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Key specs
Plant stand dimensions: 119.38 x 66.4 x 26.12 cm
Cost: £813.80 (On sale at £549)
Set up: using instruction manual
Plants included: 9 x Basil, 9 x Lettuce, 9 x Tomato pods
Jump to
- Who is the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27 aimed at?
- How long does the water reservoir last on the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27?
- Is the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27 easy to set up?
- How bright are the light on the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27?
- How quickly did the plants grow in the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27?
- How did the crops taste?
- Were there any problems with growing in the Smart Garden 27?
- Is the Smart Garden 27 good value for money?
- Other Smart Garden options to try
The Click and Grow Smart Garden 27 review
Who is the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27 aimed at?
In order to use the Smart Garden 27 you’ll need quite a bit of space. Measuring 120 x 66.5 x 26.5 cm, it’s pretty hefty, but that space allows you to grow from 27 pre-seeded pods. To start out with you’re given three varieties of pods to grow: tomato, basil, and lettuce. In theory the stand provides the optimum light and water levels and the plant pods containing the seeds contain all the nutrients needed for the plants to thrive. Because of its size, this garden is mainly aimed at families or those with space to spare.
How long does the water reservoir last on the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27?
Initially you fill the water tanks until the floating gauge becomes level with the surface of the tank and this water should keep the plants happy for up to three weeks. Although this was the case when the seeds were just germinated, once I had an entire level filled with thirsty lettuces, the water needed topping up much more often and as there is no alert for this, you have to be pretty on the ball with checking the plants and the gauge.
Is the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27 easy to set up?
The set up was quick with easily followed instructions.
How bright are the light on the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27?
The grow lights are incredibly bright and given that I live in a flat where the only space to keep this was my living room, the brightness was a little intrusive. There was a way around this though, and by plugging it in late at night I was able to ensure the lights had a minimal impact on our waking hours (the garden automatically times itself to be on for 16 hours and then off for 8), though I don't know how good this is for the plants.
How quickly did the plants grow in the Click and Grow Smart Garden 27?
It took around 4 weeks to have a big crop of lettuce, and I found myself wishing I had slightly staggered the planting of the pods to have had a slower supply of the greens. The lettuces have since re-sprouted, so I’m hoping for a second smaller crop from the same pods. Having said this, it did take a long time for the lettuce to grow and probably produced enough leaves for about three salads for three people. Not bad, but not a brilliant return on 4 weeks of growing time when they aren’t designed to be cut-and-come-again types. The basil was slower to germinate but grew quickly too, and I harvested a large crop after about 5 weeks. The tomatoes were unsurprisingly the slowest growers, and it took about 7 weeks before some tiny tomatoes started to appear. I’m curious to see how long they take to ripen and how the flavour compares to fruit grown in the ground.
How did the crops taste?
The convenience of cutting fresh lettuce from my living room and there being no need to wash it was a big plus for me, and it tasted pretty good too. Generally it was not a hugely flavourful lettuce, but it did the job. The basil was a big success story in many ways, reaching a great height and having very sizeable leaves. I picked enough in the first harvest to make a large batch of tasty pesto.
Were there any problems with growing in the Smart Garden 27?
Overall the Smart Garden 27 has been pretty low-maintenance and has allowed for an easy harvest of greens every now and then. However, on the basil, an infestation of aphids proved hard to tackle in the controlled environment of my living room. As much as I tried to remove them by hand and rinse them off, in the end I had to harvest the basil in one big crop which was a shame as it would have worked well as a gradual crop. The pesto I made with it (after thoroughly washing the aphids off) was really tasty though.
Aside from this, the crops were slower growing than I maybe expected, and a more staggered approach to planting would have ensured a genuinely continuous supply of herbs and greens, if able to keep the aphids at bay.
Is the Smart Garden 27 good value for money?
At £813 when fully priced, or £549 on sale, you would have to grow a lot of herbs to make this investment make sense financially. The Smart Garden 27 is more geared towards someone who is already interested in growing and has some disposable income.
The Smart Garden 27 would be best suited to a larger home, which is the intended audience as it is marketed as a family-sized planter. Although the lettuce was tasty, I think herbs are where this product shines and I would be keen to try this growing method for coriander, parsley, chives and tarragon which I use regularly. Overall though, my preference for growing herbs would remain a few seeds and a pot of compost on the windowsill; but I can see why the convenience of the planter being self-watering for long periods of time would sway people to this method.
Other Smart Garden options to try
If you think the Smart Garden 27 is too big of an investment, why not try one of these smaller ones to start out with.
Click and Grow 3-pod indoor herb kit
The Click and Grow Indoor Herb Garden allows you to grow smaller batches of your favourite kitchen herbs right on your windowsill. As with all of the Click and Grow products, a reservoir keeps the plants watered and a gauge tells you when it is time to refill the tank. This Smart Garden would be perfect for someone who wants to have an easy supply of herbs like basil, coriander, parsley or dill in their kitchen. The LED grow lights help the plants to thrive even in winter and the plant pods are pre-seeded, so there is very little faff when setting up.
Click and Grow 9-pod indoor herb garden
If you're looking for a little more growing space or want to grow a variety of herbs then this could be a good option for you. Coming with space for nine seed pods, you can easily grow a variety of crops in this smart garden. To start out with it comes with three lettuce, three basil and three tomato pods just just the Smart Garden 27. It comes with the characteristic Click and Grow LED lights and a self-watering system to keep the plants happy. This would be a good counter-top option for someone looking to start growing.
Already have a Click and Grow Smart Garden?
If you already have a Click and Grow garden, here are some replacement pods you could buy to keep growing.
Wild Strawberry Plant Pods
I love the idea of having wild strawberries growing in my home so when I saw that they were available to buy for the Smart Garden 27 I put them straight on my list of things to try.
Pak Choi Plant Pods
Pak choi makes such a great addition to a huge range of dishes and would be a great one to try out in your Smart Garden.
Cornflower plant pods
If growing flowers is more your speed, why not have a go at growing some cornflowers in your Smart Garden.
