Harvst Reviews 

So frustrating. It should be a great product, but I have had to face an endless series of problems. In particular, the interface between the phone and the control unit is temperamental and too often I just get an error message.

Do not buy a mini mate with pump and solar panel.

- The pump has failed twice, they only lasted several weeks.
- the valves failed within a few weeks of having it.
- the batteries drain when there is a fault and need replacing. The battery is inside the unit, not in a separate compartment so you have to take it apart to change the battery. It also sits directly on top of the printed circuit board which is very poor design. The battery is a rechargeable battery pack wrapped in blue and cannot be easily bought. You use to be able to buy them on their website but now have to send the unit back to them. Leaving you without the units for over a week.
- The irrigation bits that come with the machine are very poor quality, the pipe stretches and leaks around all the joints. They say it is compatible with all major irrigation brands but it certainly does not work with Gardena.
- the unit connects to your phone using WiFi, so to research any issues online you have to turn the phone wifi on and off constantly to use mobile data. Then have to reconnect to the unit by which time it has entered sleep and has to be woken up again. Why could they not use Bluetooth like every other battery product?
- the company recommends you buy a new battery and pump every year, this is not clear at point of purchase.
- the watermate mini is just not reliable, in the first season I lost a whole 5x2m polytunnel of tomatoes.

They offered me a refund when it first went wrong and then back tracked. Dozens of emails have gone back and forth and they are still refusing to give me a refund even though the product is faulty - consumer law gives you 6 years in the uk to make a claim.

I have had this system now for 4yrs, and initially the support was second to none. Of late with a few glitches, and requests for advice, help, phone calls are not answered or returned. E mail request can take a second prompt and even then the reply seems as though the original question was either not read or understood, and so a turn around time to address issues can take two weeks! I am someone who is away for 1 month in summer and cannot afford this indifferent support. Recently three requests for battery strength have been ignored,and now cannot get anywhere with a new battery information. This whole system if not maintained will become an expensive door-stop. I was all set to update to V12 but with absent support I am having serious doubts. I suspect that the recent expansion of business,and 3rd party dealers have consumed and absorbed tech. support and time ? It needs a computer programmer with electronic engineering experience freed up to assist. This a brilliant system BUT if not supported, there will be many unhappy aggrieved bunnies out there. This is meant as constructive criticism for Chris and team and genuinely wish them well with much success.

Edit: 08/06/2026
We have now had a response and the firmware has been fixed. I have update to 4 stars. I so want to give this company 5 stars as the product is so wonderful and so is the idea of sustainable living and reduced waste, but the response time was very slow for a tech product. We are very happy now we have our garden fixed though. Thank you!

We are really disappointed by the lack of or completely non existent support provided for what we think is a game changing product. Last year we purchased the indoor hydroponic garden and absolutely love it, it’s significantly reduced our plastic waste and the greens we have grown are full of flavour. However, we have been experiencing technical faults for months now and have been contacting support to receive little or no response. The only support received so far has been an online guide which recommends using an obsolete software application. That was 2 weeks ago and we haven’t heard anything since. In the meantime every single one of our plants has died as the automated water cycle no longer turns on. We recognise with any tech there will be faults but for a nearly £800 investment we feel incredibly let down by the lack of care the company has for its customers. What a shame.

Over 2 years ago I purchased this system for use in my greenhouse to make sure my greenhouse is watered while I'm away. In the first year after spending so much time figuring out the wifi set up etc, which is the most difficult piece of equipment I have ever used to connect to a network and understand how to use, it did work. After only 3 months of use, I packed it all away for the winter. The following summer I set it up again and the pump was not working. Harvst did exchange the pump as it it still within the 2 year guarantee.
It worked for this season without a problem.
The following year after setting up the system again, I went away for 4 weeks leaving the system working, however, whilst away I was getting odd readings on the duration of the watering, and it appeared the unit had not been watering. After returning I could not connect to the unit via my mobile phone wifi connection, or the connection direct to my home wifi system. Nothing had been changed on either system.
After spending many hours trying to solve this I contacted Harvst, who basically said as it's just out of the 2 year warranty and I could send it back to be serviced for a cost of £50. After considering this and looking around at other systems, to be honest I do not think it is worth this money to be repaired/fixed/whatever. I would rather sort out other arrangements to keep my greenhouse watered.

Very unhappy with the system so far. I’ve connected the pump and the other components but there’s no way to make it connect to the WiFi and make it work. Only works manually. Not very useful if I’m away.

I saw Lorraine’s negative review re feedback and thought I should counter with my own experience of Harvst.
I purchased a WaterMate Pro 2 months ago after initial advice from Harvst as it was needed to irrigate an allotment by soaker hose, not a greenhouse or Polytunnel. I have since ordered accessories and then an extra zone kit. On 3 occasions I have emailed for advice and each time I have received an answer by email usually the next day but always within 48 hrs.
The WaterMate Pro solar is working well and I will add a further review when the additional zone is installed and been working for a while.

Bought a watermate pro at £400. Trying to install has been a bit of a nightmare. No doubt it is a good product, but if you have a problem the support is non-existent. The phone number is an answer phone message asking you to e-mail. The emails do not get a reply and you can't speak to a person at all. There is a support forum, but again no answers. I note previous replies state support is brilliant, but these are all dated from 2024. Very frustrating, we still have a problem, but can not get any support. Also in the forum on their website are other people having the same problem, who are also getting no reply. Perhaps this review might prompt a response as I'm running out of options.

I purchased the S16 HARVST propagator, and it’s absolutely beautiful to look at. I love that it comes fully equipped with heating, automatic watering, and lighting. The product is high-quality. I did encounter a few minor issues, but their excellent customer support has been incredibly helpful, which really solidifies HARVST as a great company in my eyes.

The dripper extension kit arrived quickly and was put to work straight away,easy to assemble and great value

Equipment works faultlessly.
Spares and support excellent, design and manufactured by folks who use and understand gardens and greenhouses..

1st unit received was faulty sent off for repair and came back worse think it was possibly damaged in transit. However did react and sent new unit out and received next day.

Delivery was incredibly quick and was accurate. I was able to update an order and have it sent out the same day and I only had to wait 15 seconds to get through to a real person.

Thank you

Great kit. Perfect for anyone who wants to start growing food. It comes with all you need. Coir compost that is in a dry block you just need water to make it grow. Seeds or tubers. Pots or trays and instructions. This would make for a great gift if you are stuck with what to buy someone. Delivery is quick.

Order was straightforward, delivery could have been quicker, but ok overall, goods exactly as described.

Great speaking to Charlotte. Honestly very helpful and knowledgeable about the product and technical issues. Hopefully, her suggestions will resolve my issues. If only all companies were like this.

Really disappointed. Can’t comment on the product, as I ordered three irrigation systems three weeks ago and they have yet to arrive.

Control box never switched on after being off for the winter.
Emails replied to promptly and politely.
Sent back for repair and new box being sent out without question.
Great company to deal with and product works fantastically.
thank you all.

Great product that has made my Greenhouse a lot easier to use. Much more powerful then all the other Solar irrigation systems that are out there. Having the wrong system can kill all the plants you have. This one is also connected to the internet, so you can see if it has watered, the temperature of the site and is intelligent to water more if the temperature hits certain points you can program in. Much more professional and cleaner to set up with a main water system around the greenhouse that then you can connect your dripper feeds, rather than having tiny hoses around, where if one fails, your whole system would not work. With this, you do not have this problem.
I must not forget to add, their support is fantastic, fast and local!

Quick delivery