AeroGrow AeroGarden 3 Review

I received a black AeroGrow AeroGarden 3 as a gift in October of 2010. The compact hydroponic grower came complete with an herb kit (one each of basil, thyme and chives), a grow light and a supply of liquid nutrients. I set up my AeroGarden 3 immediately upon getting it and began growing my selection of herbs.

AeroGarden 3 Product Description

The AeroGarden 3 is a three-pod indoor hydroponic grow system that purports to grow herbs, flowers and vegetables without the need for soil. The system is composed of a full-spectrum, height-adjustable grow light, a platform that houses the plant pods, a bowl for water and nutrients, and simple control panel. The seeds of the plants come in narrow sponge-filled pods which fit securely into the system.

The AeroGarden 3 is smaller than the six and seven pod systems, and fits easily on a small night-stand, bookcase, or kitchen counter. The round shape is contemporary and the wide color selection means that the AeroGarden 3 can go with a range of home decors.

AeroGarden 3 Quality

My first impressions of the AeroGarden 3 were that the product is solidly-built and easy to assemble. All of the smaller parts are made of good quality material, and there is no cheap plastic anywhere on the appliance. The grow light bulb has lasted without problem for the past few months, and I've had no trouble with the AeroGarden 3 at all.

The herbs that came with the appliance also seem to be of high quality. The basil and thyme began to germinate almost immediately, and have strong, full flavor when eaten fresh and when dried.

The only quality issue I had with the plants was when the chives did not germinate. After two weeks of no progress I emailed AeroGrow's customer service about the problem. They promptly responded and shipped a new chive pod immediately. I had the new chive pod in my AeroGarden 3 within a week of sending the first email.

AeroGarden 3 Plant Growth Rate

I must say that I've been very impressed by the growth rate and quality of the herbs that accompanied my AeroGarden 3. They began to germinate (with the exception of the original chive pod) within days, and began to resemble full-grown plants by the second week. At the end of the third week I had to prune to basil as it was beginning to grow faster than the thyme. By week four I had nearly full-grown herbs and began harvesting. The herbs have provided a continuous harvest since then.

I've grown herbs before, both indoors and out, and I've never experience growth this fast. Even with the quick growth, the herbs have remained bushy and healthy-looking.

AeroGarden 3 Overall Impressions

Overall, I am very pleased with my AeroGarden 3. Maintenance is very easy, with lights that come on when water or nutrients need to be added to the system. The grow light is on a timer, and makes a great night-light or even an alarm clock. During the first few weeks, you can almost literally do nothing as far as maintenance. After this time period, you have to add water more often and keep the plants pruned.

The herbs are flavorful and abundant, which is the most important thing in an indoor grower. The AeroGarden is easy to clean and has a very pleasant design.

My experiences with customer service have been extremely positive. The only drawback I can see is the price of the appliance. The AeroGarden 3 is only a three-pod system, yet it retails for about $60. This makes it the least expensive of all of the AeroGrow gardens. The price is worth it if you use a lot of fresh herbs or vegetables, and want to grow them year-round. I would actually recommend the larger (and more expensive) gardens, as they provide double the plants at less than double the price.

Ultimately, I would not hesitate to recommend the AeroGrow AeroGarden 3 to anyone who loves to garden or who appreciates fresh herbs or vegetables on a regular basis.

The AeroGarden 3 can be purchased through the AeroGrow website. Seed kits can be purchased through the site as well, but I've found that Amazon.com has them slightly cheaper.