The AeroGarden Bounty Basic is a great choice for both first-time and experienced indoor gardeners. The system grows a variety of herbs with nearly zero maintenance, and its small countertop size is deceiving; it can grow up to nine fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables without taking up much space.

It took us just 15 minutes to set up, which included assembling the deck, attaching the grow lights, and adding the planting pods, which involves simply placing them in the deck. We then filled the water reservoir and added the included plant food. The self-watering system lasted for weeks at a time, and a red light alerted us when it was time to add more water and nutrients. 

The timer function worked seamlessly, turning on at dawn and off at dusk, mimicking the same light exposure the plants would receive if outside. The only maintenance on our part was refilling the water and nutrients when necessary and trimming the plants every few days.

We planted basil, parsley, dill, thyme, mint, and chives, and each one grew at the timing indicated on the pods, with basil popping up first. The system was also incredibly quiet, even when actively circulating water and nutrients.

Although the bulbs are bright enough to mimic sunlight, they were never hot to the touch. We’ve been using the system for six months with no leaking, changes in quality, or other issues. The timer function and other controls could be a bit confusing, though. We’d also love to see the addition of a cover for pet parents with curious cats that like to nibble on plants.

Size: 16 x 6 x 8 in. | Soil or Hydroponic: Hydroponic | Plant Capacity: 9 | Self-Watering: Yes

The inbloom Hydroponics Growing System was easily one of the best ones we tested. A great beginner choice, it has everything you need, including soil, grow lights, seeds, and a self-watering canister. 

Holding up to five plants, it took just 10 minutes to set up (after two hours of soaking time). Simply place the soil and seeds in the grow baskets, then fill the system with water. An easy-to-read water level marker lets you know when it needs refilling, which, for us, was twice a week at first, then every few days once the plants grew larger. Refilling took just a few minutes.

The automatic LED lights stay on for 16 hours and off for eight, providing the correct amount of light needed to help your plants thrive. Our basil seeds sprouted within seven days and remained healthy beyond our testing period, but eventually needed to be replaced.

The basil plant continued to thrive after replacement, but we did have some issues replanting cilantro, so our results beyond initial planting were a bit mixed. The system itself, however, has maintained its quality throughout our six months of testing.

Size: 11 x 6 x 6 in.| Soil or Hydroponic: Hydroponic | Plant Capacity: 5 | Self-Watering: Yes

This herb garden system makes having fresh herbs right in your kitchen easy—so easy, that when it took just five minutes to set up, we thought we had missed something.

Taking up very little space (it’s only a foot wide) and with a self-watering system, the garden comes with three basil pods. Just put the pods in, add the included plastic covers, water the plants, then plug it in. The grow lights automatically turn on for 16 hours a day and stay off for eight, so your herbs will get the necessary amount of light. Once the basil begins to grow, you can adjust the height of the light to make room.

The seeds emerged within five days and sprouted within a week. After six months, the system is still functioning the same, and growing basil has never been easier. The automated lights and watering system even alert you when it’s time for a refill.

Keep in mind that this system is only designed for herbs, so you should pick a different option from our list if you want to grow vegetables. It also only comes with basil, so you’ll need to buy pods for other herbs. (We added arugula three months after the basil and that did well, too.)

And while there is a free app that provides plant details and tips, it wasn’t really helpful and doesn’t control the garden. There doesn’t appear to be a way to clean the tank, but even at the six-month mark, it appeared clean without our intervention.

Size: 9 x 5 13 in. | Soil or Hydroponic: Hydroponic | Plant Capacity: 3 | Self-Watering: Yes

We love this stackable planter for those wanting a larger, vertical planter, but this one is a bit different. While the planter can be used indoors, it’s not an indoor gardening kit: it’s not self-watering, you’ll need to buy a grow light, it doesn’t come with plants, and it’s not hydroponic, so you’ll need to purchase soil. 

Unlike the others, however, this one can also be used outside, so it’s a great pick if you want to start seedlings indoors and move them out in warmer weather without needing to transfer them to new containers. It is also much larger than most indoor gardens, accommodating 15 plants of varying sizes.

We tested the stackable planter indoors, growing basil, spinach, and tomato with the help of grow lights. Watering every other day, it took some effort to keep the plants growing, but it was still more convenient than having an outdoor garden. Of note, however, is the lack of drain holes, so it’s easy to accidentally overwater the plants.

We ended up only planting in two out of the five tiers because we needed room for the grow lights and noticed that the plants on the bottom tiers did not seem to receive enough light. We removed the initial plants and replaced them with cat grass and catnip so we could put them in a different area of the home. Those ended up doing better, so it was apparent that more light was needed. 

We would recommend the planter if you have natural indoor light, a lot of grow lights, or want to start your plants indoors and move them outside.

Size: 13 x 13 x 24 in. | Soil or Hydroponic: Soil | Plant Capacity: 15 | Self-Watering: No