Tower Garden by Juice Plus: Grow Your Own Food Anywhere
Feeling stressed by rising food prices? Concerned about pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals on your produce? Want to grow your own food but don’t have the time, space, or experience?
The Juice Plus Grow Tower could be the perfect solution for you.
As land becomes more expensive, many people are unable to grow a large traditional garden to supplement their grocery bills.
Soil-less growing methods, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, offer a sustainable solution to this problem, allowing everyone—regardless of land, physical ability, or time—to successfully grow their own organic produce.
Hydroponics Vs. Aeroponics:
Hydroponics and aeroponics are two methods of growing plants without soil.
Hydroponics is the process of growing plants in water mixed with a balanced nutrient solution, providing everything the plants need to thrive.
Aeroponics, while similar, differs in that the plant roots are suspended in the air and “misted” or watered with a nutrient-rich solution.
This method also provides all the nutrients the plants need to grow. Plants grown aeroponically, such as those in a tower garden, can grow up to three times faster than those grown traditionally! They also use 98% less water.
Both aeroponic and hydroponic systems utilize closed system technology, where the water used to deliver nutrients is “recycled” rather than discarded, greatly reducing water waste throughout the process.
Benefits of Growing Plants Aeroponically and Hydroponically vs. Soil: Which is Best?
Plants grown hydroponically or aeroponically, rather than in traditional soil-based mediums, typically grow faster, experience less pest pressure (since pests can’t overwinter in the soil), are more productive, and use less water than traditionally grown plants.
This is partly because there’s no guesswork involved in providing the plants with the right nutrients for optimal growth. In both systems, a balanced nutrient solution is used to nourish the plants, instead of relying on the nutrients naturally available in the soil or adding fertilizers that may or may not be effective.
Additionally, this approach eliminates the need to amend the soil for optimal root development.
What is a Tower Garden?
The Juice Plus Tower Garden is the perfect solution for anyone interested in growing their own food in a sustainable and manageable way.
This tower garden features an aeroponic, vertical design, capable of growing up to 32 plants in just 3 square feet of space. The aeroponic system allows you to grow more food in less space while using 98% less water compared to a traditional garden.
An optional standard extension kit can be added to the system, enabling you to grow even more plants within the same small footprint. The extension kit is ideal for growing microgreens or other small leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, and lettuce.
The tower garden is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, as it is made from food-grade plastic resins that can safely withstand high temperatures. All materials used in the construction of the tower are deemed safe by Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
The system also has custom fitted grow lights available for purchase, allowing you to continue to grow your own vegetables indoors year-round, regardless of the season.
How the Tower Garden System Works:
If you’re used to growing plants outdoors in the soil, soil-less systems like the tower garden may seem strange—and even a little confusing. However, this impressive system takes all the guesswork out of growing your own food. Forget about worrying about finding the right fertilizer, conducting soil tests, tilling the ground, or running drip irrigation.
This is a truly “set it and forget it” system. Here’s how it works:
The tower garden is an aeroponic system, meaning it doesn’t require soil to grow plants. As mentioned above, this means the plant roots are suspended in the air and misted with a high-quality nutrient solution that provides everything the plants need to thrive.
Unlike some hydroponic grow towers, the Juice Plus Tower Garden does not rely on continuous liquid-feed growing systems. Instead, the plants are fed on a cycle regulated by the pump in the reservoir.
The pump delivers the nutrient solution in a mist at regular intervals, circulating in a closed-loop system. The solution is pulled from the reservoir at the bottom of the tower, then brought to the top, where it “rains” down on the plant roots suspended along the vertical system, ensuring each plant receives its fair share of nutrients.
Additionally, grow lights can be purchased with your grow tower, allowing you to grow indoors year-round! The lights also have their own timer, so you don’t have to remember to turn them on and off.
All of this happens automatically—without any assistance from you. The most you’ll ever have to do is add nutrients and occasionally top off the water. Oh, and harvest the bounty of your favorite veggies. No digging, no mess. Ever.
A blend of the perfect base nutrients is included with the tower garden purchase, so you’ll have everything you need for a successful harvest. The best part is that the tower garden is a one-time investment.
There’s no need to continually buy compost, bagged fertilizer, mulch, or replace equipment year after year. Pay once, enjoy organic produce indefinitely. Sounds like a deal to me!
Which Tower Garden Growing System is Right For You?
The Juice Plus tower garden system comes in two different models: theFlex system and the Homesystem.
The Home Tower system can grow up to 32 plants, in a sleek, compact design that will mesh seemlessly with any home decor. While attractive indoors, this system is built to withstand the heat and will also work well outdoors.
Dimensions of the Flex Tower: 24″x 23″ x 23″ inches / 61 x 59 x 59 cm
The Home Tower comes with:
- wheels for easy moving
- 4 standard grow pots (16 regular sized plants)
- 2 baby greens grow pots (16 baby greens plants)
The Flex Tower system can accommodate up to 20 plants in a sturdy structure designed to house large plants, such as tomatoes and squash, while withstanding various elements. It also works well indoors but occupies slightly more floor space than the Home Tower, with the following assembled dimensions: 30″ x 30″ x 50″.”
The Flex Tower Comes with:
- 5 standard grow pots (can hold 20 plants)
- Blue Swivel hose
BOTH garden tower systems come with:
- Seedling Starter Kit (includes: germination tray, rockwool cubes, vermiculite and net pots, and a variety of seeds for leafy greens, lettuces and herbs)
- 4-5 standard grow pots (number depends on system purchased)
- Pump, pump timer
- Tower Garden Mineral Blend plant food (1 qt of each) and measuring cup
- pH test kit ** (Not available in PR, HI or AK due to shipping restrictions)
Anyone can Grow in an Aeroponic Grow Tower:
Aeroponics sounds fancy, but the Juice Plus Tower system takes all the guesswork out of growing your own food. Simply fill the reservoir with water, add the nutrients using the provided measuring cup, add your plants, and grow!
If you are someone who has struggled with having a “green thumb” or kills more plants than you grow, this system is for you. Simply put, it’s foolproof.
Juice Plus has done the hard work of figuring out what plants need to grow, so you don’t have to.
Vertical tower gardens are also especially helpful for those with limited mobility, as they require no tilling, no weeding, and no digging. Once planted, all that’s left to do is harvest and add water and nutrients as needed—tasks that are simple and not strenuous for most people.
Are Grow Towers a Sustainable Option?
Gardening in grow towers not only uses drastically less water and space to grow food, but it also reduces the carbon footprint of your food. No diesel-guzzling trucks are required to transport out-of-season vegetables from far away, and no tractors or gas-powered tillers are needed to prepare the ground.
The entire process of growing in a tower garden is centered around health—for both you and the environment. While the tower is made of plastic, it is a one-time purchase that can be used repeatedly over many years.
What Grows Best in a Juice Plus Tower Garden?
Essentially, unless it’s a root crop, bush or a tree- you can grow it in a Tower Garden! Of course there are some plants that won’t fare as well in this system, but over 150 plants can be grown in a Tower Garden system.
Consider plant size, light requirements and pollination needs of each plant when determining if it should be grown indoors or outdoors.
Many plants are self-pollinating (such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, etc.) and don’t require any extra steps to grow indoors.
Plants that require pollination (such as squash and cucumbers) are best grown outdoors, but can still be grown indoors if you’re willing to step in and do the work of our amazing pollinators to harvest the fruit!
What to Plant in a Tower Garden Indoors:
- All leafy greens- all lettuces, Swiss chard, kale, spinach, Tatsoi, Bok Choy, cabbages, collards, mustard greens etc.
- Celery
- Microgreens
- Beans- stick to bush habit beans ( good choices include: Jade, Blue Lake, Red Swan,Henderson Bush Limas, etc.)
- Herbs- Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Chives, Dill, Marjoram, Cilantro, Sage, Parsley, etc.
- Dwarf Peas (consider small, dwarf varieties such as Tom Thumb or Little Marvel Garden peas)
What to Plant in a Tower Garden Outdoors:
- Everything you can grow indoors +
- Tomatoes (all kinds of tomatoes can be grown with proper staking, but consider micro and dwarf varieties for easier growing such as: Micro Tom Tomatoes, Orange Hat Tomatoes
- Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts
- Peppers
- Squash
- Cucumber
- Melons
- Eggplant
- Kohlrabi
This is just a sampling of plants that can be grown in a Tower Garden, the possibilities are endless!
Should You Start Growing in the Tower Garden From Seeds or Started Plants?
When growing in a tower garden you can choose to start from either seeds or started plants. Started plants will give you a harvest sooner as they have already germinated and begun to grow.
Started plants will typically cost you more money though, so many opt for starting from seed to save money. Either way you choose to grow, you will be growing the plants in rock wool cubes.
These cubes help hold the plants in place in the Juice Plus grow tower as well as help the plants hold onto moisture.
To start plants from seeds in rock wool:
To start plants from seeds, you will need to start the seeds in rock wool cubes. Both Tower Garden systems come with a seed starting kit.
- Begin by soaking the rockwool until wet. Place the rock wool on a plastic tray.
- Sow seeds according to package directions, covering with vermiculite instead of soil.
- Allow the seeds to germinate, and then place in a window with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Transfer seedlings in the rock wool cubes to your desired growing pot.
To start growing from started plants:
- Purchase desired plants from your local nursery or big box store.
- Soak rock wool in water until thoroughly wet.
- Remove the plants from the soil and rinse the dirt off the roots.
- Once the roots are mostly clean, cut one rock wool cube in half. Place the roots of the plant in between the two pieces of the rock wool.
- Place the cube with the plant into the plant pot.
Other places to buy Juice Plus Tower Garden Plant Starts:
There are Tower Garden farms that sell plant starts both online and in-person, these locations often have a better selection and healthier starts.
Here are a few options for purchasing plant starts for the Tower Garden:
Where to Purchase a Juice Plus Tower Garden:
The best place to purchase a Tower Garden is through a Juice Plus partner for the best customer service experience. You can purchase your Tower Garden here.
While Juice Plus towers can be purchased second hand on sites like Marketplace or Craigslist, there are a multitude of reasons to purchase a tower from a certified partner for Juice Plus. These reasons include but are not limited to:
- 5 Year Warranty
- Specialized care and troubleshooting from someone who is experienced in growing with the Tower Garden System and nutritional health
- Payment Plan Options to reduce the up front cost.
Meet Jennifer Turner, Registered Dietician and Juice Plus Partner:
Jennifer is a registered dietician and nutritionist who partnered with Juice Plus several years ago in an effort to find a sustainable way to incorporate all of the daily recommended vegetables and fruits into her family’s diet.
Since partnering with Juice Plus and growing with their Tower Garden system, she says she has found a new love for gardening and incredible health gains in her family.
Jennifer grew up gardening the traditional way- and found herself dreading all the time spent weeding and picking up rocks out of her tilled garden.
She loved being able to grow her own food, but wished for an easier system that would allow her to harvest fresh vegetables daily without having to spend every waking moment of summer out in the garden working.
The Juice Plus Tower Garden has not only renewed her love of gardening, but has become a focal point of their home. Jennifer and her family all enjoy getting to reap the benefits of their low maintenance tower gardens, and eat fresh salads daily from them.
Jennifer has found that people who garden experience more benefits than just harvesting fresh produce- people who garden also benefit from:
- lower stress
- lower blood pressure
- decreased risk of major illness
- improved cognitive health, better mental health and well being
- increased awareness of diet and nutrition
- increased diversity of your gut microbiome
- becoming part of communities, friendships and new connections
Jennifer loves to grow in her Tower Gardens because she has more control over what she’s eating and feeding her family. As an added bonus, her homegrown food from the Tower Gardens is as local as it gets!
This means the produce is as nutrient-dense as possible, since the food doesn’t sit on a truck losing nutrients in transit.
Jennifer also didn’t enjoy being limited to gardening only during the “growing” season in her area. Now, she can grow fresh produce for her family both indoors and outdoors, ensuring a year-round supply of organic produce! No grocery trips are needed—just a few steps out to her patio!
If you are interested in learning more about growing your own food in a way that is both sustainable and accessible for all, follow her on Instagram @jenniferturnerrdn or learn more here.
