InstaFarm Microgreens Robotic Indoor Garden Review: It’s easy to be green

InstaFarm’s patented 4-by-4-inch biodegradable trays come pre-filled with about a half-inch of soil (sourced from Amish Country in Pennsylvania, according to InstaFarm) and organic, non-GMO seeds, with the nutritional information for the finished product’s microgreens listed on top. They come in more than a dozen types of nine-packs For $23including single varieties, blends for smoothies and salads, and even simple trays for growing your own vegetables or starting a garden. It should be noted that the trays are made of easily saturated cardboard and are designed for single use.

For comparison, Vego Micro Hydroponic Planterwhich I am Used last yearis only $60 for two units, while Garden is $100. Neither produces anywhere near as much volume of greens as InstaFarm, but then again, $500 can buy a lot of store-bought microgreens.

InstaFarm has an app, but it doesn’t add much to the experience, other than the ability to activate Night Mode (which then turns off the light for up to 10 hours). Even more useful is the button on the top of the unit that comes with a label describing the number of presses required for whatever function you need.

Every 90 minutes, a metal nozzle arm comes out and moves along each shelf, sensing each tray and its plants’ height, humidity and temperature. Once it’s done sensing the nozzle, it dispenses an appropriate shot of water, just like the spray heads found in the produce section of a grocery store. If you have cats, they might be very interested when they hear the nozzle sound and slowly move up the shelves for the first time. (The first quick and unexpected spraying was an entertaining event in my house.) Sometimes, this sensor was more accurate in theory than in practice — for some reason, the sensor constantly exceeded the watering volume of red beets (but only green beets), causing the tray to flood daily.

After a few weeks, I noticed the nozzle making a slight mechanical noise once it finished its rounds, as it slowly retracted to its resting position. The sound wasn’t loud, it reminded me of the sound a bull wheel makes at the top of a ski lift, but since I had InstaFarm on my dining room table, it was noticeable. I should also note that it was on my dining room table because, despite website claims the unit can fit under most kitchen cabinets, it was too tall for me. This made it difficult to locate, as it took up an approximate area of ​​6′ x 18′. Given how easy it is to chop vegetables for salads, smoothies, and other meals, the kitchen is likely their natural habitat, so you may want to measure more than once to make sure it fits your space.

Vegetables in abundance

Photo: Kat Merck

Just as the instructions stated, I had lush green, usable plants in about five days. On my first round of growing (I’m now through round 4), I got really excited and stuck a tray in each hole. Unless you have a large family that eats microgreens at every meal, I don’t recommend this. I’ve gamely tried using them all, but after the painful experience of putting a tray of baby radish greens into strawberry juice (too hot, too radish), I decided to share some of my first-grown trays with friends.