The 7 Best Indoor Growing Systems for Year-Round Gardening

If you want an indoor planting system that mimics outdoor gardening as much as possible, then the Click & Grow The Smart Garden 9 is for you. Available in three colors, this soil-based indoor growing system features a simple design that will look great in any home or kitchen. The system uses biodegradable plant pods that either come pre-loaded with seeds for specific herbs or salad greens — the company has about 50 types to choose from — or you can grow anything you like by adding your own seeds to an unfilled pod. Pop the pods into the base, add water to the tank, and turn the device on. From there, the pods automatically release all the nutrients the seeds need to grow, so you don't need to add any nutrient solutions to the system. And the system's energy-efficient LED grow lights provide the sun the plants need to thrive. To get you started, the Click & Grow The Smart Garden 9 comes with three mini tomato, three basil, and three green lettuce seed pods.

The Moistenland Hydroponics Growing System Starter Kit is our top pick for the best hydroponic indoor plant system. The system comes with 12 biodegradable planting pods that you place your choice of seeds into. Once the pods are placed into the appliance's base, the built-in air and water circulation system makes sure the plants get all the nutrients and oxygen they need to grow. The system's overhead panel of LED grow lights is height-adjustable and offers two grow modes — one for vegetables and one for fruits. Lastly, the Moistenland Hydroponics Growing System Starter Kit has an automatic timer to ensure your plants get the correct amount of light they need, and it has an easy-to-read window on its base for checking the water level.

The Back to the Roots Water Garden is an aquaponic indoor plant system that is basically a complete mini ecosystem. The apparatus includes a three-gallon fish tank with a growing system on top. The water in the tank is used to grow the plants and the waste created by the fish in the fish tank fertilizes the plants growing on top. The growing area on top can grow up to three plants at a time and it is perfect for low-maintenance plants like microgreens, succulents, and simple houseplants. The system comes with seeds for radish and wheatgrass microgreens, as well as a water conditioner and the growing medium the seeds require. And if you don't have a finned friend yet, don't despair — the Back to the Roots Water Garden comes with a coupon for a free Betta fish!

If you prefer a vertical indoor growing system, then the Mr. Stacky Smart Farm is perfect for you. This aeroponic vertical indoor garden system can grow up to 20 plants in its terracotta holders. The system features a 16-gallon water tank, which means you only have to fill it up every two to three weeks. To get it started, just fill up the base with water, plant your seeds or seedlings in each pot, and plug the system in. You also set the system's timer to water the plants each day, and any water not used recirculates back into the tank. The Mr. Stacky Smart Farm can be used to grow a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens, and the system is backed by a one-year warranty.

With over 13,000 ratings and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, the AeroGarden Harvest is a no-brainer for those who are new to indoor gardening. This hydroponic indoor garden system can grow up to six plants at a time up to 12 inches tall. An easy-to-read control panel reminds you when it's time to add more water and plant food and the included LED grow lights help ensure your plants get all the light they need and will automatically turn themselves on and off as required. Take the guesswork out of what types of seeds will grow best by using the system's pre-seeded pods available in a variety of herbs, salad greens, vegetables, and flowers. And to get you started, the AeroGarden Harvest comes with a six-pod set with basil, parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil, and mint.

Click and Grow is back on our list, this time with our top pick for the best indoor growing system for herbs. The Click and Grow Smart Garden 3 Indoor Herb Garden comes in three colors and is the perfect size for growing tasty, fragrant herbs right on your kitchen counter. This soil-based indoor plant system uses the company's smart soil to give seeds the nutrients they need to grow. Choose from over 50 pre-seeded plant pods, including lavender, basil, chives, and thyme. Once the pods are in and the water tank is full, the planter does all the work by self-watering the seeds as they grow. A water float tells you when it's time to refill the water tank, and the grow lights have 16 hours on/8 hours off automatic cycle for the perfect amount of growing light.

If you want to grow a wide variety of vegetables indoors and you have room in your budget, then we highly suggest considering the Rise Gardens Single Family Garden. This indoor garden basically doubles as a piece of furniture thanks to its modern design. The hydroponic indoor growing system grows vegetables (it's particularly known for its leafy green-growing ability) and herbs. The basic system grows up to 12 plants, while upgrades allow you to add on to the system to grow up to 36 plants indoors. On the top section of the system is a bank of LED grow lights that mimic natural sunlight, while the system's five-gallon self-watering system will require the addition of about three gallons of water per week. And as your plants grow, monitor the whole experience through Rise Gardens' mobile app that has grow light controls and tells you what stage of growth your plants are in and if you need to add water and/or nutrients.

Do you have an indoor growing system that lets your plants thrive? Tell us about it in the comments below!