Grow Duo adds some 21st-century brains to your old-fashioned garden

By Karl Utermohlen October 3, 2017

Smart gardening device Grow Duo — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Many people might not see the connection between technology and nature, but one company is intertwining the two by creating a product that will help you grow plants, vegetables, and fruits at home. Smart gardening company GROW has released the GROW Duo, touted as the first outdoor, connected, self-watering planter.

The sensor-equipped device comes with soil, seeds, and nutrients. The company says that you can be up and running with your new smart planter in 10 minutes through its app, which aids in producing herbs, berries, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, beans, and more. The GROW marketplace includes a variety of seeds, seedlings, soils and nutrients that can be purchased in addition to the device. First-time users get a $20 credit to begin their gardening.

Setting up the GROW Duo requires turning on the smart planter and connecting it to your hose. The battery-powered device can then link up to your Bluetooth-connected iOS or Android smartphone. The app offers recommendations that can suit your needs, all while guiding you through the growing process. You will learn what you can grow based on your environment, including your yard’s air temperature, light, soil moisture, temperature, and the historical weather data of the region.

In-app notifications will inform you of any moves you need to make to keep your garden running smoothly, including adding soil nutrients, pruning, or mulching. GROW Duo also offers automatic watering, which you can customize.

The device has a pre-sale price of $199, which includes the $20 credit, plus a variety of seeds and nutrients. You can pre-order at GROW’s website. The regular price is $249.

The startup was launched in 2015 by Idan Cohen and Andrew Wanliss-Orlebar. Cohen came up with the idea for GROW Duo after moving to an apartment and facing difficulties in his quest to build an outdoor garden. Realizing there were no high-quality products on the market other than Click & Grow, Cohen started developing growing technologies with Andrew Wanliss-Orlebar. The two have plenty of experience in consumer-packaged goods, which helped drive forward GROW’s mission of creating electronics and hardware to help create a more sustainable home environment.

Topics

Karl Utermohlen

Karl Utermohlen is a finance and tech journalist with an MFA in creative writing from the University of Idaho. his do Zelda…

Smart Home

Are robotic pool cleaners worth it?

The Airper Seagull SE robotic pool cleaner at the bottom of a swimming pool.

The worst part of owning a swimming pool is taking care of it From filter maintenance and skimming debris from the surface to managing chemicals and more, you'll likely find yourself hanging out around the water more often than you're actually in the water. Robotic pool cleaners are designed to alleviate this pinch point of pool ownership by giving you back your time and automating most of your tasks.

But are robotic pool cleaners worth it, or are they a gimmick that still require heaps of manual input? Here's a closer look to help you decide if one would be a good addition to your backyard.
Budget-friendly devices are often a hassle

Smart Home

Best Buy cut this air fryer’s price in half, down to just $25

The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer near food.

If you want your food crispy all over without having to deal with draining a ton of oil, your best bet is to use an air fryer. They're never too expensive and there are always great air fryer deals going on, but you'll rarely find one with a price like this. Right now, the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Analog Air Fryer is half off, moving its price from $50 to $25. To pick yours up today all you need to do is tap the button below. If you're interested in our take, however, be sure to keep reading.

Why you should buy the Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer
The Bella Pro Series 3 Quart Air Fryer holds up to about 2.5 pounds of food, heats up to 400 degrees, and has easily-removable dishwasher-safe parts. If you notice it is "analog" that is because it has a 60 minute shut off timer to give you peace of mind and an easy way to time your cooking. Of course, this means there aren't a ton of digital options, buttons, and settings. However, this can be a plus for some and possibly you. Not every item in the home needs to be "smart" and less can certainly feel like more.

Smart Home

Revolution Cooking’s high-speed smart toaster is $100 off today

Someone using the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster in the kitchen.

If you're thinking about getting a new toaster for your kitchen, why not go with a high-speed smart toaster? Best Buy is currently selling the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster with a $100 discount, slashing its price to $250 from $350 originally. There's no telling how much time is remaining before this offer expires though, so if you're interested, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase right now in order to secure the savings.

Why you should buy the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster
Are smart kitchen gadgets worth it? The answer is a resounding yes, and the Revolution Cooking InstaGLO R180 smart toaster will show you why. With this kitchen device, you'll no longer suffer from burnt or uneven toasts as it's powered by the brand's InstaGLO heating system. The technology will start toasting your bread in just two seconds without any need for preheating. You'll get bread that's crunchy outside and moist inside every single time, which is a huge upgrade over the inconsistencies of traditional toasters.