Many indoor hydroponic garden systems are striking showpieces for the home, but none perhaps more so than Lettuce Grow’s Farmstand.
Founded by Zooey Deschanel and her ex-husband, film producer Jacob Pechenik, Lettuce Grow makes a variety of gardens, including the new no-pump-required Counterstand Set ($149), which I’m currently testing. Nothing stops guests in their tracks quite like the indoor Farmstand. As I described it when I reviewed it last year, it’s as if a giant strawberry planter were reimagined as a set piece for 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Farmstand’s smaller sibling, the Nook, recently began selling at Costco and immediately became an online sensation among Costco influencers. (Yes, Costco influencers are a thing.) Even my own mom texted me in awe upon seeing it in the store, despite having seen the full-sized Lettuce Grow many times in my house.
In short, if you’re looking for a gift with wow factor, a Lettuce Grow garden is sure to deliver, and right now all Farmstands—and the Counterstand Set—are 20 percent off through May 10 when you enter the coupon code MOM20.
In addition to the indoor models that come with light rings, there are also no-light outdoor versions that allow you to add rings later on if you change your mind. You can choose from a Small (18 plants), Medium (24 plants), or Large (36 plants) Farmstand, though each system is fully modular—you can add levels later on if you choose with an extension kit, though Lettuce Grow recommends no more than six total. Each Farmstand comes with credits for seedlings to order once you’re ready. When I first reviewed the Farmstand, pest outbreaks (aphids, whiteflies) were a significant issue with the seedlings, which are shipped from a nursery. However, the company has since instituted a quarantine process, the directions for which are on the seedling package. I followed it with my seedlings for the Counterstand, and have since had no issues with bugs.
Note that the pump on the Farmstand runs every hour and sounds like a toilet flushing for about five minutes straight, so make sure your giftee is OK with this, and they may want to add a dolly ($60 from Lettuce Grow, or you can probably find a cheaper one on Amazon) to ensure it’s easy to move around. It’s more or less immobile when it’s full of water. For detailed maintenance needs, check out my full review. I have now been using the system through two growing “seasons” and still consider it a great buy.
If a full Farmstand is out of your price range or comfort zone, Lettuce Grow’s new Counterstand Set is also featured in the sale—20 percent off with the code MOM20. It relies on the Kratky method of hydroponics, invented by horticulturist Dr. Bernard Kratky, where the plant sits in a cup above a nutrient-enriched water source; eventually, the roots will grow into the water. You can choose your three included seedlings, and all that’s required in terms of maintenance is periodically refilling the three science-lab-looking amber beakers to the fill line, along with drops of the included nutrients.
The yields aren’t going to blow anyone away—I get maybe a few lettuce, basil, and parsley leaves per week—but it’s more of a decorative system that looks cool on your kitchen counter. You can opt to include the 18-inch LED lamp with a timer, or go with natural sunlight, if you have an appropriate spot in your house. (Note that even though Lettuce Grow says the Counterstand “fits under any kitchen cabinet,” the LED lamp precluded it from fitting under mine.) Like the above sale, the Counterstand deal ends May 10.
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