The pitch for AeroGarden sounds almost too good: grow fresh basil, mint, dill, and other herbs on your kitchen counter, year-round, without soil, without gardening experience, and without much effort. We bought one and spent 90 days testing that claim before writing a word.
We timed it. Unboxing to first run took 4 minutes and 40 seconds. The seed pods slot into designated spaces, the water tank fills from the top, and the grow light arm adjusts to height. There are no settings to configure beyond setting the current time so the light turns on and off automatically.
Every seed pod we planted had visible sprouts by day 6. By day 14, we had recognizable herb seedlings across all six pods. The grow light's spectrum is optimized for indoor growing, and the difference vs. a windowsill herb pot is noticeable.
We harvested fresh basil, mint, and dill regularly from day 28 onward. The basil in particular grew faster than any soil-based herb we've grown. We used it in cooking multiple times per week and it kept up with demand.
AeroGarden does exactly what it claims. If you want fresh herbs at home with zero effort, it's genuinely the easiest path there. The main ongoing cost is replacement seed pods, which are proprietary.
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