8 systems × 12 plants · 96 verdicts
The Compatibility Matrix
Every cell is computed the same way: the plant's mature height need against the system's usable clearance, then pod difficulty. No vibes, no sponsored greenwashing — if tomatoes can't clear the light arm, the cell says skip.
| System ↓ · Plant → | Lettuce | Basil | CherryTomatoes | MiniPeppers | Strawberries | Cilantro | Mint | Kale | Arugula | Thyme | Dill | GreenOnions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Garden 9~12 in | ||||||||||||
| Smart Garden 3~12 in | ||||||||||||
| Harvest12 in | ||||||||||||
| Bounty Elite24 in — the tall one | ||||||||||||
| Home 3.0floor unit | ||||||||||||
| Farmstand Nookfloor unit | ||||||||||||
| Single Family Gardenfloor unit | ||||||||||||
| 12-Pod Hydroponic Garden~11 in |
How to read the matrix
Thrives (✓) means the plant clears the light with room to spare and grows at its difficulty class without special handling. With care (◐) means it fits but needs attention — tight headroom, aggressive trimming, hand-pollination, or a slow start. Skip (✗) means physics or biology says no: the plant outgrows the clearance, or it's a patience-and-pollination crop on a system without the headroom margin to make it worthwhile.
The pattern worth noticing: every leafy green and most herbs thrive almost everywhere — the cheap iDOO grows lettuce exactly as well as a floor unit. Where systems genuinely differ is the fruiting column: cherry tomatoes, mini peppers, and strawberries are only sensible on the 24-inch Bounty Elite and the floor units. If you don't want fruit, don't pay for clearance. Full reasoning lives on each plant page and each system page, and the methodology is documented.