by Dawn Spolidoro RN
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17 December 2020
What is a Tower Garden? A Tower Garden is a clean, easy-to-use, eco-friendly vertical aeroponics growing device. In a nutshell, it is an instant garden that can grow fruits and vegetables year-round inside your home! Utilizing the same technology that NASA uses, these tower gardens can grow larger plants in less time than regular gardening techniques. They don’t require soil, weeding, or digging, and eliminate most of the physical labor of traditional gardening. Rather than getting nutrients from soil and the sun, plants in a tower garden use a nutrient rich water and a light system to mimic this environment in a more efficient way. They come with all of the supplies you need to begin growing your garden, so they are ideal for beginners or new gardeners! What exactly is Aeroponics? In the world of gardening, you may hear terms such as “hydroponics” and “aeroponics,” which are really just fancy words for the way that the plants get their nutrients, specifically ways that do not use soil. Hydroponics is actually a term used to describe 6 different methods of growing plants with water-based solutions rather than soil. Aeroponics is one of these methods in which plant roots are actually suspended in the air, and get their nutrients from a special type of nutrient-rich water. This method uses no soil (or even soil substitute), no pesticides, and 90% less water than other gardening methods. To learn more about aeroponic and hydroponic gardening , check out this article . What (and when) can I grow a Tower Garden? One of the most convenient features of an aeroponic garden tower is the ability to grow fruits and vegetables regardless of the time of year! Some plants are better suited for indoor growing vs outdoor growing. The ideal crops for an indoor Tower Garden are leafy, non-fruiting vegetables and herbs. Fruiting plants, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash are ideal for outdoor gardening. They will grow big and hang low to the point where they reach the floor. Some of the best foods to grow in an indoor Tower Garden are the following: Kale, Basil, Cilantro, Lettuce (Bibb, Romaine, Mustard greens, Dill, Mint, Spinach, Swiss chard, Microgreens, Herbs (Lavender, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage), Collards (all types), and so many more!