Do you have a passion for gardening but lack the time or space to maintain a conventional garden? If you want to explore your green thumb despite the obstacles, modern indoor AeroGardens are the way forward.
These compact AeroGardens work like space-saving hydroponic gardens. They thrive only on mist and vapors instead of using a single water body. The best part is that they have an accessible learning curve and do work!
Just pick the things to grow in an AeroGarden, buy your required AeroGarden seeds and AeroGarden pods, and get started. Sound interesting? I have listed some of the best things to grow in your AeroGarden.
AeroGarden is a hydroponic plant garden without soil and provides a solution for those who want a simple and inexpensive indoor garden.
The unit also features an area where seeds can be stored and a light mounted. An AeroGarden is an indoor garden that uses aeroponics to grow plants. Aeroponics is a method of growing plants in an air or mist environment without using soil or water.
Herbs, leafy greens, and flowers are the best plants to grow in an AeroGarden. These plants do best in AeroGarden because they do not require a lot of root space and can be grown together.
To grow plants in an AeroGarden, you must purchase an AeroGarden unit and plant pods. The AeroGarden unit will provide the necessary light and air circulation for the plants, and its planting pods will provide a place for the roots to grow.
Best-Of by Category
| Category | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Fruits To Grow In Your AeroGarden | Cherry Tomato Seed |
| Best Herbs to Grow in Your Aerogarden | Gourmet Herb Seed |
| Best Vegetables to Grow in Your Aerogarden | Salad Greens Seed |
| Decorative plants, anyone? | Petunia Flower Seed |
Best Plants To Grow In AeroGarden
Here’s my list of the best plants to grow in AeroGarden so you can start setting up your indoor garden.
Best Fruits To Grow In Your AeroGarden
1. Strawberry
It might sound surprising, but you can grow strawberries in your aeroponic garden with Aerogarden. Although these fruits are slightly trickier to grow than leafy greens, who wouldn’t like fresh berries on their countertop?
Unlike vegetables, strawberries need attention during every growth stage, especially during the flowering and fruit stages. You have to be patient while growing strawberries in your garden.
The easiest way is to purchase a Grow Everything seed pod kit, which contains a ready-made nutrient solution for each stage of the plant.
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2. Tomatoes
If you are looking for an easy way to add fresh tomatoes to your diet, you should consider planting tomatoes in an AeroGarden. Tomatoes are an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
If you cook regularly at home, tomatoes are ingredients you’ll need almost daily – it’s crazy how many dishes use these versatile fruits. So buy a tomato seed pod kit for your AeroGarden, and you can have delicious, homegrown tomatoes in no time!
You can plant different types of tomatoes, but smaller varieties, such as cherry tomatoes, are best. Cherry tomatoes are an excellent choice for someone new to gardening because they are easy to grow and don’t require much care.
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3. Bell Peppers
The larger your AeroGarden, the more space for you to plant more or larger fruits and vegetables. Bell peppers are one of the best options for larger gardens.
Larger AeroGarden models provide more light and growing areas and allow for the growth of bell peppers. Keep your crops evenly arranged and follow the necessary aeroponics to produce high-quality peppers indoors.
And it ain’t just bell peppers. Pepper plants are easy to grow and thrive in the AeroGarden environment. You can grow several different peppers, including jalapeno peppers and chili peppers. Note that smaller chilies work better for smaller gardens!
4. Eggplant
Ah, eggplants—nutritious fruits high in fiber but low in calories! Eggplants (aka aubergines) can be planted quickly with minimal care and are excellent outdoor plants in AeroGardens. However, a lot of space is required for the expansion.
Keep your plants farther apart and put three or four seeds in AeroGarden. Eggplants need space for growth, so the AeroGardens must also be large. Ensure the model is big enough to grow eggplant; they can get pretty hefty!
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5. Raspberries
Raspberries are good in desserts, cocktails, smoothies, jams, and many dishes and recipes. They are also one of the best fruits to grow in an AeroGarden.
They are equally delicious as a standalone snack, part of a fresh breakfast, or as a delectable dessert. Best of all, they are easy to plant and grow in an AeroGarden. So do yourself a favor and start looking into growing these tiny, sweet fruits!
Best Herbs to Grow in Your Aerogarden
An AeroGarden can produce a variety of fresh herbs. For the most part, these plants are relatively easy to grow. Some can be grown alongside your fruits or vegetables because of the small size of their seeds. Here are some of the best herbs to grow.
6. Big-leaf herbs like Mint and Basil
Leafy herbs are some of the best plants for AeroGarden. Apart from producing speedy harvests, these plants don’t require much special care or attention.
Most importantly, greens like mint and basil are great for your countertop garden for two main reasons. They’re used in many recipes and give a fresh touch to your indoor aesthetics. Secondly, they make your home smell heavenly. Thirdly, once they’re established, they’re very resilient.
You can grow any basil from sweet Thai, Genovese, and dark purple opal basil. The most popular varieties of mint include peppermint and spearmint, but I’ve recently started growing a variety known as “mojito mint,” similar to spearmint.
While these plants will grow well independently, you can ensure a plentiful harvest every time by regulating the pH levels in your solution. Keeping your pH level slightly on the acidic side increases the plant’s leafiness, producing vibrant and flavourful mint and basil leaves.
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7. Small-leaf herbs like Rosemary and Lavender
You can grow many other fresh herbs in your aeroponic garden besides mint and basil. A great idea for smaller AeroGardens is to develop an assortment of herbs and harvest any herb you need in your recipes at any time. It’s like having your living spice rack!
Think about the money you would save on those flavorful herbs; at this rate, you will pay off the investment in your aeroponic garden in no time. The average maturity period for herbs cultivated in an AeroGarden seed pot kit is about 35–40 days.
The list of top leafy herbs you can grow in your AeroGarden includes;
- Dill
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Tarragon
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Chives
- Lavender
To increase your plants’ leaf quality, use the right solution and maintain an ideal pH level to produce the flavor and freshness you want.
8. Cilantro
Cilantro is one of the best things to grow in an AeroGarden. It’s a herb used in many dishes and grows quickly and easily in an AeroGarden.
If you’re looking for a cilantro seed pod kit, there are a few options. The AeroGarden cilantro seed pod kits have everything you need to grow cilantro and are very easy to use.
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Best Vegetables to Grow in Your Aerogarden
If you want to cultivate veggies indoors, AeroGarden is the solution. But what vegetables are allowed in an AeroGarden? Here are some vegetables that will do best in an AeroGarden.
9. Lettuce & Large Leafy Greens
Vibrant, crunchy, and full of nutrients, lettuce is a great addition to your diet, a suitable plant, and one of the best salad greens for your AeroGarden.
These leafy greens require less special attention, can grow well in countertop AeroGardens, and won’t create spacing problems.
Besides that, lettuce has a shorter harvesting period than any other leafy green. You can harvest your first lettuce within a month of planting your seeds! Just regulate the plant’s light and heat to ensure the ideal texture and flavor.
Moreover, you can create an assortment of lettuce plants in your AeroGarden. You can grow various kinds of lettuce successfully, including butter king, buttercrunch, romaine, and garnet rose lettuce.
Apart from lettuce, you can grow other salad greens in your AeroGarden. These include:
- Kale
- Arugula
- Bok Choi
- Collard Greens
- Mustard Greens
10. Broccoli
If broccoli has been part of the daily diet, you should plant it in your AeroGarden. The benefits of getting broccoli seed pods for your AeroGarden are that you will get a healthy and tasty broccoli crop.
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable high in fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Seedpods are your best bet (if you can find them), but you can also use broccoli seeds to make your pods.
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11. Onions
Onions are arguably the most popular and ubiquitous vegetable known to man. They are also a great vegetable to grow in an AeroGarden. They are easy to grow and don’t require a lot of space. Plus, onions are versatile and used in many different dishes.
Onions can be added to salads, soups, stews, sauces, and more. They can also be used as a garnish or a side dish. If you’re looking for a versatile and delicious easy-to-grow vegetable, onions are an excellent choice for your AeroGarden.
Decorative plants, anyone?
12. Flowers
If you’re not enthusiastic about home cooking, you can grow many other things in your AeroGarden besides fruits, vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens. Provided the optimal amount of light, heat, and nutrients, you can grow beautiful flowers to enhance your home decor in your AeroGarden.
Avoid tall or bushy plants, like sunflowers or roses when planting flowers. The ideal flowers to grow in your AeroGarden include petunias, lavender, and snapdragons.
Why Grow Plants in an AeroGarden?
The whole point of AeroGarden is to grow plants. The question is, why choose the AeroGarden over anything else?
When you think of setting up a garden using natural soil and water in your backyard or terrace, your options are almost limitless. You can plant anything from fruits, vegetables, flowers, and greens. You can install greenhouses or grow boxes, too!
And then there are things like indoor window boxes or hanging baskets. Why would you pick an AeoGarden over any of these options? Before I get to my ultimate list, here are some benefits of using an AeroGarden to help you decide on this gardening technique.
- Provided with the optimum amount of artificial light, an AeroGarden requires only a small amount of water to sustain its plants. Thus, you can enjoy homegrown vegetables and fruits using minimal resources and cut maintenance costs.
- Unlike indoor hydroponic options, some AeroGardens expose their plants’ roots to the air instead of burying them in the soil. This means the roots do not directly contact pests and parasites, decreasing the risk of plant damage and demise.
- In the case of AeroGardens, you don’t have to deal with a water body that sustains your plants. It keeps your roots from getting water-logged and produces less mold and mildew. Consequently, you can keep your AeroGarden near your living space without worrying about hygiene issues.
- Your Aerogarden is also safe from the effects of the weather and is in an environment that you can regulate!
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How to Grow Plants in an AeroGarden?
Now that you know the fantastic benefits of using an indoor AeroGarden, you’re probably ready to start. These indoor pods can help you grow your favorite vegetables, even off-season, and enjoy the recipes you love.
I have included a brief guide to using the device before listing the things to grow in AeroGarden. This way, you’ll get a clear idea of whether the technique works for you. After you’re familiar with the process, all you’ll have to do is choose the plants from my list and get started.
Step 1: – Select The Plant Assortment You Want To Grow
Remember that the thriving and healthy plants in your friend’s hydroponic garden will not necessarily work well in your little aeroponic garden.
However, that doesn’t mean you would restrict yourself by choosing an AeroGarden over a hydroponic garden. You can use the little indoor garden to grow anything from leafy greens to herbs, vegetables, and fruits.
Choose from the list above to check out which plants grow exceptionally well in aeroponic conditions.
Step 2: – Choose Your Type of AeroGarden
After you decide the range of plants you want to grow using aeroponic or hydroponic technology, it will be easier for you to choose the perfect product. This means you’ll be able to identify the best AeroGarden size and model.
The AeroGarden model is available in countertop or free-standing Versions. If you’re short on space, a countertop AeroGarden is ideal.
However, these models only accommodate around two to nine AeroGarden pods, limiting the number of plants you can grow. Similarly, these models come in different heights, so if you’re going for plants that tend to grow higher, you’ll have to select your model accordingly.
AeroGarden floor models are larger than their countertop counterparts and well worth it if you have the space.
Step 3: – Plant Your Seeds
Once you have acquired the seeds of the plants you want to grow and chosen your ideal AeroGarden model, it is time to start gardening.
The trick to planting seeds that produce healthy plants is to avoid overcrowding your garden. Yes, your AeroGarden model has 24 holes, but that doesn’t mean you should use them all.
You see, initially, everything will look good even if you plant too many seeds in your AeroGarden. But, as time passes and the plants grow, your garden will become an unorganizable mess.
To ensure healthy growth, see if you need to leave alternate holes free while planting your seeds. They might need the room.
Step 4: – Clean and Harvest from your AeroGarden Regularly
As I mentioned, these aeroponic gardens are a breeze to maintain as they don’t have integrated water bodies to help the plants grow. However, the tray beneath your plants can still accumulate debris and potentially harvestable food that needs regular cleaning or harvesting to ensure healthy plant growth.
Furthermore, you should conduct a full deep clean after every harvest when you intend to plant new seeds in your AeroGarden.
Step 5: – Prune Your Plants
Plants are sensitive living things that cannot thrive without proper attention. Although your indoor plants won’t need as much pruning as your outdoor garden, they’ll still require some attention now and then.
Remember, your AeroGarden offers limited space for your plants to spread out. Trimming off unnecessary overgrowth will help them grow to their maximum potential.
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Final Words
In a nutshell, there are many plants you can grow in your AeroGarden. However, each plant needs its specific nutrient solutions and environment to thrive to its optimal level.
Besides that, remember that if you’re growing plants with diverse needs, don’t overcrowd your pods. This might lead to inefficient nutrient distribution and feeble harvests.
Vegetables, salad greens, herbs, seeds, and flowers are among the best plants you can grow in AeroGarden. If you’re ready to try them out, follow my guide on using AeroGarden and get started!
FAQ
How often should I clean my AeroGarden?
For best results, you should deep clean your AeroGarden after every harvest and do a general cleaning every few weeks.
What is the best type of AeroGarden to buy?
The best type of AeroGarden to buy depends on your needs and preferences. If you want a compact model that doesn’t take up much space, a countertop AeroGarden is a good choice. However, if you want to grow more plants at once, the AeroGarden floor model might be better suited for you.
How Long Do Plants Grow in an AeroGarden?
It’s difficult to determine how long seeds will last. It is, however, dependent on several factors. It depends on the plants you’re growing. Vegetable seed pods endure the longest, followed by flowers, salad greens, fruits, and herbs. Seed pods usually survive for around six months.
What seeds can I grow in my AeroGarden?
An AeroGarden is an indoor hydroponic gardening system that allows you to grow a variety of plants and herbs year-round. Seeds grown in an AeroGarden include lettuce, cherry tomatoes, herbs like basil, parsley, and mint, and flowers like petunias and snapdragons.
The aerogarden’s LED light system provides the necessary light spectrum for optimal growth, and the hydroponic system eliminates the need for soil, making it a clean and easy way to grow plants indoors.
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