The Setup
We've been running a Garden Tower 2 in our spare room for 18 months and a DIY PVC tower in our garage for about 8 months. Both grow food. Both work. But they're very different experiences.
Here's our honest comparison.
Cost Comparison
| Garden Tower 2 | DIY PVC Tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | ~$600 CAD | ~$80–120 CAD |
| Pump | Included | ~$30 |
| Grow light | Not included | Not included |
| Total (no light) | ~$600 | ~$110–150 |
| Total (with light) | ~$750–850 | ~$260–350 |
The DIY tower is significantly cheaper upfront. But the Garden Tower 2 is a complete, well-engineered kit that's ready to go out of the box.
Setup Time
Yield Comparison
Both towers hold a similar number of plants (28 for the Garden Tower 2, 24–32 for DIY depending on design). In our experience, yield is roughly equivalent when both are set up correctly.
The Garden Tower 2 has a central compost tube that adds nutrients — a nice bonus that the DIY version doesn't have.
Durability
The Garden Tower 2 is made from food-grade, UV-resistant plastic. It's held up well after 18 months of daily use.
Our DIY PVC tower has needed some repairs — one joint cracked after 6 months. PVC isn't ideal for long-term food growing (some concerns about leaching), so we've since switched to food-grade materials for our DIY builds.
Our Verdict
Choose the Garden Tower 2 if: You want something that just works, you're not handy, or you want the compost tube feature.
Choose DIY if: You're on a tight budget, you enjoy building things, and you're willing to invest the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Garden Tower 2 worth the price?
For most people, yes. The quality, warranty, and ease of setup justify the cost — especially compared to the time investment of a DIY build.
Can I use the DIY tower for aquaponics?
Yes, but make sure you use food-grade materials. Standard PVC is not recommended for food production.