Where to put a countertop garden.

Leave room to use the kitchen

The current 15-Pod page lists 360 × 178 × 325–460 mm overall dimensions. Mark out that base on the counter, then allow extra space for leaves and access. Other models have different dimensions. Can you still put down a shopping bag or open a cupboard? Check the actual unit’s refill and cleaning access before choosing a tight corner.

Check the light at leaf height

A bright-looking room does not tell you how much light reaches the plants. Nearby buildings, curtains and window distance all matter. Check that the model’s lamp can cover the mature plants in this position. Adjust height only on a model with an adjustable lamp, and use its own timing guidance. The current 15-Pod preview has an adjustable frame but no confirmed numeric light schedule.

Further reading: University of Minnesota Extension · Lighting for indoor plants

Try it after dinner

Switch on the lamp where you plan to sit in the evening. Look for glare from the sofa, reflections in a screen and light spilling into a bedroom. If there is a pump, listen while the room is quiet. These are reasons to move the garden before planting. A sideboard may suit the household better than a bedside shelf, even if both have enough space.

Make the water check easy

Choose a stable surface that can hold the filled unit, following its instructions, and protect furniture from drips. Keep the refill point easy to reach. Where a model has a water-level window, check whether you can read it from this position; otherwise use the checking method its manual describes. Try the required access movements with the empty unit before plants make it harder to move.