Not all of us are farmers or gardeners, but who wouldn’t like to be able to pick fresh vegetables or produce when needed. What about space, not all of us have the land available to make this happen, and others may say they just don’t have the time to maintain a large garden.
Well, there are other options available that will not take up a lot of space, are not that time consuming, and may also be very therapeutic for your well-being, as well as nutritious for your body. What could that be?
Vegetable Garden Starter Kit …
A vegetable garden starter kit is the perfect solution. These kits are great for those that are new to gardening, can be maintained in a limited area such as apartment or kitchen windowsill, or for some, nurtured until they are big enough to be transported to an outside garden if that is the goal. There are many different vegetable garden starter kits out there. Shop around. Find the one that meets your needs.
Some of the things to consider are:
Is this an indoor vegetable garden or for a balcony? You may need to decide where and how you will display the kit. Does it match the décor of the home?
How large is this kit, do you have the indoor space, access to sunshine, etc.?
Does the kit contain specific features, like smart light controls or water shortage feature?
What’s In a Vegetable Garden Starter Kit?
Before purchasing a vegetable garden starter kit, do your research, every kit may have something different to offer. Below is a list of what would commonly be found in a kit, along with a brief description of their function. There is also a list of additional features for specialized kits*.
- A gardening or growing guide – step by step instructions on how to use the items included in the kit, and the procedures to follow
- Glow plugs and inserts – natural, biodegradable materials used for seed starting and plant label inserts that identify the vegetable
- Soil discs – used for seed starting
- Compostable peat pots – place to insert soil discs with seeds and easier to use when transplanting
- Plant markers – used to identify type of plant/vegetable
- Base drip tray – used to catch water drainage, excess soil, and transporting
- Twelve-hole cultivation tray – similar to peat pots, but on one large tray
- Germination Dome – cover used to protect the seeds, maintain moisture levels to promote seed growth
- Seed packets – various vegetable seeds for garden
- Plant food – nutrients for soil/plants/vegetables
- Steel scissors for harvesting*
- Fabric bags for drainage*
- Transplanting tools*
When To Start Your Vegetable Garden From Your Starter Kit …
It is important that you follow the instructional guide provided by the starter kit you purchased. More than likely, they will stress the importance of temperature and moisture and how it relates to the germination of the seeds.
Seedlings require a warm environment with consistently moist soil in order to germinate and sprout. That’s why one thing to consider for garden starter kits is the frost dates - the first frost of fall or the last freeze of spring.
It is important to start seedlings after the last frost, when the temperature is starting to warm up. Frost dates vary throughout the country and states, so it is best to research this online by zip codes.
Even if you are starting an indoor vegetable garden, you should make sure that the temperature, moisture and light needed to promote growth can be controlled, otherwise you run the risk of ruining your garden.
The Bottom Line
Growing a vegetable garden isn’t as hard as you think, when you have a starter kit. Start off small, indoors where it is warm and watch your garden blossom. Soon you will be enjoying a bountiful harvest of vegetables!
And who knows, after such a rewarding experience you may want to expand your gardening to other starter kits like heirloom vegetables, salad greens, herbs, flowers and plants. Enjoy!