Garden gear we recommend Growing your own food takes very little gear. This page collects the few things the guides on this site actually call for, grouped by the job they do.
Each pick is one exact product, the one the guides call for, so check the size and fit against your space before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work here
Growing gear The kit most growing guides on this site start with: a bed to grow in, trays to start seeds in, tools that hold up, and watering that does the work for you.
Gear we recommend · Our pick
Vego Garden Raised Bed Kit, 17 Inch Tall, 10 in 1 Modular
A metal kit that builds into a few shapes, up to a full 4 by 8 foot bed, and will not rot like wood does. It is 17 inches tall, so plan on a lot of soil to fill it, and set aside an hour or so for the nuts and bolts.
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Gear we recommend · Our pick
Burpee Greenhouse Seed Starting Kit, 72 Cell
Everything to start seeds in one box: two trays with 72 cells, the pellets to fill them, a tray that holds water, and a clear dome to keep the moisture in. The plastic is thin, so treat it as a season or two kit, not a lifetime one.
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Gear we recommend · Our pick
WORKPRO Garden Tool Set, 8 Piece, With Tote and Gloves
The basic hand tools a new gardener actually uses: trowel, transplanter, weeder, cultivator, and a small pruner, with a tote to carry them and gloves. The pruner is for light cuts only, and the tote is light fabric, not waterproof.
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Gear we recommend · Our pick
Rain Bird Drip Irrigation Raised Bed Kit
A drip kit sized for one 4 by 8 foot raised bed, with emitters already built into the line, so the water goes to the roots instead of the path. One kit covers one bed, and a faucet timer is sold on its own.
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Preserving gear When the harvest comes in all at once, this is what turns it into food for later: jars made for safe canning, and a dehydrator for drying fruit, herbs, and vegetables.
Gear we recommend · Our pick
Ball Wide Mouth Quart Mason Jars With Lids, 12 Pack
The standard jar for home canning. Quart size suits tomatoes and most vegetables, and the wide mouth makes filling and cleaning easy. The jars and bands last for years, but the flat lids are single use for a safe seal, so keep fresh lids on hand.
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Gear we recommend · Our pick
NESCO FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
The long running budget standard for drying food at home. Five trays, and you can add more. Good for herbs, fruit, and vegetables from the garden. It has no built in timer, so it is a hands on unit you check on now and then.
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Soil and water Good soil and saved water carry a garden through the season: a tumbler that turns scraps into compost, and a barrel that catches rain off the roof.
Gear we recommend · Our pick
FCMP Outdoor Dual Chamber Compost Tumbler, 37 Gallon
Two chambers, so one side cooks while you keep filling the other. A few turns every couple of days mixes it without a fork. Putting it together takes real time, so plan on that before you start.
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Gear we recommend · Our pick
Good Ideas Rain Wizard 50 Gallon Rain Barrel, Oak
A 50 gallon barrel with a flat back that sits tight against the wall, a metal spigot, and a screen that keeps leaves and bugs out. It is made to sit under a cut downspout; an automatic diverter is a separate kit.
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Not sure what you need yet? Start with the guides . Each one names the exact gear it uses, if it uses any at all.