My Experience with Gardyn
Before I dive into this, I need to step onto my soapbox for a moment: the produce in New York City is the worst I’ve ever had in my life. I was born and raised in California, where fresh, amazing produce literally grows on trees - so yes, my opinion is biased. But still—NYC produce is next-level terrible. I’ve never seen fruits and veggies go bad so quickly, even when stored properly. It’s like the delivery truck makes NYC its very last stop after a cross-country tour in the middle of summer.
And for that reason alone, I genuinely believe everyone in this city should invest in some kind of hydroponic gardening system.
If you want to grow your own food but don’t have a yard, the room, or even a green thumb for a garden, a Gardyn might be worth checking out. It’s an indoor hydroponic system that lets you grow food indoors and vertically, saving you space—If you have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s basically a way of growing plants without soil, using tubes, water, and nutrients instead.
Sounds easy, right? And honestly, it is—but it doesn’t come without an upfront cost. The starting price for a Gardyn is $499.
How It Works
As we’ve established, the Gardyn is a hydroponic system that lets you grow fresh produce vertically—perfect for small spaces. The base holds five gallons of water, with vertical tubes extending from it, each with several small holes where the plants grow. Instead of soil, Gardyn uses yCubes, which are pre-seeded pods that fit right into the holes. Built-in LED lights run alongside the tubes, mimicking sunlight to keep the plants thriving.
Just fill the base with water, add some plant food, and let the system do its thing. Once a month (ish), you’ll need to refresh the water, but that’s about as high-maintenance as it gets.
How I Ended Up with a $900 Gardyn for Free
One night, my boyfriend and I were hanging out at a bar, and I noticed a Gardyn behind the counter. I’d been wanting one for years, so naturally, I asked the bartender about it. They kind of shrugged and said they didn’t use it because the lights didn’t fit the vibe. It was a pool hall, so I don’t know what vibe they expected it to bring.
Half-joking, my boyfriend asked if we could have it and to our surprise, they offered to take down my number so they could check with the manager. To even more of our surprise, a week later I got a text saying if we could pick it up that day we could have it. We threw it into my car and that week I was planting my first seedlings.
But of course, about 3 weeks into using it, we found out we were moving to NYC. Meaning, I had to pack everything up and say goodbye to my baby plants (they were re-homed). Fast forward a few months: I’m finally settled in NYC, the Gardyn is reassembled, and I’m starting fresh. This time my plants have finally had enough time to grow and watching them is really fulfilling—like they’ve been through the same upheaval I have.
Now that they’ve been growing for a bit, there are a few things I’ve learned along the way that I felt compelled to share.
Is it Worth It?
The AI assistant “Kelby” is helpful
When you’re just starting out, Kelby (their AI feature) is great for reminders about things like water changes and plant care. Sometimes I feel like I couldn’t live without it.
Once you get the hang of it, though, you might not need the extra guidance for $34/month. However, that $34 gets you 10 free plants every month.
Plants that are worth growing
Basil and Holy Basil - I literally cannot keep up with the amount of basil growing in my Gardyn. I can only make so much pesto, you know?
Lettuce grows quickly, and it keeps regenerating even after you cut off leaves. I haven’t bought lettuce from the store in weeks.
Cucumbers - These little guys just keep growing. It feels like everyday I’m finding a new cucumber.
Calendula has been thriving, adding a nice pop of color to my Gardyn. The petals are edible, great for teas, salads, or even DIY skincare—so I might have a side hustle in the making.
Don’t even waste your time with these plants
Green beans have taken forever to grow, and after several months, I only got five beans—total.
Chives grow ridiculously slow and small. Honestly, you’re better off buying chives at the store, putting them in water, and letting them regrow that way.
Marigolds don’t sprout…ever. I’ve tried it three different times.
Some things to keep in mind if you have pets
You might notice that the bottom of my Gardyn doesn’t have any plants growing on it. That is because my cat, Blanche, keeps trying to eat everything on there. So if you have pets that like to eat your plants, I suggest putting this somewhere they can’t get to it and also keep in mind which plants could potentially be toxic to them, like the cherry tomatoes or pepper leaves. More about that on their FAQ.
All of this to say, yes it is worth it. Would I have spent $900 of my own money for this? Probably eventually. Does the fact that I got it for free add to my bias of this being worth it? 100% it does.
As of now, my Gardyn has been growing for about two months. I’ll keep updating this page as I figure out what thrives and what’s not worth the effort, but for now, enjoy this time-lapse of everything coming to life!
