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Circular garden makes growing veggies indoors even easier than before

Circular garden makes growing veggies indoors even easier than before
The OGarden Smart has launched on Kickstarter to raise production funds
The OGarden Smart has launched on Kickstarter to raise production funds
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The OGarden Smart measures 53 x 29 x 15 inches
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The OGarden Smart measures 53 x 29 x 15 inches
The rotating wheel at the heart of the OGarden Smart can accommodate 60 plants at any one time
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The rotating wheel at the heart of the OGarden Smart can accommodate 60 plants at any one time
The OGarden Smart has launched on Kickstarter to raise production funds
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The OGarden Smart has launched on Kickstarter to raise production funds
Seeds are germinated in the LED-lit nursery cupboard of the OGarden Smart
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Seeds are germinated in the LED-lit nursery cupboard of the OGarden Smart
After about 3 weeks, plants can be moved from the nursery to the OGarden Smart's main wheel
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After about 3 weeks, plants can be moved from the nursery to the OGarden Smart's main wheel 
After about 3 weeks, plants can be moved from the nursery to the OGarden Smart's main wheel
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After about 3 weeks, plants can be moved from the nursery to the OGarden Smart's main wheel
The rotating wheel at the heart of the OGarden Smart can accommodate 60 plants at any one time
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The rotating wheel at the heart of the OGarden Smart can accommodate 60 plants at any one time
Indoor gardeners can look forward to harvesting about 30-40 days after planting
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Indoor gardeners can look forward to harvesting about 30-40 days after planting
View gallery - 8 images

Living in a crowded inner city means that many residents don't have a garden of their own, so are unable to grow their own fruit and veggies. We've seen a number of indoor growing innovations – including Windowfarms and the Grobo – but last year's OGarden was a little different, growing plants in a rotating wheel with a light at its center. The design has now been updated, resulting in the OGarden Smart.

Like the original OGarden, the Smart version is raising production finds on Kickstarter. And its makers are hoping for repeated success – the first campaign raised over €80,000 and attracted nearly 270 backers.

Up to 90 plants can be grown at the same time in the second generation indoor garden, including leafy greens, herbs, cherry tomatoes, baby peppers, strawberries and edible flowers. The eye-catching wheel can accommodate 60 plants, while an LED lit nursery shelf in the housing below can take 30.

The OGarden Smart measures 53 x 29 x 15 inches
The OGarden Smart measures 53 x 29 x 15 inches

New to the Smart design is automatic watering from tanks housed in the base, with those tanks holding roughly 10 days of water and a warning system notifying users when reserves are running low. Low energy LED lighting at the heart of the device should make for relatively inexpensive indoor gardening throughout the year. This latest model is also reported to be slimmer – at 53 x 29 x 15 inches (134.6 x 73.65 x 38.1 cm) – and easier to use than the original. And the whole shebang draws only 120 W of power.

Indoor gardening with the OGarden Smart starts with seed cups supplied by the company which are placed in the nursery cupboard and the start button pushed. If the list of available plants is not to your liking you can get a bag of virgin earth and seed your favorites.

About three weeks later, the plants should be ready to be moved into the wheel. Then indoor gardeners just need to harvest when ready, usually about 30-40 days after planting. When a plant stops producing, its root ball and earth can be composted for future plant growing.

Indoor gardeners can look forward to harvesting about 30-40 days after planting
Indoor gardeners can look forward to harvesting about 30-40 days after planting

OGarden's makers reckon that owners should shave a considerable amount from their shopping bills, while enjoying the benefits of fresh, organic fruits and veggies all year round – and without adding plastic packaging to the environment.

Kickstarter pledges for the OGarden Smart System – which includes the device itself, seed cups and some greens to get you started – start at CAD 729 (about US$550). If all goes to plan, shipping is estimated to start in May. The video below has more.

Sources: OGarden, Kickstarter

OGarden Smart: Grow An Indoor Garden of 90 Fruits & Veggies

View gallery - 8 images
3 comments
3 comments
CAVUMark
My local pot store in San Diego has something similar only much larger. I sit and watch it for hours.
Elizane09
..."you can get a bag of virgin earth."...What is virgin earth?
bemijo
As a kickstarter backer and almost one year after the campaign, I have NOT received my unit...I have requested a refund 6 times...I have called and emailed them several times with NO response. DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THIS COMPANY! As a backer we were given 30 day money back guarantee, but they will not issue a refund for a unit NOT received. As a back we were given a one year warranty, but I was NEVER sent my unit and I tried to cancel the order since September 2019. This company is UNRESPONSIVE and does not follow through with promises to their customers.