Install Instructions: Instant Olla Garden Kit

🌿 Instant Olla Garden Kit Setup & Planting Instructions 
For Indoor, Porch, Patio, or Outdoor Growing 

Your Instant Olla Garden Kit includes everything you need to create a compact, water-efficient garden that grows radishes, kale, and mixed lettuce with almost zero effort. Follow the steps below for a thriving mini-garden anyone can grow. 

1. Fill Your Grow Bag With Soil 

Fill your 20-gallon grow bag to the top with a high-quality potting mix. 
Lightly press the soil down—don’t compact it too firmly. 

2. Bury Your CottaCups 

You have two CottaCups in this kit. 

Dig two holes approximately 6–8 inches apart, positioned near the center of the bag. 

Place each CottaCup into its hole and bury them so that: 

All terra cotta is under the soil 

The plastic cap remains exposed 

Your plants will grow in a “cluster garden” around these cups so they receive water most efficiently. 

3. Hook Up Tubing & Fittings 

Use the included CottaCup Installation Instructions to assemble: 

Cap nuts 

Tubing sections 

Push-to-connect fittings 

Shut-off valve 

Connection line to your reservoir 

Follow steps 1–6 from that guide. 
Once your tubing is connected to both CottaCups and the reservoir line, move to the next step. 

4. Set Up & Position Your Reservoir 

Your system is gravity-fed, so the height of your reservoir matters. 

✔ Reservoir Height Rules 

The water level inside the reservoir must be at or above the soil level of your grow bag. 

For most climates, aim for 14–28 inches above soil. 

In hotter climates (90°F+), raising the reservoir to 28–56 inches above soil improves water flow. 

✔ Easy Ways to Elevate Your Reservoir 

Place the reservoir directly on your soil — the simplest option. 

If you want more planting space, elevate it using: 

Two stacked cinder blocks 

A stool 

A small side table 

Any stable riser that lifts the reservoir above soil level 

The higher the reservoir’s water line sits, the stronger and more consistent the water delivery. 

5. Fill Your Reservoir With Water 

6. Air Purge the System 

This step ensures each CottaCup fills completely. 

Keep water flowing and tighten each cap nut only after you see water bubbling inside the corresponding cup. 

This removes trapped air. 

Let the system run for 1–2 days to confirm there are no leaks. 

Once everything is sealed and running properly, you’re ready to plant! 

7. Plant Your Seeds 

Your kit includes seeds for: 

Radishes 

Kale 

Mixed Lettuce Greens 

🌱 Spacing: 
Plant all seeds 2–3 inches away from each CottaCup, forming a ring around each cup. 

Radish Planting 

Plant seeds ½ inch deep 

Space 1–2 inches apart 

Thin to every 2–3 inches 

Harvest in 25–35 days 

Kale Planting 

Plant ¼ inch deep 

Space 3–4 inches apart 

Harvest baby leaves in 3–5 weeks 

Larger leaves later 

Lettuce Mix Planting 

Press seeds onto the surface and lightly dust with soil 

Plant densely for cut-and-come-again harvests 

First harvest in 2–3 weeks 

8. When to Plant (Outdoors vs Indoors) 

Outdoor Planting 

These are cool-season crops, meaning they thrive in cooler months. 

Cold Climates (Zones 3–6) 

Early spring: 2–4 weeks before last frost 

Fall: Late August–September 

Mild Climates (Zones 7–10) 

Early spring: February–March 

Fall/Winter: October–February 

Very Hot Climates (Zones 9–11) 

Avoid midsummer 

Plant October–March 

Rule of thumb: 

If your daytime temps are above 85–90°F, plant in fall, winter, or early spring. 

Indoor / Porch Growing 

Grow any time of year indoors or on a sheltered porch (45–85°F ideal). 

If growing indoors or on a porch, we recommend a 25-inch plant saucer to protect your floors: 
👉 https://www.amazon.com/Gro-Pro-Heavy-Saucer-Sides/dp/B00XCD3WQ6/