How to Set Up an Aerogarden

Are you ready to start gardening right on the kitchen counter? Then you should give the Aerogarden a try. It is super simple to get started. I’ll show you how to set up an Aerogarden and start growing in less than five minutes. You could have fresh herbs or salad greens sprouting by next weekend!

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I Must Give the Hydroponic Vibe

When I planted my first garden, I talked about it to anybody that would listen. I also gave away herbs and produce to everybody that wanted some. I had been bit by the garden bug. That fall my husband got me a hydroponic garden for my birthday. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to get it going. Then for Christmas, my dad gave me an Aerogarden. I must have been giving off a hydroponic vibe that year.

In January, I set up the Aerogarden. I planted the herb pods and waited. I didn’t have to wait long though. By February, I was cutting off tiny mint leaves. The plants went from tiny to full grown rather quickly. Soon I was giving away herbs by the bundle again. Some of the plants lasted a full year and could have gone longer. Seriously, does mint ever die?

After the herb garden, I scrubbed the Aerogarden clean and planted the lettuce pods in it this go around. I can’t wait to have a salad growing on my countertop! I seriously love the Aerogarden and would recommend it to anybody looking to scratch the homesteading itch.

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About the Aerogarden

The Aerogarden is a hydroponic garden. That means it does not require any dirt. In fact, there are only 3 things you need to get the plants to grow. The garden requires electricity, water, and plant food. You put the pods in the holes. Fill the base up with water. Add a little plant food. Set the clock and you’re done. The garden will remind you when to add more water and more plant food. This makes it super simple to use.

The garden can be used to grow herbs, salad greens, vegetables, and even flowers. It does not do well with root crops like potatoes or carrots. I also wouldn’t put very tall plants in the smaller gardens. I’ve used the seed pods that come already planted, but you can buy empty pods to use with your own seeds.

If you wish, the Aerogarden can be used to start seeds that will later be moved to a pot or outdoors into a garden. It will require you to use the seed starting tray, instead of the deck with holes. You’ll use peat sponges instead of the pods as well. This may be a great option if you plan on having a larger outdoor garden or live somewhere with a shorter growing season.

If you are still on the fence check out my post, Is an Aerogarden Worth It, where I review the hydroponic setup.

How to Set Up an Aerogarden

First follow the package directions to assemble the Aerogarden. It is really quite simple, but you need to make sure the cords are plugged in correctly before starting the garden. From here it is super simple.

Simply fill the basin with water. I like to use filtered water from the Berkey to ensure that there’s no chlorine. If I’m going to go to all of the work to grow my own food, I want to know it’s good quality and as clean as possible. Below the lid there’s a small pole that indicates the maximum water level.

Next add some plant food. The amount will depend on what size garden you are using. My six pod garden requires two capfuls every two weeks. I will admit that I don’t always measure this out exactly. Often I will just pour a little in and call it good enough. It doesn’t seem to have hurt my plants yet. In fact, my herbs grew so long that I had to buy more plant food. Eventually, I got tired of the herbs so I pulled them out so I could replace them with salad greens.

Then you are going to hit the little leaf button on the front of the Aerogarden. Use that button and the arrows to select “Start a New Garden.” Then pick what type of pod you are growing. This will help the garden remind you how often to feed the plants and how long the light will stay on.

Finally put the pods in the holes. Cover them with the little plastic lids until the plants touch the top. Then they can be removed and the plants will continue to grow. Do not remove the green plastic that covers the top of the pods. This has the name of the plant and how long it will take to sprout on it. It can stay attached and won’t hurt anything.

Start by lowering the light all the way down. As the plants grow, slowly raise it up. Having it too far away will cause the plants to get leggy.

Now that you know how to set up an Aerogarden, you can start reaping what you sow!

Maintaining an Aerogarden

Feed and water the plants as needed. The leaf button will flash red when the Aerogarden needs more food or water. It will automatically turn off once watered if that is what triggered it. But if the garden needs food, just hit the button after feeding it.

As the produce ripens, go ahead and harvest it. This is especially true for herbs. Don’t let them get too tall or the lights will burn them. It’s best to keep it all under control.

Brown crust may build up around the edges. That’s totally normal and can be wiped away with a damp washcloth.

When the garden is finished, take the base apart for a good cleaning. Make sure you scrub away any of the brown build up and hard water. I find soaking it in vinegar is the easiest way to accomplish this cleaning task.

Now you’re good to go! You know how to set up an Aerogarden and how to maintain one. The only thing left is to get growing!