What is Tower Garden?

Why You Absolutely Need a Tower Garden (Even If You’ve Killed Every Plant You’ve Ever Owned)

Ever heard of the Tower Garden? Maybe you're picturing some kind of magical plant-growing spaceship and wondering, Is this thing legit? Does it actually work? And hold on… do I NEED one?!

SO MANY QUESTIONS. But don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! Stick with me for a few minutes, and I promise you’ll get the full scoop. Oh, and spoiler alert: YES, YOU DO. (Okay, that was technically three words, but you get the idea.)

  1. The "Before" Story: From Skydiving to (Failed) Gardening
  2. What is a Tower Garden?
  3. How Does it Work?
  4. Why Do You Need a Tower Garden?
  5. Is it Safe?

The “Before” Story: From Skydiving to (Failed) Gardening

Let’s rewind a bit. My husband and I? We were skydiving instructors. Our gardening experience? A big fat zero. Seriously, we could leap out of planes without breaking a sweat, but growing food? That was a whole different beast.


Dee Taking Her Husband Jason on a Tandem Skydive

We gave it a shot in Florida—bought soil, timber, ground cover, and all the things. We dreamed of homegrown tomatoes and epic homemade sauces.

Yeah… that didn’t happen.

Instead of a lush garden, we got an overgrown jungle where weeds thrived, and our poor little plants just gave up on life. My best idea at that point? Attack it all with a weed whacker.

Then, everything changed. Enter: the Tower Garden.

My mother-in-law introduced us to this game-changing invention, and she was beyond excited. We got our hands on one—and BOOM! We actually grew food. Like, real, edible, delicious vegetables.

No gimmicks. No TV magic. Just fresh, homegrown goodness. (And if you ever see an old Topsy Turvy in our photos, do yourself a favor—don’t waste your money on one of those.)

Dee's First Tower Garden in 2010

So… What Is a Tower Garden?

Imagine a sleek, vertical, space-saving gardening system that lets you grow 20 plants in just 2.5 square feet. That’s the Tower Garden! It’s hands-down the easiest way to grow fresh produce at home.

Seriously—if we could do it after failing spectacularly at traditional gardening, anyone can.

How Does It Work?

The Tower Garden is basically a plant’s dream home. A small pump (similar to the ones in aquariums) pushes nutrient-rich water up to the top, and gravity takes over, gently showering the plants with everything they need. This happens every 12 minutes for 3 minutes at a time—like clockwork.

Dee's First Tower Garden in 2010

The result? Thriving, happy plants that grow way faster than in soil. (Kind of like pigs in mud… except, you know, cleaner.)

Want a visual? Check out the video below for an animated breakdown.

How Tower Garden Works

Why Do You NEED a Tower Garden?

I say “need” because this isn’t just about growing a few veggies for fun—it’s about solving real problems:

🚨 Soil quality is going downhill, making it harder to get nutrient-packed food.
🚨 Grocery store produce travels thousands of miles before hitting your plate.
🚨 Rising fuel costs = rising food prices (ouch).

And don’t even get me started on what’s lurking in our food supply. I watched Genetic Roulette and was horrified. I knew things were bad, but I had no idea how bad.

If we don’t start taking control of our food, we’re in serious trouble.

Is It Safe?

Absolutely.

Unlike some hydroponic systems that use PVC or styrofoam (yikes), the Tower Garden is made from USDA-approved, food-grade plastic. That means NO harmful chemicals leaching into your food.

Grow clean. Grow safe. And if you haven’t watched Blue Vinyl yet, do it. It’ll change the way you look at plastics forever.

What do you think? Ready to ditch the grocery store veggies and grow your own? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🌱✨

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🌱 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What exactly is a Tower Garden?

    A Tower Garden is a vertical aeroponic growing system that lets you grow vegetables, herbs, and other plants without soil — using nutrient-rich water instead. It’s space-saving and perfect for both beginners and experienced growers.

  • How does a Tower Garden work?

    A pump pushes nutrient-rich water up through the tower, and it then trickles down over the plant roots on a timer. This gives plants constant access to oxygen, water, and nutrients — so they grow faster and healthier than in soil.

  • Do I need soil to grow plants in a Tower Garden?

    Nope! Tower Gardens are soil-less. Plants in a Tower Garden are started in a medium like rockwool, and then roots get everything they need from the water and nutrient solution.

  • How much space does a Tower Garden take up?

    Tower Gardens are vertical, so they use very little horizontal space — often just a couple of square feet — but can grow dozens of plants.

  • What kinds of plants can I grow?

    Most leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale), herbs (basil, cilantro), and even fruiting crops like tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries grow well in a Tower Garden. Root crops (like carrots) don’t perform well.

  • How long does it take for plants to grow?

    Plants in a Tower Garden often grow faster than in soil — in many cases up to 3× faster, depending on the crop and conditions.

  • What kind of maintenance is required?

    Maintenance is minimal — just check water levels, top up nutrient solution, and occasionally clean or trim plants. A pH check now and then helps ensure optimal growth.

  • Can I grow year-round?

    Yes! Tower Gardens can be used outdoors in suitable climates, or indoors with grow lights so you can grow fresh produce year-round.

  • Is a Tower Garden safe and healthy?

    Yes — Tower Gardens are made with food-grade, BPA-free materials and produce clean, nutrient-dense food you control from seed to harvest.

  • Do Tower Gardens save water compared to traditional gardening?

    Absolutely — Tower Gardens use significantly less water than soil gardening because the system recirculates the water and nutrients in a closed loop.