Hey everyone! I’ve been working with various hydroponic systems for quite some time now, and today I’m going to break down the differences between two of the most popular models from the leading brand in indoor hydroponics.
The key difference between the Aerogarden Harvest and the Aerogarden Harvest Elite is the presence of a screen on the Elite model. This feature lets you tailor the system more finely and gives you better control.
I’ll dive deeper into this and highlight other distinctions between the two devices below. Stay tuned!
| Product Feature | Aerogarden Harvest | Aerogarden Harvest Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Size (HxWxD) | 17.3″x10.4″x5.6″ (44×26.5×14.3cm) | 17.3″x10.4″x5.6″ (44×26.5×14.3cm) |
| Number of pods | 6 | 6 |
| LED power | 20 W | 20 W |
| Wi-Fi/App | No | No |
| Tank capacity | 2.5 L | 2.5 L |
| Max grow height | 11″ (28 cm) | 11″ (28 cm) |
| Min grow height | 4.7″ (12 cm) | 4.7″ (12 cm) |
| Screen | No | Yes |
| Low Water Reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Nutrient Reminder | Yes | No |
| Material Finish | Matte Plastic | Stainless Steel |
| Price | $99.95 | $139.95 |
Control panel
Aerogarden Harvest control panel.
The control panel on the Aerogarden Harvest is pretty straightforward: it’s equipped with three buttons and doesn’t have a screen. Here’s what you can do with it:
- Initiate the plant food reminder. The system will prompt you in 14 days to add more plant food.
- Set the light schedule. Once set, the lights will run for 15 hours starting from that time. You can also manually turn off the lights whenever you want.
- The blue ‘Add Water’ light will indicate when it’s time to refill.
Now, the Elite version has a bit more to offer. Its control panel sports 4 buttons, allowing you to:
- Adjust the current time and decide when the system powers on.
- Kick off a new garden by choosing the type of plants you’re cultivating. The system then automatically adjusts the light duration as needed.
- Check the pump’s functionality.
- Manually switch the lights on or off at your discretion.
- Determine the interval for the plant food reminder.
- Track how many days have gone by since your garden’s inception.
- The screen consistently displays the current time, the days since planting, and a countdown to the next plant food application.
All things considered, I’d say the Aerogarden Harvest Elite stands out as the more user-friendly option in terms of control. This added flexibility gives it a distinct edge over the basic version.
Aerogarden Harvest Elite control panel.
Read also: Which hydroponic system is the best?
Light post
The second distinction is in the light post. The Aerogarden Harvest features a plastic light post with only 5 preset height adjustments for the light hood.
On the other hand, the Elite version boasts an aluminum light post that allows for height adjustments at any desired level, offering greater convenience.
Both models have a maximum growth height of 11″ (28 cm) and a minimum of 4.7″ (12 cm).
While they share the same height specifications, the light post in the Aerogarden Harvest Elite is more user-friendly. It produces less noise when adjusting the height and secures the light hood more effectively. Plus, the aluminum construction gives it a more refined appearance.
Material finish
The Aerogarden Harvest Elite features a bowl and light hood with a stainless steel finish, lending it a more upscale and sophisticated appearance.
Conversely, the Aerogarden Harvest lacks this finish, with its bowl and other components being made of plain plastic, devoid of any premium touch.
While the stainless steel finish on the Aerogarden Harvest Elite enhances its aesthetic appeal, it doesn’t offer any practical or functional advantages. It’s purely a design choice that boosts its visual appeal.
Price
The price gap between the Aerogarden Harvest and the Aerogarden Harvest Elite on the manufacturer’s website stands at $40. However, with frequent sales and promotions, this difference can vary. Notably, $40 is nearly half the cost of the Aerogarden Harvest, which is quite significant.
When sizing up the Aerogarden Harvest against its competitors, its $99.95 price point seems a tad high. For less, you can secure a comparable or even larger hydroponic system with similar features.
On the other hand, the Aerogarden Harvest Elite is priced at $139.95. Given that it comes equipped with a display and menu, this seems to be a reasonable cost. In this instance, you’re getting fair value for your money.
Other features
Efficiency
On the surface, one might assume that with the same LED power and bowl capacity, both devices would perform equally. However, that’s not the reality.
The Harvest Elite offers customizable lighting modes. This means the LEDs can operate for a duration you specify, even up to 24 hours daily.
In contrast, the LEDs on the standard Harvest are limited to 15 hours of operation without an option to extend this period.
Consequently, the Harvest Elite can yield a bigger harvest in a shorter duration compared to the Harvest. While you can amplify the hours of illumination, bear in mind this will also hike up the power consumption.
Noise Level
I’ve encountered suggestions that the Harvest is louder than the Harvest Elite. To verify this, I took noise readings next to each device.
I discovered that the noise level hovered between 35-37 dBA for both models. Thus, the notion of one being noisier than the other is debunked.
User Experience
With its display and menu, the Harvest Elite offers a more streamlined daily experience. All necessary information is readily displayed, and you can easily adjust settings using the control panel’s buttons.
Furthermore, should there be a power outage, the Harvest Elite retains your lighting schedule. Once power is restored, it picks up from where it left off, requiring only a time reset on your part.
On the other hand, the standard Harvest fails to retain its light schedule after a power cut, necessitating a manual restart the following morning.
Summary
To wrap things up, this article has highlighted the key differences between these hydroponic systems. Aside from these distinctions, they are virtually identical. They utilize the same seed pods, come with the same plant food, and require similar maintenance.
Is the Harvest Elite worth the extra cost? In my opinion, it justifies the higher price tag due to its enhanced ease of use and customization options.
However, if you’re working with a tighter budget, the Harvest is still a solid choice. It’s capable of delivering impressive results and, in fact, surpasses the quality of many competing hydroponic systems on the market.