Which Lettuce Grow Farmstand Is Right for You?

I’ve had my hands in just about every kind of growing system at this point — soil, hydroponics, worm bins, even a homemade rig that barely held together with zip ties. Some ideas worked, some ended up in the compost pile.

The Lettuce Grow Farmstand is one of those. Simple, self-watering, and about as close as you can get to fresh greens without bending over a garden bed. The tricky part? Deciding which model fits your life best. They’ve got a few options — Outdoor Farmstand, Indoor Farmstand, and the Farmstand Nook — and at first, they all look pretty similar. But once you start thinking about space, light, and what you actually want to grow, the differences matter.

Let’s break it down the way I wish someone had for me: no jargon, no sales pitch, just straight talk.

The Farmstand: The Flagship Workhorse

This is the one I think of as the “classic.” It’s flexible enough to live outside if your weather runs between about 40°F and 100°F, but you can also run it indoors with the company’s Glow Rings®.

The best part? It grows with you. You can start small with 12 plants and scale it all the way up to 36 just by adding more levels. That’s a lot of salads, smoothies, and stir-fry greens. Out in the sun, it’ll handle bigger crops too — cauliflower, zucchini, even eggplant. Indoors, it’s a steady year-round lettuce-and-herb machine.

Specs in plain English:

• Holds 12 to 36 plants, depending on size
• Needs about 4 square feet (picture a bistro table)
• Height runs from 4’6” to 6’7”
• Water tank: 20 gallons (top off every week or two)
• Weight: just 18 pounds empty

Why it matters: If you’ve got a patio, deck, or yard with at least six hours of sun, this one feels the most “garden-like.” You still get the hands-on fun of tending plants, but without the fuss of soil and weeds. Indoors, it’s a bigger presence — tall, glowing, kind of like a piece of living furniture.

Indoor Farmstand

The Indoor Farmstand: Same Build, Year-Round Glow

If the flagship is the outdoor workhorse, this is its indoor twin. Same footprint, same heights, same plant capacity (18–36), but it comes with grow lights built in. That means you can’t tuck it against a wall and harvest basil in December without giving daylight a second thought.

Specs in plain English:

• Holds 18–36 plants
• Same 4-square-foot footprint, same heights
• 20-gallon tank
• Needs a GFCI outlet (like the kind in kitchens and bathrooms)

Why it matters: I’ve lived in places where winter shuts down the garden for months, and having fresh greens inside makes a world of difference. The glow from the lights isn’t for everyone — I wouldn’t stick it in a bedroom — but in a living room or kitchen corner, it’s not bad. And once you’ve clipped kale in February, you forget about the glow anyway.

Outdoor Farmstand

Outdoor Farmstand: Best for patios, decks, and backyard gardeners

If you have an outdoor spot with sun and space, the Outdoor Farmstand is the perfect choice. It holds 18–36 plants and requires minimal maintenance once the water and nutrients are topped up. I’d say it’s a good fit if:

• You have a patio, deck, or small yard and want a steady supply of fresh greens.
• You don’t mind stepping outside to harvest.
• You want the most extensive variety of crops, since natural sunlight supports everything from leafy greens to tomatoes and peppers.

It’s also the most “farm-like” experience, which I think appeals to folks who want that garden feel without the need for soil.

The Farmstand Nook

The Farmstand Nook: Small But Mighty

Now, the Nook is a different beast. It was built for small spaces — apartments, tight kitchens, tucked-away corners. It’s slimmer and maxes out at 20 plants, which still yields a substantial amount of lettuce on your plate.

It’s an indoor-only setup, featuring integrated LED lights and a streamlined tank. It doesn’t take over the room, doesn’t demand much attention, and quietly cranks out greens, herbs, and a few smaller vegetables.

Specs in plain English:

• Holds up to 20 plants
• Indoor use only
• 20-gallon tank
• Needs a GFCI outlet
• Does best with at least 6 hours of intense light (or relies on the LEDs)

Why it matters: If you’re new to hydroponics or short on space, this one’s friendly. It doesn’t overwhelm. I think of it like a kitchen herb pot, just supercharged. Perfect for quick harvests — spinach for a smoothie, basil for pasta, a handful of lettuce for lunch.

Which One Fits You?

Here’s how I’d call it:

• If you have a sunny outdoor space and want the widest range of crops, opt for the Farmstand flagship.
• If you’re determined to grow no matter the season, the Indoor Farmstand is your best bet.
• If you’re in a tight space and mostly want greens and herbs, the Nook keeps it simple.

I’d start small unless you know you’ll eat everything it produces. These systems can crank out a surprising amount of food. The good news is, they’re modular. You can add more levels later if you get hooked — and trust me, clipping fresh lettuce from the stem beats grabbing a soggy clamshell at the store every single time.

That’s the long and short of it. Three systems, all built on the same backbone, just different ways of fitting into your home and your routine. For me, it comes down to sunlight and space — two things every gardener wrestles with, whether we’re planting in soil or in a sleek hydroponic tower like these.