Hydroponic systems are leading the way in modern agriculture, and one specialty that has seen significant growth is the cultivation of microgreens. Considering their high nutritional content, ornamental appeal, and gourmet flavor, microgreens are being widely used in homes, restaurants, and farmers’ markets. While starting a hydroponic system may seem daunting to beginners, there are now a variety of kits on the market that make the task much more manageable. Here, we take a look at some of the best hydroponic microgreen kits to start your indoor gardening journey.
1. Hamama Microgreens Starter Kit
The Hamama Microgreens Starter Kit is an excellent alternative for individuals who are new to hydroponic microgreen cultivation. The kit is user-friendly, and the company offers a variety of seed quilts to choose from. Each quilt is made from coconut, making it both eco-friendly and sustainable.
The Hamama kit includes a pair of sturdy cultivation trays and three seed quilts. Kale, daikon radish, and salad mix are the starter seeds provided. Growing instructions are uncomplicated and provide every detail necessary for the growth of the plants. The kit requires no additional hydroponics supplies like hydroponic nutrients or special lighting.
2. AeroGarden Bounty
One of the most well-known hydroponic kits on the market is the AeroGarden Bounty. This product offers a high-tech solution to indoor gardening needs. Equipped with Wi-Fi capability and a full spectrum 40W LED lighting system, the AeroGarden Bounty can supply up to nine different plants at a time.
The lighting system is adjustable to match the growth and development of your plants. An interactive touch screen control panel and smartphone connectivity make it easier to monitor and control lighting, water levels, and nutrient application. An added advantage is the AeroGarden app which sends reminders for providing nutrients and water to your plants.
3. Click & Grow Smart Garden 3
Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 is an excellent option for space-constrained indoor gardening. Despite its small size, this smart garden is fully automated and highly functional. It uses smart soil technology to provide plants with an optimal level of nutrients, water, and oxygen.
The kit includes an LED lamp, three plant cups containing smart soil, and a variety of seed pods to select from, including multiple microgreen options. The lamp is adjustable for efficient illumination of your plants as they grow. The Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 synchronizes watering, lighting, and nutrients, simplifying the entire growth process.
4. Microgreen Pros Microgreen Growing Kit
The Microgreen Pros Microgreen Growing Kit offers everything you need to grow your microgreens in a professional yet straightforward way. This hydroponic kit utilizes three reusable grow trays, each capable of producing about 1.5 pounds of microgreens.
It includes a variety of seeds, including broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, and kale. The seeds are non-GMO, and the growing medium is an organic soil substitute. Also included is a pH testing kit, a pH adjusting solution, a spray bottle, a heat mat, and a professional-grade two-foot-long full-spectrum light.
5. Back to the Roots Water Garden
The Back to the Roots Water Garden is an exciting and fun hydroponic kit that doubles as an aquarium. The fish in the tank produce waste, which acts as natural fertilizer for the plants growing above, creating a mutual benefit.
It employs aquaponics to grow the microgreens, a system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics. The kit includes a 3 gallon fish tank, organic microgreen seeds, fish food, and everything else required to set up a self-cleaning fish tank that grows microgreens on top.
6. Window Garden Microgreen Starter Kit
The Window Garden Microgreen Starter Kit includes six reusable grow trays and three packs of fiber soil. Utilizing the proprietary Fiber Soil with high drainage potential ensures that your microgreens receive the right oxygen-to-water ratio, which promotes healthy root structure.
This kit does not utilize any lighting arrangements, instead of relying on natural sunlight for growth. It makes the Window Garden kit a great fit for people who can provide their microgreens with a natural sunlight area and also an excellent option for educating young ones about plant growth.
7. Chef’n Microgreen Growing Kit
The Chef’n Microgreen Growing Kit is a sleek and compact option ideal for small homes and apartments. It includes a growing tray, easy to fit on any windowsill, a lid doubling as a water tray for convenient watering, and three seeding pads.
The Chef’n kit comes with three seed types — alfalfa, broccoli, and radish. It employs a simplified growing process involving seeding pads reducing the need for conventional soil or fertilizers. The entire system is highly efficient and easy to maintain.
In conclusion, hydroponic microgreen kits are a novel, efficient, and interactive way to start growing your produce. From high-tech automated systems like the AeroGarden Bounty to kits that double as aquariums like the Back to the Roots Water Garden, there’s a system out there to suit everyone’s preferences. When selecting a kit, consider the cost, maintenance level, space constraints, and the type of plants you’re interested in growing. Happy growing!
