AeroGarden Harvest Elite

I'm not new to Aerogardens...ever since my hubby bought me one years ago for my birthday I've been completely hooked. I have a bit of a collection but this was my first of the new model Harvest and I love it. I got it specifically for the new Microgreens kit because I didn't want to tie up a Bounty and the kit wasn't compatible with my other gardens (old models and a Harvest Elite Slim).For context, gardening is not my thing. I'm terrible at it- the only plants I've managed to keep alive are snake plants and even those have come close to dying. My Aerogardens though are a whole different story- it actually makes gardening FUN for me with much less mess than digging in dirt, dealing with pests, animals, etc. If you're just getting started with Aerogardens, this is the perfect size (6 slots) and the stainless finish looks like a fancy kitchen appliance. I love the lighted digital menu making it much easier to read and set than previous models. Keep in mind that this one is not wifi compatible (at least that I can find). You can plant lettuce, herbs, flowers, and now even microgreens. I don't recommend tomatoes or peppers in this garden though- they will quickly overtake it. If that's your thing then definitely look into a Bounty that can accommodate the height and the spread.If you're on the fence about trying Aerogardens or even gifting one, this one is a great choice that will keep going and going. These are especially great for folks who live in areas that they can't have a garden or they may want fresh herbs/veggies that won't grow certain times of year. I have had nearly zero problems with any of my Aerogardens going on several years now. A few tips that seem to work for me:- I'm bad about reading directions but definitely read them if you're not familiar. They will save you a lot of missteps and frustration.- Between starting new gardens, I do a deep clean of everything. Just a handwashing with dish soap and rinsed very, very well.- Keep them watered (but don't overwater). These are hydroponic plants- if they run out of water they seem to die almost instantly and it will be next to impossible to revive (in my experience)- Feed the gardens on the recommended schedule- Keep your plants pruned and under control, this will help them stay healthier, fuller, and contained where they should be in the garden and not causing problems with other plants.- Definitely look into spacers (they're available on Amazon). They're recommended for tomatoes and peppers but I've found them really helpful for large herbs like basil so it has more room to grow.- Replace the filters in the water basins periodically. They last a long time but after a while they degrade, rip, etc.I'm a major Aerogarden devotee and don't think I could (or can) garden any other way. I've grown countless gardens at this point including peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, microgreens, cucumbers, basil, chives, sage, cilantro, oregano, you name it. There is nothing better than your own fresh greens!

This is the perfect size hydroponic unit for a crowded kitchen counter. I’ve got a couple of other hydro units in other rooms that are too big for my crowded kitchen counters, but this one is just perfect for snipping fresh herbs while cooking/plating meals. It was super easy to set up, the menu of controls is intuitive and everything needed is in the box. Hydro is so easy - I’ve grown herbs and veggies, used my units to start plants for the garden and pot, all it takes is remembering to add water and fertilizer - and this unit reminds you of both! Disclaimer, though - the plants in the photo I transplanted from my other hydro units to have instant herbs in the kitchen, this is day 1 of this unit, day 42 of the plants since they were in other units - all that took was swapping out baskets and carefully feeding roots through the holes inthe unit top. I can’t speak to the germination rate of the pre-seeded pods, since I’ve only ever used hydro with my own seeds and had great luck with them (tomatoes germinate in 3 days, for example), but I put 2 of the pre-seeded pods in another unit and will update if they fail to germinate. I got it at 52% off list price, which was a fabulous price and I am amazed at the features packed into this small, light, but mighty hydro units. If you’re constrained in space but want to try hydro, get this!

Before purchasing the Aerogarden Elite, I had bought two different knock-off brands that were much less expensive -- but also didn't work very well. It was nearly impossible to tell the water levels on them, whereas with the Aerogarden it's easy - and it also lets you know when you need to add food too. Plus the Aerogarden has a pump that recirculates the water rather than letting it just sit and get all slimy. I have been absolutely thrilled with the results -- thick bushy cherry tomato plants, jalapenos, and lettuce so far. Note that unless you have bugs flying around in your house, you will probably need to hand germinate the blossoms -- easy to do with a small paintbrush, and just swab from flower to flower and something is sure to stick. (Pro tip: I have tried sprouting and planting strawberry seeds but I wouldn't recommend it -- you do have to sprout them first, which is really a pain. Then out of 100 or more seeds that you sprout, at least for me, only 3 of them grew and two of those didn't survive.) I'm really thrilled with this for herbs and tomatoes.