Yes, the Click n Grow smart garden is worth it, if you want fresh herbs year round.

I've always loved the idea of growing my own herbs indoors as the weather starts to change, and after getting a chance to try the new Click & Grow indoor Smart Garden 9 (currently on sale!) consider me a new fan. With fall creeping up on us, it's a good time to think about grabbing one of these smart indoor planter systems at a decent price, so you can have fresh herbs ready in time for the end of outdoor herb season. Here's how it works and what I like about it. CMP is an rstyle affiliate. 

Sorry, cute dude hanging out on the fancy couch is not included with purchase

Essentially the Click & Grow takes all the guesswork -- and most of the actual work -- out of growing plants, thanks to a self-watering system. If you use the one I have, with spots for nine different plants, it holds water for a full month, LED lights, and seed capsules that include all the nutrients needed to support whatever you want to grow.  It's a huge boon to someone like me. A.K.A. a huge consumer of herbs, but someone who has somehow managed to kill cacti, let alone a whole indoor garden. But with this? Game changer! Within a couple of days, my little basil, lettuce, and tomato plants sprouted green shoots. A month later, I served homemade basil pesto to my family and basked in the adulation. Alternatively, check out the Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 (below), which is made for three plants -- basil does great in there according to Liz who's been using it for a few years now. It's good if you have a little less space, or want to commit to fewer herbs. It also makes a terrific kitchen table science project for young kids, who will love watching their plants grow from tiny sprouts.

Related: The best way to store fresh herbs so they last longer

If you're already a gardening aficionado, or you live in a climate where you can garden year-round -- talking to you, SoCal mamas -- it's probably not right for you. But considering the price of basil off-season in some areas, it could end up being a smart purchase, or a generous gift, that says you money in the long run. Find the  Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 or theClick & Grow Smart Garden 3 from our affiliate Nordstrom and hurry, while they're on sale.  You can choose from 50 different pods for growing. If out of stock at Nordstrom, you can check Amazon or the Click and Grow website to purchase directly. Thanks to the company for sending CME a unit to try out for editorial consideration.