumbs:
Smart Indoor Garden
Plantaform's smart indoor garden is great for those who want to be able to grow whatever their heart desires, whether that's herbs, produce, or just beautiful indoor blooms. Users praise the accompanying app for its intuitive user experience and accurate data and notifications if anything needs adjusting. We love that the four tinted magnetic windows allow the system to function as a greenhouse but can be removed for plants that need that extra bit of growing space. This indoor gardening system comes equipped with 15 pods, lids, and germination domes so you can hit the ground running.
LED Growhouse
We don't like to play favorites, so let's just say that this one is at the top of our list for a reason. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but it's also a great option for anyone who is just starting to get into at-home growing. Plus, it isn't a huge commitment spatially. Financially, it is a bit of a spend, but if you're willing to shell out, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck. It's a watertight planter (no leaking) that facilitates easy planting, watering, and harvesting, courtesy of the built-in LED grow light that offers museum-quality illumination for your greens. Pottery Barn's growhouse is also a great introduction to gardening because it connects to the Modern Sprout app that basically teaches you how to do everything. For the lazy, just customize a program and let the growhouse do the rest. Plus, if you'd prefer this nifty gadget in a different finish, get it in matte black.
Hydroponics Growing Tower
Unlike the previous pick, this is not one you'd pop on the edge of your countertop because, at 53 inches high, it's a bit too tall. Whether you're planting vegetables, herbs, or flowers, you won't have to worry about the soil-related mess because this tall tower doesn't require even an ounce of soil. It utilizes four LED lights to keep whatever's sprouting properly lit for faster and healthier growth. Lastly, because this is vertical, it's the easiest way to grow more without taking up too much valuable floor space. Not to mention, it's on wheels, so if you want to move it out of the way when company comes over, you won't have to worry about figuring out how to lift and transport this thing—which can weigh up to 20 pounds, depending on what you're planting.
LPH-Max 21 Pods Hydroponics Growing System
"After reading about indoor gardens, I needed to get one. I hate buying herbs from supermarkets because I never end up using it all, and then they just go bad in the fridge. I just received this one in the mail, and though I haven't set it up yet, I am excited to use it!" Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao says. The LetPot offers 12 or 21 pod holes, adjustable plant lights, and a hydroponic system (my favorite part). "I don't want to deal with dirt, thus bugs, so growing my herbs using a water method seems better," Liao adds. The machine can sense when the water reservoir is low and will draw water from a nearby source to feed your plants. You can also control the grower via an app or by tapping on the display panel on the front. "I plan to grow all the basil to make pesto sauce and cilantro to make my salsa this summer" Liao says.
Smart Hydroponic Growing System
This smart system can be used on a tabletop for non-climbing plants or on the floor with the included trellis for anything that likes a little height, like cucumbers or honeysuckle. From the outside, it resembles a simple garden bed, but on the inside, you'll find a double-layer structure complete with a built-in water pump designed for faster and more efficient water circulation. There is also a customizable high-efficiency grow light with a 60-degree lens for more concentrated illumination. That's something you'd use for plants that require a lot of sunlight and heat, like tomatoes. One reviewer said, "The design is sleek and modern, and it fits anywhere in the house, from the countertop (for shorter plants) or on the floor (for climbing vines, such as cucumbers), and the unit comes with supporting stakes. I planted the cucumber seeds a few weeks ago and now all of them are growing nicely. Can't wait to see the plant mature and fruit."
Hydroponics Growing System
Like the previous pick from eSupergrow, this one also enlists a double-layer planter with built-in water pumps, but this one comes with a pre-assembled, adjustable trellis that's topped with an LED grow light. It is a bit smaller than the previous one, with only two grow pods, as opposed to three, so if you're working within tighter confinements, this is the one to snag.
Hydroponics Growing System Indoor Garden
This is one of the more attractive growing systems on our list. After all, it looks exactly like a planter with a sleek light attached. It's also more advanced than its basic shape may lead you to believe. For instance, you can choose between water or soil to germinate up to six pods plants at once. It also comes with an 18-watt full spectrum LED light, attached to an adjustable gooseneck, that simulates sunlight to promote growth of all year round. Lastly, the iDOO system is self-watering, so once you set it up, you don't have to do much to enjoy the fruit of your not-so-much labors.
Hydroponics Growing System
Because this one is a bit bigger (39" W x 37" H x 10.75" D), you may only want to get this one if you know your way around a garden. In other words, it's not for beginners. Here's why: There is room for a whopping 80 pods and a 27-liter water tank, so if you're only planning on growing a few fruits and veggies, maybe go with one of the smaller options on the list. That said, just because it's bigger and houses more plants doesn't mean it requires much more work. In fact, this one is pretty smart with a full spectrum grow light that adjusts to cater to the different growth stages of your plants, and two quiet water pumps that keep your produce quenched.
Gardyn Home Kit 2.0
Towering and sleek, the Gardyn Home Kit 2.0 is perfect for tall stalks and a wide variety of produce. This system offers AI monitoring 24/7 so you can rest easy knowing that you'll be alerted if any of your plants need assistance. If you're looking at it and thinking it will be a pain to set up, worry not! It doesn't require any tools to assemble; just pop the pieces in place according to the instructions. Plus, Gardyn members receive 10 free yCube plants per month. Just make sure you download the app, which tells you everything you'll need to know about the health and status of your buds.
Smart Garden
If you're wondering how astronauts grow plants in space, this may answer a few questions because it uses NASA-inspired Smart Soil that creates an optimal environment for your plants, sans pesticides, fungicides, or hormones. Just pop in the plant capsules, add water, and plug in the machine. This three-pod indoor gardening system is designed primarily for herbs, and it comes with three pots of basil. With a 40-ounce water tank, this system self-waters for up to three weeks (depending on other conditions, like the temperature).
Smart Landscape Growframe
Grow succulents, houseplants, produce, herbs, you name it, all while keeping your floors clear. This grow frame, complete with built-in grow lights, mounts to the wall and turns your indoor garden into a work of art. You can adjust the light to suit your plants' needs—there are full sun and low-light modes. It also comes in two sizes and four finishes, so there is definitely a system to match your kitchen space.
Microgreens Growing Kit
If you're really into the microgreens health trend and add them to everything you eat, you'll benefit from growing the miniature superfoods at home. Now it's easy: This tray, sized perfectly for a deep windowsill or countertop, only needs to be watered once in between planting and harvesting (really).
How We Chose the Indoor Gardening Systems
If you've already started your search for a quality indoor gardening system, you know that there are a lot of options out there. With so many products all claiming to do the same thing (effortlessly grow produce, herbs, and flowers), the idea of actually buying one can be discouraging. That's where we come in. We did all of the research for you and picked the best products the Internet has to offer. How did we make these picks, though? Well, we spent hours combing through the okay, good, and bad product reviews to inform our final choices. Ultimately, we used a few factors to guide us: reviews, ease of use, what you can grow, and how they work. You won't find any two products that are too similar on our list.
Are Indoor Gardening Systems Worth It?
Whether or not indoor gardening systems are worth investing in totally depends on how you're using it and which one you're buying. "These types of systems let you control factors like light, temperature, and humidity, so your plants grow faster and produce more," Jane Dobbs, gardening team leader at U.K.-based Allan's Gardeners, and professional gardener, says. "With an indoor system, you can grow crops year-round, regardless of the weather outside. These systems are great for urban dwellers because they maximize space available as efficiently as possible. It's also more environmentally friendly to grow things hydroponically because they use up to 90 percent less water than conventional soil-based gardening." Well, there you have it. So if you prefer to grow your fruits, veggies, herbs, and even flowers yourself, you will likely find that an indoor garden system is, indeed, worth it. "Additionally, indoor growing systems make plants healthier and stronger by eliminating soil-borne diseases and pests. You can basically tailor the environment to each plant's needs," she adds.
What Are the Disadvantages of Hydroponics?
"In my opinion, there are two major disadvantages to hydroponic systems," Diane Kuthy, founder and lead gardening expert at How to Grow Everything, says. "The first disadvantage of a hydroponic system is definitely the cost of setup. Hydroponic systems can be quite expensive and there is a bit of a learning curve if you are used to the traditional method of growing." She's not wrong. If you're new to gardening in general or quite accustomed to the more traditional gardening outdoors. indoor gardening systems can be a tough adjustment because there's rarely any soil. Once you get used to them, though, you won't have much trouble—especially because there's a lot less physical work involved in these types of systems. "The next disadvantage of hydroponics is that they're completely reliant on a constant supply of electricity, which can make it tricky for gardeners who live in areas where there are frequent storms or rolling summer blackouts," she adds. Plus, if there is just one blackout, the health and livelihood of your plants is in jeopardy.
Do Hydroponics Use a Lot of Electricity?
This is definitely something to consider, but before you make up your mind based on how eco-conscious these things are, know that, contrary to popular opinion, these don't all use a ton of electricity. "The type of system that you use will determine how much electricity it uses," says Shelby DeVore, founder of Garden. Farm. Thrive.. "A hydroponics system has a few components that run on electricity. The pump that circulates the water and the lighting system are the two biggest things that use electricity, so depending on how big your system is, you'll get a sense of how much electricity it will use." Plus, the type of crop you're growing will also determine how much electricity your system will need. Some crops, for instance, grow best when the pump runs constantly, while others do better with the pump circulating water for just a couple of hours per day.
Why Trust House Beautiful?
Though Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner is hardly a professional gardener, she knows a thing or two about picking the crème de la crème of anything you'd snag for your home. For this story, Cherner spent more than four hours reading through reviews, ratings to find the best indoor gardening systems on the market right now for House Beautiful readers. In addition, she tapped the three landscaping and gardening experts for their advice and thoughts on buying the best system for your space, how they work, and more.
Jane Dobbs has worked as a gardener for the last decade. She also leads the gardening team at U.K.-based Allan's Gardeners. Shelby DeVore has a master's in agriculture and is the proud founder of the gardening blog Garden. Farm. Thrive. She also spent more than six years teaching high school- and college-level agriculture classes, including plant science, soil science, hydroponics, greenhouse management, and other horticulture courses. Diane Kuthy currently manages a five-acre farm in Sandpoint, Idaho and has more than 10 years of experience growing both indoor and outdoor plants. She also founded How to Grow Everything, a website dedicated to offering helpful gardening guides for beginning gardeners.
You Might Also Like
