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Grow herbs and veggies all year-round with these tried-and-tested indoor gardens.
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They are mostly affordable plus offer the advantage of growing produce year-round,even during winter months.
It also comes withLED grow lightsthat turn on and off by themselves.
The lights featured 20% more red light, which causes plants to grow faster and yield more harvests.
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We found the instructions to be self-explanatory and had no issues setting up the system.
All of our seeds sprouted (some as soon as a week after planting) and became healthy plants.
(This may not be the best pick if it’s crucial that you feed a family.)
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you might grow five kinds of herbs: Italian basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, and thyme.
Our seeds sprouted in two weeksroughly the same time.
They didnt grow at the same rate, so we couldnt harvest them all at once.
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We noticed that the pots were not all that durable and could break if waterlogged.
This indoor garden kit is about a foot wide and can fit on any tabletop in your home.
If your kitchen is dark or doesnt have a window, this kit is ideal for those low-light environments.
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It comes with three basil seed pods, but you do have the option to buy more later.
Even though it is not a smart garden kit, it does come with an app.
We didnt find the app to be useful because we still had to adjust options manually on the planter.
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On the upside, the basil that was harvested was absolutely delicious (especially in our lasagna).
This kit is available in three colors: white, gray, and beige.
It also comes with a humidity dome to control temperatures and offer the best conditions for germination.
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you’re free to adjust the grow lamps height up to 12 inches to accommodate growing herbs.
(A bottle of plant food is included.)
The exception to this was parsley, which sprouted a week later.
Overall, we were pleased with how healthy the plants turned out.
Besides a few withering leaves, they grew well and looked robust.
Seedlings can grow up to 2 feet tall in this planter, which gives you plenty to harvest from.
It is also expensive but justifies its cost with its many advanced features.
You dont need any soil, as the seeds are in seed pods and only need water to grow.
It also comes with a self-watering system with a large water bowl that doesnt need to be refilled often.
The garden system itself is large and holds up to nine plants.
It was much bigger than we expected and would be much better on a table or countertop.
We were pleased that within a month, all the herbs we grew were green and healthy.
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We loved that we didnt have to do a lot of work to have fresh herbs all year long.
It consists of five planting pots in terracotta and off-white, each holding up to 15 plants.
When fully assembled, the planter is around 2 feet tall.
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It is not a complete garden kit and does not come with potting soil or seeds.
The planter comes with soil separators that you might put beneath each tier to help circulate air.
This planter is ideal for those with small kitchens and living in apartments.
This is not a smart option and comes with no app to control the lights and timers.
Most seeds sprouted in 10 days, with fruits, at two weeks, taking the longest to sprout.
It’s also reasonably priced, so its a good option for those who are just learning about gardening.
Note that youll need to purchase seeds separately.
It features voice control and notifies you when to fill up its water reservoir.
Compared to other garden kits on this list, we found it to be more complex to install.
We also think this is a great pick for family meals.
We saw that the seeds sprouted roughly at the same time, about one to two days after planting.
All plants were healthy, and none had brown or withered leaves.
Just keep in mind that though its relatively spacious for an indoor garden, its not height-adjustable.
This kit comes with a water tank, so you dont have to water it every day.
For an even cheaper option, check out theSpade To Fork Culinary Herb Seed Kit.
Its a soil-based system that includes certified organic seeds and soil at a great price.
We cared for our plants according to manufacturer instructions, making sure they got adequate sunlight and water.
We checked in on the seeds at three weeks and again at six weeks to measure growth.
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Finally, we tasted the herbs we grew to see how well they tasted in the meals we cooked.
Plus, it has its own water tank, so you dont have to water it yourself.
Not only was it easy to maintain, but it also looked sleek on our countertop.
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Our only gripe was that adjusting the grow light was a little confusing.
We found it to be very high-quality and also easy to maintain.
We also noticed that the plants grew slowly, taking up to six weeks to reach maturity.
There are also hydroponic indoor gardens available that dont use any soil for the plants.
Instead, it comes with a water tank that has to be refilled periodically.
The variety of plants that can thrive indoors is impressive, says Hovis.
Keeping the growing area clean and pest-free also contributes to a thriving indoor garden.
Just be aware that you might have to buy your own soil, too.
The lighting system is crucial, says Hovis.
How Much Maintenance Do Indoor Gardens Require?
Are Indoor Gardens Expensive?
Some indoor gardens can be expensive, but thats not always the case.
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Why Trust Southern Living?
NorAdila Hepburnis a writer based in North Carolina who specializes in writing product reviews.
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