It has been a difficult year for many, but one positive aspect of the year 2020 is the increased demand for growing your own food.
Gardens were dug, seeds were purchased and an abundance of vegetable gardeners were born!
To make gift giving a little easier this year, I have come up with a list of last minute holiday gifts for gardeners. Any of these gifts would satisfy the gardener in your life.
All gifts in this list are available with quick shipment.
Sunblaster Micro Growlight Garden
Sunblaster Micro Growlight Garden
I recently purchased this exact growlight garden for my kitchen. Although I have much larger growlight shelves for the rest of my garden, I thought it would be fun to have a compact system for my kitchen counter. It would make the ideal system to grow herbs, lettuces or even micro tomato plants, all winter long. Very easy to use, it comes with 4 small trays that fit into a self-watering larger tray. The light above is adjustable.
This system is so compact that even if you lived in an apartment with no balcony, you could grow in this compact garden all year long.
Aerogarden Harvest Elite – Stainless Steel
Aerogarden Harvest Elite – Stainless Steel
Similar to the Sunblaster system mentioned previously, the Aerogarden Harvest Elite comes in a convenient compact size making it suitable for even the smallest space.
The difference with this system is it doesn’t use soil. Instead, you grow in water. The kit comes with everything you need to get started, including 6 herb pods. Liquid plant food and additional seed pods sold separately.
Just assemble, turn on and get growing!
The Seed Saving Webinar with Julia Dimakos (that’s me!)
The Seed Saving Webinar with Julia Dimakos
If you’ve grown seedlings from seed, then the best way to control your seed supply and ensure the healthiest and most adapted plants to your growing conditions is to save your own seeds.
In my one and a half hour seed saving webinar, I guide you through the process of saving seeds from your favourite vegetables. You will learn to save seeds from the 8 most common vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, peas, squash and beans.
Watch straight through, skip ahead or watch at your own pace. Purchasing the webinar will give you lifetime access.
Seed Sprouter Trays
Seed Sprouter Trays
The seed sprouter trays are an easy way to grow sprouts and microgreens, indoors over winter or at any time of year. Most crops will be ready for harvest within a few days. Growing is easy and there is no mess, since soil isn’t required. Simply rinse the seeds twice a day, set back in place and watch your seeds germinate and grow.
These trays may also be used with a thin layer of seed starting mix for easy microgreens growing, that doesn’t require rinsing.
Package includes 5 seed sprouter trays, including inner trays and bottom trays.
For more information on growing microgreens and sprouts, check out my blog posts.
How to Grow Microgreens on Your Windowsill
How to Sprout Seeds in a Jar
Microgreens vs. Sprouts (Plus: Free Comparison Chart)
How to Grow Sprouts in a Seed Sprouting Tray
Medium Domed Propagator Tray
Medium Domed Propagator Tray
An ideal kit for seed starting. Comes with a sturdy plastic tray and a clear plastic domed lid with 2 adjustable vent holes. Set your cell packs within the tray, close the lid and wait. The dome will create ideal humidity conditions to get the seeds to germinate. If condensation builds up within the dome, prior to germination, open the vent holes to release some of the built up moisture. Once seeds germinate, remove the lid and use the tray as a base to hold the cell packs. The sturdy design of the tray also prevents cracking and breaking, making moving easy. Seedlings may be watered from below with this tray.
For more information on seed starting, check out my post – “The Ultimate Guide to Seed Starting”
Gardenia Gardening Gloves – Pack of 9 pairs of gardening gloves
Gardenia Gardening Gloves
If you want an easy to wear perfect fitting glove, this Gardenia gardening glove is it!
These are my “go-to” gardening gloves. The ones I reach for everyday when I work in the garden. They’re light and breathable and very comfortable.
This pack comes with 9 pairs of wonderful gloves in 3 different colours – orange/white, blue/grey and teal/white.
I buy a new pack each year. At less than $4 per pair, you can’t go wrong.
Hori Hori Knife
Hori Hori Knife
The ultimate gardening tool. It cuts, digs, measures, weeds and makes an excellent multi-purpose tool. Use it to plant bulbs, divide perennials or chop long tap roots. One side is serrated and the other straight edged, both are razor sharp. Use your Hori Hori knife once and you will love it!
Made in Japan, the quality is excellent and will last for ages.
Double-sided Aluminum Cold Frame
Double-sided Aluminum Cold Frame
Harden off plants, extend your season into the winter or keep pests and predators at bay, a cold frame is a must have for a gardener! This easy to assemble cold frame has access from both sides, allowing for more growing space and an easy reach. Dimensions are 3.3 x 3.3 feet, allowing for just under 11 square feet of growing space. Polycarbonate panels act as a mini-greenhouse, while roof panels may be adjusted straight up to allow for more sun exposure or ventilation, while minimizing wind.
For more information on hardening off seedlings, check out my post, “How to Harden off Seedlings“.
Vegtrug – raised bed planter
Vegtrug – raised bed planter
No more bending or kneeling will be required with this gorgeous wooden Vegtrug. Grow fresh salad greens, herbs, chilli peppers, mini tomatoes or anything you would like, right at your fingertips! Perfect for a balcony, deck, rooftop or outside your front or back door.
Easy access for the elderly or individuals in a wheelchair, as the Vegtrug stands at counter height. The bed may be netted to protect against birds and squirrels. It’s high design also keeps rabbits and pests out.
Easy to assemble. Order now and be ready for the next gardening season.
Gardening Books
The Salad Garden by Joy Larkcom
One of my favourite gardening books, this one covers all types of salad greens, along with the rest of the vegetables that you would add to a salad. Beautiful images, growing tips and garden design ideas are included.
Grow for Flavour by James Wong
Another favourite for me! James Wong is a botanist, writer and garden celebrity residing in the UK. His curiosity and excitement towards fruits and vegetables excites and inspires me to grow better. In this book, James shares scientifically proven facts that help improve the flavour and yield of your crops. Gorgeous photos and interesting infographics, he covers everything including unusual crops for your garden.
Charles Dowding’s Vegetable Course by Charles Dowding
Charles Dowding is the ultimate proponent of the “no dig” gardening method. This book talks to me because I also try to never dig my garden. Soil health is so important, so I try to nurture it as much as I can by topping it with compost each year, growing cover crops and practicing crop rotation.
Digging the soil is exhausting and backbreaking work. Research has shown that it doesn’t make your soil better. Instead, it causes soil compaction, the breakdown of soil microbes and a reduced crop yield.
In this book he teaches you how to grow vegetables the “no dig” way, along with many growing tips.
The New Vegetable and Herbs Encyclopedia by Matthew Biggs, Jekka McVicar and Bob Flowerdew
Another 3 gardening experts from the UK, this encyclopedia on vegetables, herbs and fruits covers every possible crop. Growing information, along with pest, diseases, culinary uses and medicinal benefits are included. Information in this book is valuable and helpful for growing and planning the garden. Over 700 pages in this book. Use it as a reference, by flipping to the crop in question whenever an answer is needed. A definite must for the resource bookshelf of your home library.
I hope this list finds you well and you find comfort in selecting that perfect gift for your gardening loved one. I tried to cover everything that I could think of, that would appeal to a gardener. I believe all gifts are fun and beneficial. Gifts were selected to fulfil any budget from low to high.
Happy Holidays and Happy Gardening!