When you first start growing in an AeroGarden, you may have a lot of questions about what to expect. We've compiled a few of the most common questions and answers, to help set your expectations on when your plants may sprout, how tall they'll grow and more.

How long will my plants take to germinate?

Below are some estimated time frames for your seed starter kits to germinate, based on the general plant variety (flower, herb, lettuce and fruiting veggie). When growing any type of plant, the amount of tending and care you put into it is going to make a big difference!

Average Germination Times:

• Flowers: 7-12 days - these should blossom after about 40 days on average
• Salads: 5-8 days
• Herbs: 5-15 days
• Fruiting vegetables (such as tomatoes and peppers): 7-10 days - it takes an average of 45 days to blossom, and then another week or two for those blossoms to turn into fruit if you are diligent about pollinating!

Average Harvest Times:

• Flowers: n/a
• Salads: 21 days
• Herbs: 21 days
• Fruiting vegetables: 100 days

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How long do plants typically last in an AeroGarden? 

In many ways, growing in an AeroGarden or hydroponic microgreens is similar to growing plants in any environment. Plants have a lifespan and a life cycle as they grow and mature. The type of plant it is, as well as the tending and harvesting you do, impact the life expectancy of any plant. Here are some estimates of what to expect with different types of plants growing in an AeroGarden.

Flowers: Flower varieties typically grow for 3-4 months. Some may only last as long as 2 months.

Lettuces & Greens: The average lifespan for lettuces and salad greens is about 2 months. Some may last up to 3 months. When lettuces and salad greens start to taste bitter or show signs of flowering (called bolting), this is a sign the plant may be coming to the end of its life cycle.

Herbs: Herbs typically grow for about 3-4 months. Some herbs, like basil, can last longer than that, especially with regular pruning and harvesting. 

Fruiting Vegetables: Fruiting vegetable plants have a longer lifespan than flowers, lettuces, and herbs. Fruiting vegetable plants (such as tomatoes or peppers) will start to flower and set fruit after they reach a level of maturity. The average lifespan for fruiting vegetables is about 9 months. With continued tending and care, fruiting vegetables you can certainly maintain plant growth for longer.

How tall will my plants grow? 

We note the estimated plant height on every pre-seeded pod we send you. But what do those notes mean? Short plant varieties are bushier, and will probably only grow 4"-5" tall. Medium plants usually max out around 8". Tall plant varieties can sometimes be without limits, growing 2 feet tall or more if not pruned well. This even includes herbs like Basil! 

Herb Heights:

• Tall: Dill, Holy Basil, Genovese Basil, Marseille Basil, Napolitano Basil, Lemon Basil, Lime Basil, Savory
• Medium: Sage, Rosemary, Chives, Cilantro, Chamomile, Purple Basil, Thai Basil, Italian Parsley, Lavender, Mint, Mitsuba
• Short: Marjoram, Oregano, Thyme, Globe Basil, Curly Parsley, Lemon Mint, Lemon Balm, Chervil

Flower Heights:

• Tall: Celosia, Coleus, Zinnia, Stock
• Medium: Snapdragon, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Lavender, Marigold, Polka Dot (Hypoestes), Petunia (Cascading), Petunia (Mini, Pink), Gypsophila
• Short: Gazania, Calendula

Salad Greens:

• Salad Greens are all medium in height.

Veggie Seed Kits

• Mighty Mini Tomatoes - Very prolific tomatoes are produced on dwarf-sized plants (5"- 6") that bloom early and keep producing month after month. Small, tasty fruits are great for snacking or in salads. These work best in our 3 pod Sprout garden but can be grown in all of our gardens. 
• Red Heirloom Tomatoes, Golden Harvest Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Thai Pepper, and Purple Super Hots can be grown in all of our gardens. You just have to make sure to trim and prune them. Generally, Tomatoes and Peppers need more height than the 3-pod Sprout garden provides.

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