High-tech hydroponics helped me hack my way to year-round flavor

Every spring in my childhood, there was a full weekend where all my siblings and me would spend every waking minute preparing the garden for the summer growing season. There was dirt under fingernails, on clothes, and it seemed like no amount of scrubbing could get it off our knees at the end of each day. It was almost as much fun as the fall day six months later when we’d prepare the same plot of land that provided us with fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs for a winter under snow and ice in southwestern Connecticut.

I yearned for the garden, apparently, because I spent my summers between college semesters working on an organic farm in Tennessee. However, that itch to get dirt on my hands and harvest the fruits of my labor has gone unscratched since I moved to the city. Living half a dozen floors above ground with very little ledge or balcony space doesn’t lend itself well to a gardener.

Luckily, I found that I didn’t need a plot of land or even a window box to satisfy my green thumb urge. Here’s my secret to feeling like a farm-to-table chef — without leaving my apartment.

What is hydroponic gardening?

No dirt required

Hydroponic gardening is the process used to grow plants without soil. Rather, the plants are sustained on water-based nutrients derived from a tank of water that their roots are suspended in. There’s typically a pump within the system that allows oxygen and the nutrient-rich water to reach the plants directly, just as they’d typically pull it out of the soil in a regular growing situation.

Plants in a hydroponic system typically grow faster with less mess, as there’s no dirt you’re dealing with. In a small apartment space like mine, that makes a huge difference. I have a few houseplants that are in real soil, and every time I have to repot them, I feel like I’m vacuuming up the mess for weeks and weeks after. And while there’s a meditation to walking around and watering each one of them the manual way, there’s always a sense of guilt I have leaving to travel and coming back to see my peace lily shriveled up and wilted from lack of attention.

The appeal of countertop gardens

Letting indoor gardening have its moment

There’s nothing more irritating than buying a bundle of fresh mint for cocktails at the store for upwards of $3. My family’s backyard is completely overgrown with peppermint, so we started drinking Hugo Spritzes and Mojitos in the summertime to combat the invasion — at least that’s what we told ourselves.

Now, paying money out of my pocket for an herb like that feels ridiculous. I’d love to have peppermint in a controlled capacity, as well as all my other favorite herbs on hand 24/7 — but I simply don’t have the space in my apartment for a dozen or so pots and planters to accommodate them all.

But, a hydroponic growing system solves that exact issue: it has small designated spots for almost any herb or flower that you want, all organized neatly next to the cutting board. No soil, no mess. Plus, because they’re intended for indoor use, your herbs and flowers aren’t bound by their natural growing seasons. My sister has a hydroponic tomato plant that’s been producing the most delicious cherry tomatoes for over two years — straight.

After seeing her success, I wanted in on the hydroponic action. That’s where LetPot came in — it had caught my eye in various publications over the years, and when I had the chance to try its 12-Pod Hydroponic Growing System, I jumped at the opportunity.

What I like about LetPot’s 12-Pod Hydroponic Growing System

It’s perfect on my counter

My first impression of this LetPot device was that the size was absolutely perfect. Just over 17 inches wide, it fits against the wall on my kitchen counter like it was built for the space itself. The LED light panel, which provides two different settings for vegetables and herbs versus flowers, can be raised to make the height of the device reach up to 30-inches, but even at full extension, it didn’t feel overwhelmingly tall for my kitchen.

What makes LetPot’s model stand out is the accompanying app. Not only is the interface clean, but it’s incredibly simple and intuitive. In it, you can name your device (which is handy if you have multiple), set water pump and lighting schedules, adjust the brightness of the light panel, and even count how many days it’s been since you started a particular round of growing. You can also remotely turn it on and off.

LetPot / Pocket-lint

I do have to say, though, my favorite part of LetPot’s system is how quiet the pump is. When I first set it up, it was so quiet that I couldn’t hear it even when I put my ear up against the metal siding. I was worried that it was broken, so I lifted up the growing tray and was shocked to see the little pump moving the water around already. It really was just that quiet.

Speaking of siding, I really enjoy the sleek stainless steel body. It’s clean and neutral in my kitchen, and I can’t wait to see how the plants look in contrast. As of writing, I have planted lavender, peppermint, basil, sage, and several baskets of edible nasturium flowers for a pop of color.

What I didn’t like about LetPot’s 12-Pod Hydroponic Growing System

Initial set-up

I wouldn’t call myself the most patient person in the world, but sometimes instructions meet me on a bad day. When the device first arrived, I laid out all the components and got to reading the manual. There’s a lot involved in the initial set-up, including a learning curve for learning and mixing nutrient ratios for the water tank beneath the plants. However, I want to front up this qualm with that since the setup is over, I can already tell maintenance and further use are going to be a piece of cake — maybe even with some of my edible nasturium flowers adorning it.

My next qualm also has to do with the hardware. We know that plants need four things to grow: nutrients, water, air, and light. I’ve personally banned all cool-toned LED and fluorescent lighting in my house, and the LetPot’s light panel is genuinely the only exception I’ll make. There is a ‘low’ brightness mode, but in a dark room, it’s still pretty stark. However, there’s no battling this personal gripe — it’s either the light on ‘low,’ or no gardening at all.

Finally, the beep that pierced my ears upon powering up the garden system was a shock in my quiet apartment — I do wish there was a way to turn it down so I don’t wake up my whole floor just to reconnect it to the Wi-Fi. It also produces the beep if you turn it on or off from the app, which I guess is useful if you aren’t in the same room to check if the light goes out or not. Either way, I wish it was a little quieter.

Should you buy LetPot’s hydroponic garden systems?

If you’re in a small space, yes

LetPot’s systems are perfect if you live in an urban setting with limited access to soil, or even if you’re just short on space like me. Indoor gardeners can also reap the benefits, and people who like to cook with fresh herbs will definitely see the grocery bill go down when they start picking their own rosemary from their kitchen counter.

After reading the instructions a few times, I’m confident that anyone can use this garden system to grow fresh herbs in their kitchen — no soil required.

This device was provided to Pocket-lint by LetPot. The company had no involvement in the content or direction of this article.