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What is the Aerogarden?
In the 1990's, I remember going to Epcot Center and seeing a tour which included an entire garden they grew using hydroponic technology--gardening without soil (and the things that come with soil, such as bugs, disease, and pollution). I remember being amazed at seeing all the vegetables and fruits they were growing.
Little did I know that just 10 years later, I'd have a hydroponic garden sitting in my own apartment!
The Aerogarden gives you the ability to use hydroponics in your own kitchen. I love to cook, but one thing I always seem to need is fresh herbs. I have no outdoor space to grow a garden. At the supermarket, I can pay $2 for a package of parsley. I'll use two tablespoons and throw out the rest.
I decided to buy an Aerogarden a few years ago. It came, as it still does now, with a free herb garden kit, which includes Italian Basil, Purple Basil, Chives, Parsley, Cilantro (or Thyme), Mint, and Dill. Within months, I harvested enough herbs to cook delicious lentil soup (parsley), fresh corn chowder (Italian basil, chives) using my own vegetable stock (parsley) , margherita pizza (Italian basil), fresh tomatoes and basil (Italian basil, purple basil), baked potatoes with chives (chives), authentic chocolate chip mint ice cream (mint), and roasted vegetables (dill), thai basil chicken (basil) and lots and lots of pesto (basil).
I was so thrilled with the Aerogarden that I decided to purchase three more! If you look at my Aerogarden Blog, you can follow my adventures.
Having followed Aerogarden and AeroGrow (the company that makes Aerogardens) for several years, one thing their marketing department seems to always be struggling with is how to name their different units. I mean, who has the time and patience to figure out what the heck an Aerogarden Classic Elite Deluxe Pro Veggie 6 Extra Plus Garden is?
Never fear--below, I've written the names and descriptions of each of the current models, along with a link directly to the Aerogarden Store where you can buy one for yourself and dive into the world of hydroponics. .
AeroGarden Classic Black
(7 Pod)
Also called the Original AeroGarden, AeroGarden 7
This is the unit that started it all. The unit currently retails for $99.95, an astounding drop from its old retail price of $199.95. It comes in black (pictured), white, or silver
to coordinate with your kitchen appliances.
The saying "just add water" applies here. Everything else is included: seven seed pods, the sunlight (provided through two flourescent bulbs and a timer system), the plant food (provided through a supply of nutrient-rich tablets), and even a recipe book for cooking with your herbs. You'll just have to spend about 5 minutes a month taking care of it, and enjoying harvest after harvest of crops.
You can buy other seed kits for plants that grow to a maximum of about 21 inches before being harvested, including basil, lettuce, gourmet herbs, chili peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
This unit weighs about 15 pounds, and takes up counter space of 18.5 inches (length) x 10 inches (width) x 15-21 inches (height).
AeroGarden PRO100
(7 Pod)
The AeroGarden PRO 100 is the same size and weight as the AeroGarden Classic above (and also comes with seven seed pods for gourmet herbs), but because of improvements in the technology, plants will grow 50% faster.
The Pro model uses microprocessor-driven "Adaptive Growth Intelligence" to monitor the plants' growth patterns and adjust the light and nutrients accordingly. This model also has a "24 hour growth cycle" which keeps the grow lights up continually for plants that thrive in those conditions.
AeroGarden 6
(6 Pod)
The AeroGarden 6 is a new version of the Aerogarden Classic which is the same size as the Classic, but holds six seed pods instead of seven, which allows the plants to spread out and grow more lush. There are improved high-efficiency grow bulbs that emit 27% more light (instead of the old bulb that look like household fluorescent light bulbs, these are big, flat grow bulbs that provide light more evenly to plants). There's also an "Advanced Growing System", a fancy way of saying that instead of the old water pump system, there's a new aeration system that works a lot like a fish tank pump, producing bubbles which bring oxygen to the roots. While it may sound like 6 pods will give you 15% less yield than an Aerogarden 7, between the improved lighting, the improved aeration system, and the additional space for the plants to grow, you'll find the yield is comparable.
AeroGarden 6 - Space Saver
(6 Pod)
The AeroGarden 6 Space Saver is a more compact version of the Aerogarden 6 which takes up 30% less space than the units above, a great choice if counter space in your kitchen happens to be at a premium. As with the Classic, it comes in black (as pictured), white and silver
.
AeroGarden 3 Black
(3 Pod)
If you're really constrained for space or only need a few herbs from time to time, the AeroGarden 3 is a unit that uses only three pods and is about the size of a coffee maker. The unit comes in black, and also in a ton of other colors, including silver, white, blue, lime, orange, pink, and yellow (see the Aerogarden Store for all choices).
It comes with seed pods for basil, thyme, and chives, is about the size of a coffee maker, and is as cute as a button to boot. It's 9.5 inches long and 11 inches wide, with a height of 14 inches.
AeroGarden 3 Antics Lady Bug w/Splash of Color Seed Kit
In a clever move to make their products more appealing, Aerogrow designed a number of AeroGarden 3 models with whimsical designs. The picture to the left is a very cute ladybug which is their all-time bestselling AeroGarden. They also have cute AeroGardens designs modeled after a dog, a cow, and a giant tomato. It's a great way to add fun to your kitchen, or as a gift for a young person in your life to teach them about gardening (and get them to grow you a ton of fresh herbs!). All for less than the price of a video game.
Elite Models: You may hear about an "Elite" model for some of these Aerogardens (e.g. the AeroGarden 3 Elite, the AeroGarden 6 Elite, the AeroGarden SpaceSaver 6 Elite). In all honesty, I wouldn't waste the extra money on these. This just means that they have stainless steel accents on them which quite frankly aren't even all that attractive. Otherwise, they're exactly the same units, with the same lighting and water systems. In my opinion, not worth the extra money.
AeroGarden Extra (Tall AeroGarden)
formerly Aerogarden Deluxe, VeggiePro, Aerogarden Elite 6 Plus
This model of the AeroGarden is for serious indoor gardeners. It uses three deluxe full-spectrum growth bulbs and is larger than the classic AeroGarden unit, measuring 18 inches by 10.5 inches, with a height of anywhere from 16.5 to 34 inches!
The larger height means this unit can accomodate full-size crops, including full-size heirloom tomatoes, mega cherry tomatoes (included), or sweet bell peppers, all available for purchase at the AeroGarden store. You can even grow regular AeroGarden herb or flower pods and yield many more crops due to the much taller height and the improved lighting.
This one is the top-of-the-line AeroGarden. I had some success growing the heirloom tomatoes. If only Aerogrow could decide on a name for it!
No matter what kind of cuisine you cook, Aerogarden has great kits! Most of them will be able to be harvested as early as 3 week, and last for at least 4-5 months.
Each kit costs about $20 each, and pay for themselves after the first two harvests (the same amount of fresh herbs you can get in just one harvest costs anywhere from $5-10 in a supermarket). The toughest part will be deciding which kit to grow!
The French Herb Seed Kit
The Gourmet Herbs Seed Kit
The possibilities are endless--make a baked potato with sour cream and chives; garnish an ice cream cup with a fresh mint leaf, make pesto or chicken and basil, make fresh soup with parsley, and so on.
The Holiday Herb Seed Kit
Love basil? You will not be disappointed with this one. Seven different basil varieties are included in the International Basil Kit
If you cook italian food, this is a dream come true. The Italian Herb Seed Kit
The Japanese Herb Seed Kit
Cook a Mexican feast with fresh sauces, salsa, and other dishes. This South of the Borden Seed Kit
The Salsa Garden
Last but not least, here's one of the coolest seed kits. The Chili Peppers Seed Kit
.