You don’t need a lot of space to grow your own fresh herbs and vegetables. Here are the best indoor growing systems for growing fresh food indoors, even if the only space you have is a kitchen counter or windowsill.
Are you wondering which indoor growing system is best for apartment living? Maybe you just want to start growing your own food indoors right away, without having to worry about pests or weather? Or maybe you’re looking to supplement your cooking with fresh herbs you’ve grown right on your kitchen counter or windowsill.
These indoor gardening systems are an easy and efficient way to get started with growing your own food, even if you’re a beginning gardener. Many come with everything you need to start growing herbs and vegetables right away, including full-spectrum, LED grow lights, timers, and automatic watering systems. Indoor garden systems and kits make great gifts, too!
Here are the best indoor garden systems for growing fresh food inside your home, even if you live in a small apartment or the only space you have is your kitchen counter or windowsill.
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Here are the best indoor garden systems for growing herbs and vegetables in a small space, researched and reviewed by the gardening experts at Goose Creek Homestead.
1. AeroGarden Harvest Elite
If you want the best indoor garden system for an apartment or small space, you really can’t beat an AeroGarden system. The AeroGarden Harvest Elite is a smart indoor hydroponic garden system that has its own LED grow light built right in. It even comes in four fantastic color options to match any décor: platinum, sage, stainless steel, and white.
The beauty of this indoor hydroponic kit is that it allows you to grow fresh herbs, salad greens, and other vegetables indoors without direct sunlight. The high-performance, energy-saving grow lights come with a built-in timer that you can customize to suit the needs of your plants. There’s even a digital display that lets you know when it’s time to add fertilizer and water.
This system accommodates six plants at a time, up to 12-inches tall. Since this smart indoor gardening system doesn’t require soil, there’s no mess. Even better, the AeroGarden Harvest Elite has a vacation mode that keeps things growing when you’re out of town, as well as advanced settings that can be customized to suit the needs of specific plants.
AeroGarden’s Harvest Elite comes with everything you need to grow food inside your home, including an all-natural liquid plant food. It also comes with a 6-pod herb seed kit that includes mint, Genovese basil, Thai basil, dill, parsley, and thyme. Of course, you can switch things up with your own seeds anytime you like using AeroGarden’s Grow Anything Kit or choose from a wide variety Pre-Planted AeroGarden Seed Pods.
Click here to read more about the AeroGarden Harvest Elite on Amazon
2. NutraPonics Tower Garden Vertical Hydroponic Growing System
The amazing NutraPonics Tower Garden Vertical Hydroponic Growing System allows you to grow an incredible amount of food in a very small space. This indoor garden system comes in three sizes to accommodate 48, 64, or 80 plants.
This vertical hydroponics system has been specially engineered to maximize yield in a shorter time using an automated growing system that requires very little effort. Although the system is ideal for growing herbs, vegetables, and fruit indoors, it’s extremely versatile and could easily be used to grow a lot of food on a small deck or patio, too.
This vertical hydroponic tower is a modular, stackable, and vertical growing ecosystem. It gives you complete control of the air, humidity, amount of water, spray timings, and energy used to grow your food. It’s extremely sustainable and uses 66% less energy and 95% less water than traditional farming.
As a closed farming system, the NutraPonics Tower Garden allows you to grow vegetables, herbs, and more without the use of pesticides and herbicides. If you’re serious about growing a lot of food, this is the best indoor garden system for you. Just be aware that you may have to purchase grow lights separately, depending on the sunlight available in your location.
3. Click and Grow Smart Garden 9
Click and Grow’s Smart Garden 9 Indoor Home Garden is a soil-based growing system complete with built-in LED grow lights and an automatic watering system. All you do is add water to the tank about once a month, use the float indicator to monitor the water level, and add more when needed.
The Smart Garden 9 accommodates nine plants and comes with pre-seeded, bio-degradable vegetable and herb pods: three basil, three green lettuce, and three mini-tomato. You can also choose from more than 40 different pre-seeded smart pods on Amazon, and of course, you can use your own seeds, too.
We love this smart garden system because it uses very little energy. The plant nutrients are included right in the pod, and the pods are all-natural. It doses nutrients, water, and air to your plants perfectly. And it’s a fungicide, pesticide, and herbicide-free system.
If you want to grow your own food indoors with very little effort, you’ll love the Click and Grow Smart Garden!
Click here to read more about the Click and Grow Smart Garden 9 on Amazon
4. Lettuce Grow Indoor Vertical Hydroponic Growing System
The Lettuce Grow Indoor Vertical Hydroponic Growing System is one of the best indoor garden systems for growing herbs, vegetables, and leafy greens. It is available in five sizes to accommodate 12, 18, 24, 30, or 36 plants in a very small footprint (just 22” x 22” for the 12-plant system).
The Lettuce Grow tower is a self-watering, self-fertilizing vertical hydroponic system that uses no soil, meaning there’s no mess. It’s completely automated and allows you to grow your own food indoors with very little effort. This tower garden can be used inside your home with grow lights or find a sunny spot for it on your deck or balcony.
This indoor garden kit comes with a water pump, power cord, timer, nutrients, and pH testing kit for optimal plant health. We love that it’s made in the USA from recycled ocean-bound plastic, and it uses a lot less water and energy than traditional gardening.
Click here to read more about the Lettuce Grow Vertical Hydroponic Growing System on Amazon
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5. Back to the Roots Mini Aquaponic Indoor Garden System
Back to the Roots Mini Aquaponic Indoor Garden system is a self-cleaning fish tank that grows food. The three-gallon fish tank provides a home for a few fish, while the aquaponics grow bed allows you to grow your own microgreens, herbs, and small veggies right inside your apartment or kitchen.
The beauty of this mini aquaponic system is that the waste from your fish feeds the plants and the plants clean the water for the fish. We love that this indoor garden kit comes with a free STEM curriculum to help your kids learn all about the magic of aquaponic gardening.
This indoor water garden kit comes complete with organic microgreen seeds, a growing medium for your plants, and a water de-chlorinator. It’s made in the USA and comes with a money-back guarantee. This indoor garden system is a fantastic way to liven up a small space and add a little zen at the same time!
Click here to read more about the Back to the Roots Mini Aquaponic Indoor Garden System on Amazon
6. Gardyn Home 30-Plant Indoor Smart Garden WiFi Integrated Vertical Hydroponic Gardening Kit
Gardyn Home’s 30-Plant Indoor Smart Garden has been recognized as Best Invention by Time Magazine, and it’s easy to see why. This innovative WiFi integrated hydroponic smart garden system allows you to grow up to 30 vegetables, herbs, small fruits, or flowers in a small space.
This is truly a plug-and-play system. Simply insert the growing cubes into the unit, add water and nutrients, and watch your plants grow. The kit includes 30 cubes so you can get started growing right away. And it has a beautiful design that looks great in your home.
This vertical hydroponic smart garden system takes all the guesswork out of growing your own food. It communicates via an app on your smartphone to let you know when they need more water or light, which plants require pruning, when they’re ready to harvest, and much more. It can even tend to your plants when you’re on vacation to ensure that they stay healthy while you’re away.
Click here to read more about the Gardyn Home Indoor Smart Garden on Amazon
7. Watex Pixel Garden Desktop Kitchen Farm
If you’re in the market for a compact, affordable indoor growing system to grow fresh herbs on your kitchen counter, consider Watex’s Pixel Garden. This soil-based indoor growing system is self-watering and allows you to grow up to eight plants at a time.
One of our favorite things about this little system is its portability and versatility. It makes a fantastic kitchen herb garden, but you could also use it to grow succulents at your office or place it near a sunny window to grow salad greens all year long. The entire system weighs less than 4.5 pounds and measures 17.5 inches by 11.4 inches.
The roots watering system is fun and unique, too. Simply pour the water into the funnel at the top and it trickles down to the roots of each plant, slowly being absorbed by the soil- no electricity required. And excess water is collected in the bottom to eliminate mess and prevent overwatering.
Click here to read more about the Watex Pixel Garden Desktop Kitchen Farm on Amazon
8. DreamJoy Hydroponic Grow Kit for 90 Plants
DreamJoy’s Hydroponic Grow Kit allows you to grow up to 90 plants inside your home or on your balcony. The entire system is made from lightweight, food-grade PVC pipe and it’s designed to grow more food with less water and space.
This hydroponic grow kit is ideal for beginners with no experience, and it can be used to grow everything from herbs and leafy green vegetables to dwarf tomatoes and strawberries or even houseplants. Please be aware that grow lights are not included in the kit and will need to be purchased separately.
Click here to read more about the DreamJoy Hydroponic Grow Kit on Amazon
9. eSuperegrow Hydroponics Growing System with Trellis
This vertical indoor growing system allows you to grow larger climbing plants like cucumbers and tomatoes in a small space. The system includes a pump and timer to provide the nutrient solution to your plants and oxygenate the water.
The eSuperegrow Hydroponics Growing System can be placed near a sunny window, or you can add your own grow lights to grow food indoors without sunlight all year long. This smart hydroponic system reminds you when it’s time to add water and nutrient, too.
You will need to purchase your own grow lights, liquid nutrients, and seeds for this system. However, it does come with growing sponges that can be cleaned and reused several times.
Click here to read more about the eSuperegrow Hydroponics Growing System on Amazon
10. iDoo 20-Pod Indoor Hydroponic Herb and Vegetable Garden
This Indoor Hydroponic Growing System from iDoo comes complete with a 34-watt LED light. The grow light is fully adjustable, allowing you to grow plants up to 26 inches tall. And this system uses degradable sponges as the growing medium, so there’s no mess.
With this indoor gardening system, you can grow up to 20 plants in four removable tanks right inside your home. The system includes a timer that allows you to simulate natural sunlight. It’s also self-watering and very low maintenance. Simply monitor the water level using the water window and add nutrient solution as needed.
Click here to read more about the iDoo 20-Pod Indoor Hydroponic Garden on Amazon
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Buyer’s Guide to the Best Indoor Garden Systems
There are several things to think about when you’re shopping for an indoor garden system, depending on the time, space, and money you’re willing to invest. Ask yourself these questions before making a final decision:
· Which type of indoor growing system do you want?
Indoor growing systems come in three main types: hydroponic, aquaponic, and soil-based.
Hydroponics: Hydroponics growing systems feed the plants with a nutrient-rich growing solution, rather than soil. They are probably the most popular type of indoor growing system because they’re very low maintenance and since there’s no soil, there’s no mess. Aeroponics is a form of hydroponics that uses a spray system to feed and water the plants.
Soil-based: A soil-based system simply uses soil as the growing medium for your plants, which creates a growing environment that’s similar to an outdoor garden. These indoor garden systems usually have pods that you fill with potting soil and plant your plants or seeds into. They have to be watered regularly, so they require a bit more daily maintenance than a hydroponics system.
Aquaponics: Aquaponics systems use the waste from live fish to feed the plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish. These amazing systems are designed to mimic a natural ecosystem, and they’re fairly low maintenance. However, you will have to feed the fish daily, monitor the pH of the water, and clean out the tank as needed.
· Should you get a countertop or tower garden system?
When choosing between a countertop or tower indoor garden system, consider your growing space carefully. Most indoor garden systems have been designed to have a very small footprint, even the large tower systems, so they’re great for apartments and other small spaces like a balcony or porch.
But you’ll want to keep in mind that hydroponic tower gardens require supplemental lighting or a spot with lots of direct sunlight. They can also be quite heavy once they’re filled, so they can’t be moved around easily. However, they’re available in a variety of sizes, so you to grow a lot of plants in a very small space.
On the other hand, countertop gardens, like the AeroGarden Harvest Elite, are designed to be portable and lightweight. They usually include a built-in LED grow light, so sunlight isn’t a concern. However, you are generally limited to growing around six to nine plants.
· Do you need supplemental grow lights?
If the system you choose doesn’t come with built-in grow lights, you will probably need to purchase supplemental grow lights separately. Even if your growing space has good natural lighting, it may not be enough to provide the ideal 8-12 hours of sunlight most plants need. LED grow lights mimic natural sunlight, allowing your plants to photosynthesize and grow indoors.
VIVOSUN 300W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum
· How much time do you want to invest in your indoor garden?
Most indoor garden systems are fairly low maintenance, but the upkeep can vary a bit based on the system you choose. If you’re brand new to indoor gardening or short on time, consider starting out with a hydroponic system that’s simple and low maintenance.
Soil-based systems will need to be watered daily to keep the soil from drying out. However, some systems have a built-in irrigation system that does that for you, so maintenance will be minimal. You’ll just have to keep an eye on the water level and add more as needed.
An aquaponic system requires feeding the fish every day. The water in the fish tank will also need to be monitored for pH and changed periodically. This type of system requires the most day-to-day care, so it’s probably not the best choice if you travel a lot.
A smart garden system, like the AeroGarden Harvest Elite, is the lowest maintenance of all. Once it’s set up, the system basically takes care of itself, even if you’re on vacation. Of course, you’ll still have to add nutrients periodically, but the time invested will be very minimal.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Indoor Gardening Systems
· Why grow an indoor garden?
Indoor gardening is an easy and efficient way to grow your own food inside your home, even if you lack outdoor space or the weather prevents you from growing outdoors. There’s nothing betting than harvesting herbs and vegetables fresh from your own kitchen. Wouldn’t it be great if you could skip those inconvenient trips to the grocery store for fresh ingredients?
Freshly harvested herbs and vegetables not only taste better, but they’re also more nutritious, too. Indoor gardening is an enjoyable and relaxing hobby. And, you’ll have total control over your plants’ growing environment, so you can grow year-round without worrying about weeds, pests, or weather.
· What can you grow in an indoor garden system?
Indoor garden systems and kits are extremely versatile. You can grow anything from fresh herbs to vegetables like salad greens, cherry tomatoes, and peppers right on your kitchen counter. The best indoor vegetable garden systems come with full-spectrum lighting built right in, so you don’t even need sunlight.
· What can’t you grow in an indoor garden system?
You could technically grow just about anything in an indoor garden system that you can grow outdoors, as long as you have the space, lighting, and correct temperatures to create the plant’s ideal growing environment.
However, large plants like corn, full-sized tomatoes, and squash take up a lot of space, so they’re probably not the best use of your indoor growing space. And brassicas like cabbage and broccoli prefer cooler temperatures, so they may be more difficult to grow inside your home.
Wrapping Things Up: Setting Yourself Up for Success with Your Indoor Garden System
When you’re setting up your indoor garden system, consider placing it in an area where you spend a lot of time, such as the kitchen. This will help you remember to monitor your plants daily. It’s much easier to correct a problem if you catch it early.
If you’re new to indoor gardening, be sure to read How to Grow Food Indoors Year-Round: A Complete Guide for in-depth advice on plant care, including pollination and dealing with pests and disease in your indoor garden.
