FAQs

Is produce grown in the AeroGarden organic?

Organically-grown food is food that has been grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. Since the AeroGarden is an indoor appliance, pests and weeds are generally not a problem, so pesticides and herbicides are not needed. In rare cases, bugs such as aphids may enter the home on clothing or produce, and in such cases it is up to the consumer’s discretion whether to use natural or synthetic pest control measures.

For produce to qualify as organically-grown, the fertilizers used must be derived from decomposed plant or animal material. This works well in soil, where microbes and insects convert this decaying plant and animal material into a form that is readily available to the plants (a process called “mineralization”). In an aeroponic environment, however, there is nothing to perform this conversion, leaving a smelly mess that the plants cannot absorb. To avoid this problem, our nutrient tablets are made from mineral salts that provide all the macro- and micronutrients that are needed for healthy, robust plant growth in a form that is readily useable by the plants.

In terms of healthfulness and nutritional value, produce grown in the AeroGarden is most often more nutritious than store-bought organically grown produce. For references to studies, please click here.