Living in cyberspace means we’re rarely exposed to dirt (no sniggering at the back). In fact we hate the soily, mucky stuff. But that doesn’t affect our ability to grow herbs, flowers and fruit because we use the Power Plant Growing Machine.

A result of pioneering NASA technology (what wasted billions?) this mains-powered box of magic lets you grow plants, all season, without soil. Monty flippin’ Don! It’s ideal for all you garden-less concrete jungle-ites. You’ll be snipping off bits of basil, admiring your pansies and scoffing strawberries before you can say ‘aeroponics’.

Aero-what? Ah yes, aeroponics is the name given to the growing technique utilised by the Power Plant. A nifty internal microjet system constantly sprays roots with super-oxygenated, nutrient rich water so crops grow bigger and stronger. It’s a bit like a mini rainforest minus the bulldozers and Sting. Cool, eh!

Getting started...

Place your seeds into the grow sponge		Place the card seed cover for a couple of days		Finally place the humidadomes over each group of sprouts

All you do is add water to a special nutrient mix (included) and pour it over the spongy strip that sits below the brim of the Power Plant. Next, sow your seeds on the sponge, replace the lid, stick the whole shebang on the window sill, sit back and dream of Alan Titchmarsh. Mmm…Alan covered in fresh coriander!

Where were we? Oh yes, once the shoots appear, maintenance is minimal. This means you can spend more time deciding how best to use those herbs, peppers and berries, and less time worrying if your crops are dead. You can even use the Power Plant to grow flowers. And once you’ve eaten/admired one crop you can re-use this mean green growing machine again and again.

An ideal gift for dirty hand haters and anyone who lives in a garden-free flat, the Power Plant is set to become a kitchen essential for herb lovers (we said no sniggering at the back) and fans of fruit, veg and flowers. And that’s pretty much everyone, isn’t it? ‘Scuse us, Alan’s just brushing off the last of that coriander.

All the bits and pieces...