Grow Fresh Greens Indoors with Smart Gardens

There's nothing like fresh herbs and vegetables to enhance your gourmet dishes and make them healthier.

10:24 25 March 2020

However, not everyone has time to run to the grocery store for fresh herbs and vegetables on a regular basis. And your favorite choices may not be in season all the time.

It's also a waste of money to buy a bunch of herbs when you only need a small amount. The rest of the bunch can spoil quickly, even if kept in the refrigerator. Brown, slimy basil, no thank you! Another alternative is to use dried herbs, but they don't retain much flavor or nutrients.

Easy to use smart gardens

There's a better solution thanks to today's advanced technology. Smart indoor herb gardens are gaining in popularity because they are easy to use and produce fresh herbs year-round. The plants grow rapidly, so you'll have fresh herbs faster than planting them in an outdoor garden.

The planters can grow salad greens, herbs, vegetables and even flowers. Growing your own indoor plants is also great fun for kids. They'll learn all about gardening and how to grow their own food and plants. There are several different types of smart garden kits. High-end models have some cool features and others have only the basic necessities.

What comes in the kit?

The growing kits come with everything necessary to start your indoor garden, including the garden appliance, seed pods and all-natural plant food. The appliance has a 20-watt, full-spectrum, energy-efficient LED grow light. This is all the light they'll need for photosynthesis and healthy growth.

There are also pods available that have slow-release nutrients already in the pods. There are no herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or GMO in the seed pods.

How do I set it up?

These indoor gardens are easy to set up. You simply drop the pod into the container, fill the reservoir with the correct amount of water, and plug it in. Large models can accommodate up to six different plants at one time. If space is limited, there are compact models available that accommodate three plants.

Automatic lights

There's a control panel that automatically turns the lights on and off for easy maintenance. High-end models have a feature that mimics actual sunrise and sunset by slowly transitioning from light to dark and then dark to light.

Other features

Most models also have a vacation setting. If you're going to be away, the plants will still get the water and light necessary to keep growing. The control panel also tracks how many days ago the plants were started. Some even have timers to let you know when it's time to add more plant food or refill the water reservoir.

Automatic watering and no soil needed!

The planters come with an automatic watering system, so no worries about when to water. It prevents over-saturating and killing your plants. No soil is needed because these plants are hydroponic. They grow and thrive without soil, so there is no mess. The plants usually germinate within two weeks, and they are ready to harvest in four to six weeks.

Smart technology

There are also wifi-enabled indoor planters that give you automated reminders. They alert you if the water reservoir needs refilling, or if you need to add more plant food.

What varieties of seed pods are available?

Some models come with specific pods that are more popular such as basil, mint, dill, parsley and thyme. Other models give you a choice of 50 different types of pods that are seeded and ready to go. You can grow your own cherry tomatoes to pluck off any time for homemade salads.

Can I transplant the herbs and vegetables into other containers?

Yes! They can be transplanted into indoor or outdoor window planters, hanging planters, or wall planters.

So even without a green thumb, you can enjoy fresh herbs and vegetables indoors year-round. No hassles with watering and lights, even if you go on vacation. Just plug it in and watch them grow.