One of the big issues facing all of us today is having enough fresh food to feed everyone – and whether that produce is sustainable, nutritious, and tasty. The people who invented Tower Garden, a self-contained gardening system, aims to help almost anyone grow their own food, regardless of where they live. You may have already seen or heard about vertical gardens, but Tower Garden may be a little different from what you know. Tower Garden uses no soil, very little water, only sometimes needs additional lighting, and it requires no weeding. It's like the gardening system for people who don't know how to garden, but still, want to benefit from fresh food they grow themselves. How do you know which Tower system is right for you? You'll find the answer to that question and so many more by the time you finish this guide. Keep reading to find out how the Tower Garden works, where you'll need to store it, and how others feel about having their own vertical garden at home.

4 Best Tower Garden Comparisons

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Editors ChoiceEditors ChoiceGarden Tower

  • Dimensions: 43" x 24.5" x 24.5"
  • 50 Plant
  • Grow and vegetables, herbs or flowers organically

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Tower Garden Growing System

  • Dimensions: 62" x 30" x 30"
  • Plant sections: 20
  • Seeds: Basil, beefsteak tomato, bell pepper, cherry tomato, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce

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Tower Garden Family Garden

  • Dimensions: 62" x 30" x 30"
  • Plant sections: 84
  • Seeds: Basil, beefsteak tomato, bell pepper, cherry tomato, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce

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Tower Garden Community Garden

  • Dimensions: 62" x 30" x 30"
  • Plant sections: 84
  • Seeds: Basil, beefsteak tomato, bell pepper, cherry tomato, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce

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What is a Tower Garden, Anyway?

Tower Garden

Put simply, it is exactly what it sounds like: a tower where you can grow a garden. The longer answer to that is that this is a plastic container that can hold plants. The food-grade plastic is UV-stabilized and free of BPA, so it's safe to use for the food that you will be growing and eating. When it's all set up, it's meant to hold 20, 84, or 336 plants, depending on which system you choose. Then you simply soak your rockwool, add your seeds, and place them all in their respective compartments on the tower. Wait, what's rockwool? And what about the soil? Don't gardens need soil. Nope, put that bag of soil down.

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Rockwool is a material made of minerals that is often used as insulation. It can also be used for soundproofing and filtration. In the case of the Tower, it's used in place of soil. Rockwool is incredibly absorbent, so it can hold water and nutrients to continue to feed roots. Plus, it can keep plants stable. There's a bit of controversy when it comes to rockwool, though, and whether it's safe to use. It seems the jury is still out, as not every group can agree on whether it's a carcinogen. There are safety limits regarding exposure to rockwool, so it's just good to know that it's a potential hazard. Be careful when handling it and avoid inhaling any of the particles.

Rockwool

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The people who made Tower unit are aware of rockwool's higher pH, as well, which is why you'll need to soak the rockwool that's included before you plant anything, so follow the instructions carefully. After 30 minutes of soaking, your seeds will be ready to plant. Pack the included vermiculite on top, which helps promote quick root growth. It makes it easier for you to grow your garden the aeroponic way. Wait, what does aeroponic mean?

What Makes Tower Model Better Than Others Like It?

If you've ever seen a hydroponic garden, and you've seen air plants, then you should have a good idea of what an aeroponic garden is. In a hydroponic system, the plants you're growing are able to do so in gravel, sand, or nutrient-treated water. An aeroponic system requires none of those or soil to grow plants. Air plants, for example, simply pull the moisture from the air around it and are able to flourish. A garden will need a bit more than that, though.

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In the case of a Tower model, the roots are kept in a dark enclosure and they get the water and nutrients they need because of the top down set up of the tower. So, growing food in a Tower unit is easy and it's never messy. You don't have to worry about soil, worms, or fertilizer in the traditional sense. You will need to make use of a mineral blend that Tower Garden includes with each purchase, and you'll need to buy more over the years. It's this blend that helps your garden grow big, strong, and healthy. You can keep your vertical unit anywhere you'd like. Balconies, backyards, indoors, front yard, porches, and in traditional garden spots. Of course, if you decide to keep your Tower Garden indoors, you'll need a light system to ensure your plants are getting enough sunlight – even if it's artificial sunlight.

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The three Tower systems that are available come with a financing plan, so you pay a specific amount every month for 12 months. That makes it an affordable option, regardless of the size you need. Additionally, your Tower shouldn't suffer from pest problems, as there's no soil. And with no weeds, it seems to be a self-sufficient growing system. You do still need to pay attention to a few things, though, and for that, head to the next section. You'll learn what to keep in mind if you decide to get a towered garden for yourself.

 

What You Should Know About Your Tower Garden

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It may seem like the easiest way to grow a garden indoors or out, but you'll still have to take some precautions and keep an eye on everything in your vertical garden center. For one, you have to be cautious with the rockwool, and be sure you soak it for the recommended time. You'll have to keep a close eye on the pH of your garden, as well. The Towered Garden systems come with a pH test kit and bottles of pH adjusters. During hot weather, you may have to add more water more often. Nutrient solution will need to be added occasionally – about every two to three weeks. Plus, you'll need to make sure your plants are getting enough sunlight. If you're keeping your Towered Garden indoors, then you will need lights that provide enough light for your plants and light in the proper spectrum. Tower Garden sells some accessories that could be useful.

 

Accessories

Most of the accessories sold by Towered Garden are just that – they're extra bits and pieces you may need for your aeroponic garden. Others are necessary items that you may need more of but originally come with your system.

LED Indoor Grow Lights

LED Indoor Grow Lights

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Growing your fruits and vegetables indoors in your Towered Garden is easy enough if you also purchase the LED indoor grow lights. This set of lights is meant to work specifically with your Tower Garden, so all the plants will receive a proper amount of light.

Mineral Blend

Mineral Blend

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You get some of Tower Garden's Mineral Blend when you buy a system, but you may need to buy more. This blend is made up of a special mix of nitrogen, calcium, phosphate, manganese, copper, and other minerals your plants will love.

Support Cage

Support Cage

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Some plants need a little support, like tomatoes and squash. A support cage can provide a little something for those plants to lean on, and this is made specifically to fit your Tower Garden.

Extension Kit

Extension Kit

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If you've filled all the spaces with plants and you still want more, but maybe not quite enough to warrant a whole other Towered Garden system, then this extension kit may be worth it. You can bump up the total by eight with this kit.

Tower Garden Dolly

Tower Garden Dolly

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Your Towered Garden can hold up to 20 gallons of water. That's a heavy unit, and probably too heavy for you to move about. At about 200 pounds when full of H20, you might want some wheels to move your Tower Garden from one spot to another, or even just to spin to get sunlight on each plant.

Timer

Timer

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Although every Tower Garden system includes a timer, you might need to buy a replacement down the road. This timer lets you set it so that your garden is watered in cycles, which is more efficient and easier on you.

 

Microgreens Extension Kit

Extension Kit

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If you're a big fan of microgreens, you're going to want to pick up this extension kit. You can plant up to 32 tiny greens on top of your Towered Garden.

The 3 Best Tower Garden Reviews

Tower Garden Growing System

Tower Garden Growing System
  • Includes: Towered Garden, seeds, seed starting tray, rockwool, vermiculite, net pots, pump, timer, drain tube, Tower Garden Mineral Blend, measuring cup, pH test kit, pH adjusters (2 bottles)
  • Dimensions: 62″ x 30″ x 30″
  • Plant sections: 20
  • Seeds: Basil, beefsteak tomato, bell pepper, cherry tomato, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce
  • Shipping charge: Yes
  • Payment plan: Yes (1 year)
  • Warranty: 5 years

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The Towered Garden Growing System is the original vertical garden system that is meant for home use. The food-grade plastic tower is made to be opaque to prevent algae growth and it's FDA-approved. That means anything you grow in it should be safe for consumption. There are 20 little pockets meant for a variety of fruits and vegetables. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes to assemble the unit, and you get everything you need in this bundle to get started growing your own food at home. There are 20 blocks of rockwool included for you to use instead of soil, and all you have to do is soak it in water for about 30 minutes before you start planting the seeds that also come in your package. You'll get some basil, tomatoes, bell pepper, lettuce, cucumber, and eggplant seeds to start. You can also buy your own seeds, if you'd prefer. Seedlings are also an option, but they may come with risks. Hydro- and aeroponic gardens are typically safer from pests and disease because there's no soil for critters to live, but it's still possible to get some hitchhikers, especially so if you start with seedlings. After getting your seeds started, you can transplant them to the tower, and then follow the instructions to get growing. The tower itself can hold up to 20 gallons of water, so you won't have to water your plants every day. Plus, the water just sort of drips down the center to give each plant what it needs. You get mineral additives to feed your plants and even some pH adjusters in case the pH is a bit off. Oh, and a pH test kit is included, too. So, you get everything you need to get started with your own vertical garden, but it's going to cost you. This is not a cheap unit, but at least you can pay monthly for a year until you pay it off. Some gardeners have concerns about the mineral blend provided by Towered Garden and whether it's synthetic chemicals and what that does to your food, and rockwool has always had a warning attached to it.

PROS

  • Easy to use
  • No soil required
  • Lower risk of disease, pests
  • Plants grow quickly
  • Little space is needed

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Concerns about rockwool, mineral blend

PRO TIP

If you want a Towered Garden just for personal use, then this vertical gardening bundle could be the right thing for you.

 

Tower Garden Family Garden

Tower Garden Family Garden
  • Includes: Towered Garden (3), seeds, seed starting tray, rockwool (84), vermiculite, net pots, three pumps, two timers, drain tube, Tower Garden Extension Kits (3), support cage, Tower Garden Mineral Blend (2 gallons; 2 3-quarts), measuring cup, pH test kit (2), pH adjusters
  • Dimensions: 62″ x 30″ x 30″
  • Plant sections: 84
  • Seeds: Basil, beefsteak tomato, bell pepper, cherry tomato, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce
  • Shipping charge: Yes
  • Payment plan: Yes (1 year)
  • Warranty: 5 years

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When you have a larger family to feed, you might need a bigger garden, but when it comes to vertical gardening, going higher might not always be the best choice. The Towered Garden Family Garden is a convenient bundle of three of the classic vertical garden Growing Systems and a bunch of extras to make it easier for you to grow a variety of herbs, vegetables, fruits, and flowers for your family. In addition to three towers, which would give you 60 slots for plants, you also get three extension kits, which brings the total slots up to 84. That's a lot of variety, or you could end up growing lettuce and tomatoes in bulk for some serious salad lovers. You'll need a bit more space to make room for all these miniature gardens, but you should still be able to keep them on a porch or patio, if needed. Although you're buying a bundle that includes more for larger families, you don't get more variety in the seeds you get, so you'll have to buy seeds elsewhere to get different plants. You do get a support cage, which makes it easier for you to grow vine plants, such as tomatoes and squash. Of course, you get all the mineral blends, pH adjusters, pH testing kits, pumps, and timers you'll need. Shipping is an added cost and it's quite expensive, but that's how it goes. The five-year warranty is generous, but if you ever have to return a Towered Garden, you'll have to pay a hefty fee to do so (it will be subtracted from your refund).

PROS

  • Easy to use
  • No soil required
  • Lower risk of disease, pests
  • Plants grow quickly
  • Little space is needed

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Concerns about rockwool, mineral blend

PRO TIP

If you’re interested in vertical gardening, but one vertical garden isn’t enough, the family-size bundle could be ideal for you.

 

Tower Garden Community Garden

Tower Garden Community Garden
  • Includes: Towered Garden (12), seeds, seed starting tray, rockwool (2,940), vermiculite, net pots, pumps (12), three timers, drain tube, Tower Garden Extension Kits (12), Tower Garden Mineral Blend (4 gallons, each), measuring cup, pH test kit (2), pH adjusters, extension rods, extension cords, swivel hoses, etc.
  • Dimensions: 62″ x 30″ x 30″
  • Plant sections: 84
  • Seeds: Basil, beefsteak tomato, bell pepper, cherry tomato, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce
  • Shipping charge: Yes
  • Payment plan: Yes (1 year)
  • Warranty: 5 years

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Gardening at home is one thing, but when you have a whole community to feed, one or three Tower Gardens may not be enough. The Towered Garden Community Garden is a bundle that includes everything you need to get started growing food for a large group almost immediately. The way this garden is made is to operate as one cohesive unit, so you won't be able to break it up and give one tower to one family and so on. Tower units includes a variety of pieces to connect the 12 Tower vertical gardening systems together, so you don't have to have a timer on each unit, and they're all taken care of together. There are extension rods, swivel hoses, screws, and wingnuts to help you put it all together and get your community garden going. Of course, what's a gardening system without seeds? Well, you seemingly don't get any with this bundle, so you'll have to plan ahead with your own seeds. You'll get enough propagation trays, though. Shipping is going to be pricey with this plan, as it isn't even listed as a price on Tower Garden's website. And the cost for this community garden bundle is steep as it is.

PROS

  • Easy to use
  • No soil required
  • Lower risk of disease, pests
  • Plants grow quickly

CONS

  • No seeds included
  • Expensive
  • Concerns about rockwool, mineral blend

PRO TIP

For the serious gardening community, there’s this Tower bundle that includes 12 systems.

The Bottom Line

Gardening doesn't have to be a difficult endeavor, but not everyone trusts their thumbs are green enough to manage. The Tower Garden gardening system doesn't require you to know much about gardening. All you have to do is make sure your plants are getting enough water, nutrients, and air to keep growing. Check the pH levels once in a while and adjust when necessary. In just a few weeks, you could be harvesting lettuce you grew yourself. Tower Garden offers three bundle options, so you can pick the one that makes the most sense for the size of your family or community. The best Tower Garden bundle, though, is the original Tower Garden Growing System. Given the cost of the other two bundles, this one is much more affordable, and it give you a chance to try it out without being out too much cash. All the systems are identical, so you aren't missing out on much by going with the smallest bundle on the list. If you really want an extra level for more plants, a dolly, or a cage, you can buy those things separately, anyway.