Do you crave fresh, snappy vegetables in the winter? Do you wish you could pick summer tomatoes off the vine? Consider an indoor garden. You don’t need much space: a countertop or windowsill will do. And you don’t need a green thumb. "Growing your own has never been easier, really,” says Valerie Thrasher, co-owner of Box of Rain Organic Garden Center in Montana. “You can start with one simple pepper or tomato plant and enjoy it year round.”
We tested 18 of the most popular indoor gardens to find the easiest options to get started with and keep up over time. Among our top picks are simple, soil-based kits for herb gardens as well as hydroponic systems that can house heartier vegetables, leafy greens, and berries. Here’s how to find the best indoor garden for your home.
Our Favorite
The AeroGarden Bounty Basic grew healthy, tasty veggies, and we loved how user-friendly it was from the start. It's a great value for the money, and can grow a variety of plants.
The Tests
We started by recording the length of time each system took to set up and how easy the process was. We placed gardens with grow lights away from windows, whereas those without them were set up in front of a South-facing window for the most light. For consistency, we planted basil seeds in each model. During our testing period, we made sure to keep the temperature consistent and humidity between 40 and 60 percent. We measured the plants at three and six weeks. We rated the indoor gardens based on how fast seeds sprouted and grew, how healthy the plants appeared, and the taste at the end of testing.
Of course, we assessed indoor gardens on more than growing basil. Throughout testing, we considered how easy the systems were to keep up. We also factored in the footprint of the indoor gardens, the variety of seeds they come with, and their features. We rated features on effectiveness. Features include grow lights, self-watering systems, timers, and apps, all of which we rated on user-friendliness and how useful they were for gardening.
Factors to Consider
Hydroponic vs. Soil Based
Many indoor garden systems are hydroponic, but this is not the only option. Hydroponics are easy to set up and low maintenance, but they also require electricity and specialized equipment. In addition, they require that you buy replacement seed pods and bulbs that are compatible with that system. A soil-based system, on the other hand, is traditional gardening brought indoors. While it's a bit more work than a set-and-forget system, it also requires no electricity and fewer other resources.
Plant Capacity
Think about the size of the unit itself as well as how many plants it grows. The ideal system will fit comfortably within your space but also let you grow enough plants, based on how much produce you want.
Setup and Installation
Setup and installation can be complicated or simple, so look for a system that matches how much time you want to spend putting your new garden together. Make sure you have all of the gardening tools you need before you get started. While many systems include the seeds, food, and anything else you'll need in the box, not all do.
Day-to-Day Care
Do you want a system you can set up and (mostly) forget about? Or do you want to be more hands-on, checking your plants and watching them grow? A hydroponic system can run on its own for a while, but a soil-based system will give you the chance to interact with your plants more fully.
Long-Term Care
When a plant’s roots get too large for its container, it’s time to transfer it to a new one. If you have a soil-based garden, you can re-pot the plants in larger containers. The same principle applies to hydroponic gardens. Because roots grow, too, even automated growing systems aren’t hands-off all the time. "As herbs get bushier, you'll need to add water more often,” says Ariel Kanter, a food writer who has two Aerogarden systems at home. “Roots can sometimes grow into the water circulation system and cause clogs.”
According to Kanter, your plants will do best if you clean out your growing system every few months, taking out the plants once as they grow large and planting them outside. Also, if you’re investing in a growing system garden, look into its warranty, according to Thrasher. “Most companies stand behind their product and will back it up with a warranty,” she says.
Features
These days, indoor garden systems have a range of features. Think about what features connect with the way you're likely to use the system. For example, do you think you'll forget to turn the light on and off? Look for one with a timer. Want to keep an eye on the water level consistently? Get one with a water level indicator that will alert you when it runs low.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you start an indoor garden?
"The most important components of starting an indoor garden is to have fresh seeds, a proper heat mat for germination, organic soils, as well as a humidity dome and light to help your seeds flourish,” says Thrasher.
What are the best plants to grow in an indoor garden?
According to Thrasher, you have many options: “fresh herbs like basil, thyme, parsley, rosemary and lavender. Also, leafy greens such as butterhead, romaine, bibb, chard, kale, and spinach. I also like to grow medicinal herbs for tea, like chamomile, feverfew, and echinacea. Microgreens are also a great plant to grow indoors due to the quickness of final harvest,” she says. “Focus on something you like to eat, such as fresh lettuce. Be willing to experiment with other foods you might have never bought but are willing to try to grow."
How often should you water an indoor garden?
"All plants are different and absorb based on their own needs. A good rule of thumb is to avoid watering until the soil is dry at least two inches down from the surface. I prefer the bottom feeding method, which in my opinion helps with root development as well as nutrient uptake," says Thrasher. Also, you’ll need to adjust your watering as the root systems of your plants grow, giving them water more often, according to Kanter.
Are hydroponic gardens worth it?
A hydroponic garden is an initial investment, but a well-made model will save you money over time as you buy fewer herbs or produce. "Aerogardens, if cared for properly, can be a bountiful and reliable source of herbs,” says Kanter. “I imagine after years of use, the two I own have paid for themselves in pesto and salads alone."
Other Indoor Garden Systems We Tested
Strong Contenders
AeroGarden Harvest Elite Indoor Garden Hydroponic System ($145 at Amazon)
Like the other AeroGardens we tested, we found this one to be largely easy to set up and use, and it pretty much ran itself once it was set up. The extendable arm and light, however, were flimsier than we expected.
AeroGarden Sprout with Gourmet Herbs Seed Pod Kit ($52 at Amazon)
This one is easy to set up and use, like other AeroGarden products, and it's a good size for kitchens. We found the grow light timer on this model a little confusing to use, though.
Amazing Creation Stackable Planter, Vertical Oasis Tiered Garden Planter ($40 at Amazon)
This system is simple to set up, affordable, and a great design for compact apartment spaces. We just wish it had drainage holes to keep our soil consistently moist without overwatering.
iDOO Hydroponics Growing System Kit Indoor Herb Garden 8 Pods ($50 at Amazon)
This system was relatively easy to set up and low maintenance, but it has fewer features than some of the other systems we tested, and it doesn’t come with seeds.
Rise Gardens Personal Garden and Starter Kit ($349 at Amazon)
This system comes with everything you need, assembly is simple, and it self-waters. We liked the app, too. We think the cost for the value is too high, though.
Lettuce Grow Farmstand ($399 at Amazon)
While we found it relatively easy to use, the grow lights arrived later as a separate package, turning what should have been a simple setup into a multi-day waiting game.
What Didn't Make the List
Some of the products we tested didn't perform as well as we'd expect for the price, or had components that didn't function properly or didn't seem well built. The Back to the Roots Indoor Aquaponic Garden and Fishtank ($85 at Amazon) is a fun idea (a fish as a garden helper – why not?), and we found it easy to use. But, we weren't overwhelmed with the quality, and we found that the pump didn't work as well as expected. While we love the look of the Modern Sprout Smart Growhouse ($239 at Amazon), we were surprised how slowly our seeds germinated, making it feel like less of a value for the cost.
Our Expertise
Julia Skinner, PhD, is a food writer and avid gardener, who educates the public on food waste reduction and fermentation through her business, Root. Valerie Thrasher co-owns Box of Rain Organic Garden Center in Montana with her husband. Ariel Kanter is a freelance writer and editor living in Highland Park, Illinois. Follow her@arielkanter on Instagram and subscribe to her Rel's Recs Substack.
