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Looking for an easy, space-saving way to grow your own herbs, lettuce, or strawberries at home? Mr Stacky Planters are a popular vertical gardening solution — especially for small patios, balconies, and indoor spaces.
In this review, I’ll take you through the three most popular Mr Stacky models, based on my research, user feedback, and gardening experience. We’ll look at the pros and cons, key specs, and who each one is best for.
🍓 1. Mr Stacky 5-Tier Strawberry Planter
This compact system is the best-selling item in the Mr Stacky range. It gives you five stackable layers and 20 growing slots — perfect for strawberries, herbs, and leafy greens in small spaces.
🧰 Key Specs
- Size: Just over 12″ x 12″ footprint, 28″ high
- Material: Food-safe Polypropylene #5
- Capacity: 20 planting pockets
- Weight: Lightweight when empty
- Colors: Terracotta, green, off-white
- Use: Indoor or outdoor
✅ Pros
- Great value — often available under $40
- Stackable, space-saving design
- Easy to water — flow-through system waters all levels from the top
- Beginner-friendly setup
- Extendable — extra layers available
- Uses less soil than traditional pots (about 22.5 quarts total)
⚠️ Cons
- Can be top-heavy when fully planted — may need anchoring
- Color (especially terracotta) is brighter than expected in some reviews
- Plastic is lightweight — strong, but not heavy-duty
🌟 Verdict
If you’re short on space but still want to grow fresh herbs or strawberries, this is a fantastic little planter to get started with. Especially good for balconies or small patios.
⭐ Score: 8/10
🔗 Check current price on Amazon
🥬 2. Mr Stacky 5-Tier Large Vertical Garden Planter
This upgraded version is similar to the strawberry planter but with larger, deeper pots — giving you more flexibility to grow bigger plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bush beans.
🧰 Key Specs
- Size: Just over 16″ x 16″, 38″ high
- Material: Food-safe Polypropylene #5 (thicker and more durable)
- Capacity: 20 planting slots
- Number of Levels: 5
- Use: Indoor or outdoor
✅ Pros
- Deeper pots for larger veggies
- More durable material than the smaller version
- Still compact enough for small spaces
- Works well for tomatoes, peppers, and squash (with support)
- Easy top-down watering system
⚠️ Cons
- More expensive (usually around $99)
- Heavier when filled — harder to move
- Needs more soil to fill (roughly 35–40 quarts)
🌟 Verdict
If you want to grow a wider range of crops and don’t mind spending a little more, this model is a strong upgrade. It’s still space-saving, but much more versatile.
⭐ Score: 8.5/10
🔗 View current price on Amazon
🌿 3. Mr Stacky 3-Tier Herb Planter
Smaller and simpler, this three-tier version is perfect if you want a compact herb garden indoors or on a windowsill. With 12 growing pockets, it’s ideal for basil, mint, lettuce, or baby strawberries.
🧰 Key Specs
- Size: Just over 12″ x 12″, 18″ high
- Material: Food-safe Polypropylene #5
- Capacity: 12 planting slots
- Number of Levels: 3
- Use: Best for indoor spaces or windowsills
✅ Pros
- Very affordable (usually under $35)
- Perfect size for kitchen herbs
- Lightweight and easy to move
- Watering system works just like larger models
⚠️ Cons
- Limited growing capacity
- Not suitable for large or deep-rooted vegetables
🌟 Verdict
This is a great starter unit for growing herbs indoors. It’s easy to assemble, clean, and use — just keep your expectations realistic in terms of size.
⭐ Score: 8/10
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
| Model | Size | Capacity | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Tier Strawberry Planter | 12″ x 12″ x 28″ | 20 plants | Strawberries, herbs, greens | $35–$59 |
| 5-Tier Large Vertical Planter | 16″ x 16″ x 38″ | 20 plants | Larger veggies, root crops | $89–$109 |
| 3-Tier Herb Planter | 12″ x 12″ x 18″ | 12 plants | Indoor herbs, compact greens | $29–$39 |
💬 Final Thoughts: Which One Is Right for You?
- 👉 Want to grow herbs or strawberries on a budget? Go with the 5-Tier Strawberry Planter.
- 👉 Need more growing space and flexibility? Choose the Large 5-Tier Vertical Garden Planter.
- 👉 Just want to grow herbs indoors? The 3-Tier Herb Planter is a simple, solid choice.
All three models offer great value, and they’re especially handy for small-space gardening. Plus, they’re made from food-safe materials and come with great reviews from real users.
🌿 Ready to start growing? Check the best prices below:
- 🔗 5-Tier Strawberry Planter — Buy on Amazon
- 🔗 Large 5-Tier Planter — View Deal
- 🔗 3-Tier Herb Planter — Check Availability
❓ FAQ: Mr Stacky Planters
Can I use Mr Stacky indoors?
Yes, especially the 3-tier model. Just make sure you have enough light and place a tray underneath to catch any water overflow.
Do I need to water each level?
Nope! Just water the top tier. The design allows water to filter down through all layers.
Can I add more layers later?
Yes — these systems are extendable. You can buy extra levels to expand your growing space.
Is the plastic safe for food?
Yes, Mr Stacky uses food-grade polypropylene #5 — the same material used in yogurt containers and food packaging.
Hi, this looks like a very nice way to grow your own vegetables, especially if you don’t have a garden and still want to have fresh greens. I love it. Also as a decoration it looks very nice. I appreciate you also gave some negative comments. I can inmagine the 5 Tier would fall over if the plants are too heavy, I would probably buy two of the 3 Tiers. Do you know what vegetables I can grow in the 3 Tier? Would love some advice on that, thank you.
Hi Marion, yes these are a great way to grow berries and herbs at home and this is a reliable brand. It is possible to support your Mr Stacky vertical garden using a plastic pipe. A great idea is to split the tower into two parts. You can make a two layer herb garden and use three layers for strawberries, squashes, peppers of whatever you like. The larger garden planter has a much wider base and won’t fall over. In the three tier you can grow tomatoes if you use a bit of support for them. Cucumbers and squashes are possible also as they would trail onto the ground. It really is up to your imagination. Although it says for herbs and strawberries, with a bit of thinking you can adapt it for many vegetables.
Hi Rob,
Nice article. Those Stacky Planters look very handy. A good idea for people who don’t have a lot of space on their balcony, but want to grow some fresh herbs. I quite like how you are showing different options from small 3 level high to 5 and more. Something for everyone I guess.
Hi Simon, the Mr Stacky planters do offer an easy, practical solution for those with limited space. Hope you enjoy them.
Hi Rob
I live in an apartment on the second story so in-ground gardening is pretty much out of the question.
My girlfriend has been on me about the fact that she wants me to experiment cooking more and I think having my own fresh herbs that I took the care to grow would help motivate me to do so!
Even though my primary focus will be herbs, I think I will go with the strawberry setup because my son does love strawberries.
I should probably grow the herbs on top and the strawberries under, wouldn’t you think?
Do you think I would have to get the herb stacky too? Now that I think about it, herbs like rosemary have a very strong fragrance, I would hate to have rosemary flavored strawberries. That is probably overthinking it. lol
What do you think, would I be OK growing both in the same planter?
Your answers would be appreciated
Richard A
Hi Richard,
Herbs on top and strawberries underneath would be just fine. I would say to start out with the strawberry planter to get you going. If you feel at a later date that you want more growing space, It’s always possible to buy more planting layers or even a second planter. Hope that helps.
This website is very helpful, Rob. Thanks a lot. I had some questions but your replies above have already answered all of them. Cheers.
Thanks Brendan, Glad you enjoyed the site.
How deep is each tier in the large 5-tier product? It appears deeper than each tier in the smaller versions. Basically I’m trying to determine what soil depth is available with these units. Thank you!
Follow the link to the Amazon page and you should be able to get all the details. Thanks.
Please follow the link to the Amazon page. You can get all the info there. Thanks.
What do you do with the Mr Stackys in the winter time? Here in Michigan it freezes and we get plenty of snow. Should they be Unstacked and covered for our winter times? They are out in the open next to our garden.
Thank you,
Cindie
Might be best to put them in a shed or bring them inside. Thanks.
Putting them in a shed or indoors would be good in winter.
My husband gifted me with this planter. After reading the comments it seems as though stability might be a concern. Before I set this up do you have any suggestions for securing the planter outside in windy Kansas?
I have the 5 tier pump+ reservoir Mr. Stacky system. When I water the top (#5) the pots’ holes toward the front of the pot drips onto the #3 pots and then down to the lowest level pots. How do #2 and #4 get watered?