Picking a hydroponic starter set looks easy until you reach the checkout page and see two options that seem almost identical. One is a wooden indoor farm by itself. The other is that same farm plus a matching storage unit, for a bit more money. Which one do you actually need?
This guide settles it with numbers instead of sales talk. We lay out what is in each option, what each one costs in dollars, and who really benefits from the extra piece. Some of you will be better off skipping it, and we will say so plainly.
If you are shopping around Black Friday, the math matters even more, because a discount code changes the gap between the two choices. By the end you will know which setup fits your space and your budget.
Hydroponic Starter Set Head to Head: Home Farm vs Chef's Set
Here is the short version before we go deeper. The Aquager Home Farm is the growing part: a wooden hydroponic farm with built-in lights, 24 plants, nutrients, and a pH kit. The Chef's Organic Set is that same farm plus the Storage Unit, a matching wooden drawer that stacks with it.
| Home Farm alone | Chef's Organic Set | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.99 to $189.99 | $199.99 to $229.99 |
| Plants | 24 (chards and basils) | 24 (chards and basils) |
| Lights, nutrients, pH kit | Included | Included |
| Matching Storage Unit | Not included ($99.99 extra) | Included |
| Size | 22.1" × 14.9" × 18.5" | About 22" × 15" × 30" stacked |
| Place for supplies | You provide it | Built in |
The growing power is identical. Both options grow the same 24 plants under the same lights. The only real question is whether you want a dedicated home for your supplies, and whether that is worth $20.00 to $40.00 to you.
What the Home Farm Includes on Its Own
The farm does all of the growing, so buying it alone is a complete way to start. The box includes the wooden farm, built-in LED lights, 24 plants, plant nutrients, a pH kit, and an air pump. If you can add water, you can grow with it. No experience is needed. If you are new to this, read about setting up a hydroponic system for beginners.
The lights run on a timer, 16 hours on and 8 hours off, so there is nothing to remember. First sprouts show up in 6 to 9 days. After that you snip what you need for dinner and the plants regrow. Once the farm is fully grown, the water tank needs a refill about every 7 to 10 days.
The farm comes in four wood finishes, and the price depends on the one you pick. Blonde Maple is $169.99, the two-tone column version is $179.99, and Chestnut Ember is $189.99. It measures 22.1 by 14.9 by 18.5 inches and takes up about 2 square feet, so it fits on a sturdy counter, console table, or shelf. Check the clearance above it, because plants grow upward. Measure first with our countertop garden size guide.
What the farm does not include is a home for the extras. The nutrient bottles, pH kit, air pump, power supply, and your scissors end up in a kitchen drawer, a cabinet, or a pile next to the outlet. That is not a flaw. It is simply the gap the Storage Unit was designed to fill. Our guide on how to get the most out of your Aquager Home Farm covers the first month.
What a Stackable Storage Unit Adds to the Set
The Storage Unit is a matching wooden drawer that stacks above or below the farm in the same finish, so the two read as one continuous piece of furniture. It holds your nutrients, pH kit, tools, air pump, and power supply. It is made of real wood, assembled in Chicago, ships flat-packed, and goes together at home in under an hour.
It measures 22.1 by 14.9 by 11.6 inches. Stacked with the farm, the whole piece stands 30 inches tall on the same 2 square feet of floor or counter. Bought on its own, the Storage Unit is $99.99.
It does not grow anything, and it does not change how your plants do. What it changes is how the setup looks and lives in your home. If appearance matters to you, our comparison of indoor garden furniture vs appliance-style gardens shows why a finished wooden piece tends to stay on display instead of getting moved into a closet.
Who Actually Needs the Stackable Storage Unit
This is the honest part. The Storage Unit is not for everyone, and a farm-only order is a perfectly good choice for some households. Here is how to tell which group you are in.
You should get the Storage Unit if:
- You have no spare drawer or cabinet. In a studio or a small kitchen, every shelf is already spoken for. Without a home for the pump, power supply, and nutrient bottles, they end up on the counter, which defeats the point of a farm that looks like furniture.
- You live in an apartment and floor space is tight. Stacking puts the farm and its storage in one 2 square foot spot instead of two separate ones. Our guide to starting an indoor garden in an apartment goes deeper on small-space layouts.
- You want it to look like furniture. A single 30 inch piece in matching wood looks intentional. A farm plus a pile of supplies does not.
- You want clutter out of sight. A closed drawer hides the cords, bottles, and tools that make a countertop feel messy.
- You are buying a gift. The Set arrives as one finished piece, and the person opening it does not have to find a spot for anything.
You can skip the Storage Unit if:
- You already have a spare shelf, cabinet, or cart. If your supplies have an easy home nearby, the unit adds comfort but not function.
- You are placing the farm on furniture you already own. A console table with its own drawer or a sideboard may do the job.
- You are on the tightest budget. At $169.99, the Blonde Maple farm alone is the lowest way in. You can add the Storage Unit later.
Here is a quick test. Gather the nutrients, pH kit, air pump, power supply, and scissors in one spot. Do you know exactly where they will live? If yes, the farm alone will serve you well. If you hesitate, you are the person the Storage Unit was built for.
One safety note on the stacked version. At 30 inches, it is a tall piece. If you have small children or curious pets, anchor it to the wall as you would any furniture. We sell a Furniture Anchor for $11.99 for exactly that.
Indoor Garden Set Price Breakdown: Separate vs Bundled
Now the dollars. Buying the farm and the Storage Unit separately costs more than buying the Set, and the gap is bigger than most people expect. Here is how it works out for each finish, using today's prices. Once it is running, see how much you can save by growing your own herbs to judge how fast the farm pays for itself.
- Blonde Maple: farm $169.99 plus Storage Unit $99.99 is $269.98 separately. The Set is $199.99, so you save $69.99.
- Two-tone column version: farm $179.99 plus Storage Unit $99.99 is $279.98 separately. The Set is $199.99, so you save $79.99.
- Chestnut Ember: farm $189.99 plus Storage Unit $99.99 is $289.98 separately. The Set is $229.99, so you save $59.99.
Put another way, the Storage Unit costs $99.99 on its own but only $20.00 to $40.00 more when it comes inside the Set. That is the real reason to decide now. If you buy the farm today and add the unit later, you pay full price for it and give up $59.99 to $79.99 in savings.
The Set also keeps your order simple: one purchase, one delivery, and pieces that match from the start. Shipping is free on every order of $40 or more, so both options qualify.
How Code BLACKFRIDAY Changes the Numbers
From November 6 through December 4, code BLACKFRIDAY takes 10% off your entire order, with one use per customer. Adobe expects furniture discounts to peak at about 18% this year, but dollars tell the story better than percentages.
- Chef's Organic Set: $179.99 for Blonde Maple and the two-tone versions (a $20.00 saving), or $206.99 for Chestnut Ember (a $23.00 saving).
- Home Farm alone: $152.99 for Blonde Maple, $161.99 for the two-tone version, or $170.99 for Chestnut Ember.
With the code, the extra cost of getting the Storage Unit inside the Set shrinks to $18.00 to $36.00. The full offer, shipping dates, and order-by deadlines live on our Black Friday gardening deals page.
Where to Put Your Indoor Garden Set
Whichever option you choose, placement is simple. The farm has its own lights, so you do not need a sunny window. You do need a level, sturdy surface near an outlet, since the lights and air pump both run on power.
Kitchens are popular because that is where the basil gets used. Living rooms and entryways work too, especially with the stacked version, which looks like a console table. Our guide to a vertical hydroponic home system shows how growing upward saves floor space.
The Chef's Organic Set: One Box, Everything Included
For most households, the Chef's Organic Set is the easier choice. You get the wooden hydroponic farm, 24 plants, built-in lights on a timer, nutrients, a pH kit, an air pump, and the matching Storage Unit to hold it all. It stands 30 inches tall, takes up about 2 square feet, and comes in four wood finishes.
It is priced from $199.99 to $229.99, which is $59.99 to $79.99 less than buying the pieces one at a time. You have 30 days from delivery to request a return of unused items in their original packaging, and shipping is free.
Hydroponic Starter Set FAQ
Is the Chef's Set worth it compared with the Home Farm alone?
It is worth it if you need a home for your supplies or want the furniture look. The Storage Unit adds only $20.00 to $40.00 inside the Set, against $99.99 on its own. If you already have a spot for the extras, the farm alone is a fine choice.
Can I buy the Storage Unit later?
Yes. The Storage Unit is sold separately at $99.99 and stacks above or below the farm. Just match the finish. Keep in mind that adding it later means paying full price instead of the Set savings.
Do both options include plants and nutrients?
Yes. Both include 24 plants (chards and basils), built-in lights, plant nutrients, and a pH kit. The only difference is the matching Storage Unit.
Do I need gardening experience?
No. If you can add water, you can grow with either option. The lights run on their own timer, and once the farm is fully grown, the water tank needs a refill about every 7 to 10 days.
What if I change my mind after ordering?
You have 30 days from delivery to request a return of unused items in their original packaging. Opened seeds, opened nutrients, and used grow media cannot be returned unless they arrive defective.
Choosing Your Starter Set
The farm is the same in both options, so you are really choosing how you want to live with it. If you have a place for the supplies and want the lowest price, the Home Farm alone gets you growing. If you want one tidy piece that stores everything and saves $59.99 to $79.99 over buying separately, the Set is the better value.
Either way, you will be snipping fresh basil in a matter of weeks. With code BLACKFRIDAY from November 6 through December 4, the Set lands at $179.99 to $206.99, free shipping included.
Author: Aquager · Published: October 11, 2026 · Updated: October 11, 2026
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