26 Best Gifts For Beginner Gardeners
If you don’t have the time, skills, or desire to get your hands dirty, gifting quality tools and supplies is the best thing you can do to support the beginner gardener in your life. In this article, gardening expert Logan Hailey shares 26 super thoughtful holiday gift ideas for any budget!
Contents
Plant lovers can be difficult to shop for because they don’t always desire classic holiday gifts like technology or clothing. People who want to start growing food and get their hands in the dirt tend to have different priorities on their minds, like the best seeds to sow next spring or ways to fit more growing space on their patio. If you don’t have the time or skills to get your hands dirty, gifting quality tools and supplies is the best thing you can do to support the beginner gardener in your life.
From raised beds to grow bags to detailed gardening books, let’s dig into the 26 best gifts for beginner gardeners, no matter your budget!
Seeds
Seeds are an obvious gift for a beginner gardener. Unfortunately, it can be overwhelming to choose individual packets from a seed catalog randomly. How will you know exactly what they want to grow or how much space they have? Instead of playing a guessing game, opt for one of these gift-ready seed packet bundles. Each is perfectly themed for particular garden interests.
Kevin’s Balcony and Patio Picks
Kevin’s Balcony & Patio Picks
- Cherry Falls Bush Cherry Tomato
- Spacemaster 80 Cucumber
- NuMex Lemon Spice Jalapeño Chile Pepper
- Golden Boy Beet
- Marvel of Four Seasons Butterhead Lettuce
- Tonda di Parigi Carrot
- Royal Burgundy Bush Bean
- Choko Bok Choy
Urban and balcony gardeners don’t need to stress over having enough space to grow food. An homage to Epic Gardening founder Kevin Espiritu’s very first gardens, this bundle includes only compact varieties. They will grow happily in containers and pots wherever beginners can find the space!
Water-Wise Garden Flower Mix
Water-Wise Garden Flower Mix Seeds
- Bird’s Eyes
- Gaillardia
- Blue Flax
- California Bluebell
- Dwarf Yellow California Poppy
- Orange California Poppy
- Dwarf Plains Coreopsis
- Sulphur Cosmos
- African Daisy
- Desert Marigold and more
Flower lovers in dry climates will appreciate this blend of 19 drought-tolerant, hardy flowers. They nurture pollinators and put on a beautiful display even with little rainfall or minimal irrigation.
The gorgeously illustrated package front is only a glimpse at the diverse beauty that this seed blend yields in the spring garden. While water is needed to establish the plants, beginner growers may be pleasantly surprised by how resilient these species are. They practically grow themselves!
Fall Grow Along Bundle
Fall Grow Along Bundle
- 5-Pack of 10-gallon Epic Grow Bags
- 6-Pack of Epic 6-Cell Seed Starting Trays
- Di Cicco Broccoli Seeds, Heirloom
- Provider Bush Beans
- Oceanside Spinach Seeds
- Red Russian Kale
- Market Express Turnip
- Magic Carpet Snapdragons
For the gardener who wants to get started ASAP, this bundle includes a large fabric pot, seed starting trays, and an array of seed varieties that can be sown in the autumn for fresh harvests around the time of holiday feasts.
Complete this present with a bag of high-quality organic soil mix or worm castings for a fun planting activity on the day of a gift exchange.
Epic Staff Picks – Early Sow
Epic Staff Picks – Early Sow
- Choko Bok Choy
- Dazzling Blue Kale
- Moss Curled Parsley
- Vivian Romaine Lettuce
- Cherry Belle Radish
- Long-Standing Santo Cilantro
- Marvel of Four Seasons Butterhead Lettuce
- Bloomsdale Spinach
- Belstar Broccoli
- Sugar Magnolia Snap Pea
- Bouquet Dill
Beginning gardeners are likely excited to dive into growing as soon as possible. While snow may be on the ground outside, these seeds will be ready to plant in just a couple of months for an early start to spring. Developed by our horticulture department, this selection of staff favorites provides a great kick-off to an abundant veggie season!
This is a great complementary gift to seed-starting supplies like the Epic 6-Cell Seed Starting Trays. The recipient can get a head start on spring planting right inside their home!
Kevin’s Weird and Unique Seed Picks
Kevin’s Weird & Unique Picks
- Rat’s Tail Radish
- Green Zebra Pole Tomato
- Lakota Winter Squash
- Alaska Variegated Nasturtium
- Corsican Hard-Shelled Gourd
- Mavrik Palla Rossa Radicchio
- Brightest Brilliant Rainbow Quinoa
- Clancy Potato
- Mouse Melon Cucamelon
Gardening doesn’t only need to include the classic cucumbers, tomatoes, and zucchini. Adventurous cooks and crafty decorators will greatly appreciate this eclectic blend of unique seeds you’ve probably never heard of before.
This seed bundle comes in a nice giftable bag with attractively illustrated Botanical Interests seed packets and a descriptive card about why Kevin chose these unusual curiosities.
Briana’s Cocktail Garden Picks
Briana’s Cocktail Garden Picks
- Sun Gold Pole Cherry Tomato
- Anise Hyssop
- Peach Melba Nasturtium
- German Chamomile
- Broadleaf Sage
- Common Mint
- Mouse Melon Cucamelon
- Early Jalapeño Chile Pepper
- Rosemary
- Green and Red Leaf Shiso Perilla
- Borage
Mixologists and cocktail lovers crave fresh herbaceous ingredients for unforgettable happy hour drinks! This hand-picked seed bundle includes everything from anise hyssop and chamomile to mint, sage, and chile peppers. All are bundled in a cute bag for easy gifting.
Grow Bags
Fabric grow bags are an easy way to grow food practically anywhere. These durable fabric planters are eco-friendly, lightweight, and easy to move around as needed. They’re a perfect gift for anyone growing on a balcony, patio, windowsill, or porch. Grow bags are also great for gardeners nervous about shoveling into hard native soils.
Better yet, they won’t need to worry about moving heavy pots or accidentally cracking ceramic planters! Couple any of these grow bag planters with Kevin Espiritu’s detailed book on Grow Bag Gardening.
Epic Grow Bags – Unlined
Epic Grow Bags – Unlined
- BPA-Free and Space-Efficient
- Permeable Felt Material
- Sturdy and Long-Lasting
- Size Options
- Versatile Growing Solutions
- Exceptional Thickness
These bags come in 9 versatile sizes, from 3 gallons to 100 gallons. They can handle everything from a few lettuce plants to a compact rose bush! The BPA-free woven felt fabric is extremely lightweight and porous, allowing excess water to drain out easily.
The fabric is advantageous because it encourages root pruning when a plant’s roots naturally stop growing when they sense they’ve reached the air. Root pruning creates a denser root ball without the risks of root binding that you see in traditional pots.
The unlined bags are extremely sturdy and thick. Compared to lined bags, unlined containers allow more circulation and drainage for humid climates or plants prone to root rot. For example, if your gift recipient wants to grow plants like rosemary, lavender, aloe vera, compact rhododendrons, or hostas, the unlined bags are perfect for ensuring airflow in the root zone.
Epic Grow Bags – Lined
Epic Grow Bags – Lined
- BPA-Free and Space-Efficient
- Moisture Retention and Air Pruning
- Ideal for Hot, Dry Summers
- UV-Treated for Longevity
- Drip Line Organization
- Convenient Irrigation Setup
- Water Conservation
- Improved Root Health
Lined grow bags are designed for more moisture retention in areas with hot summers. This grow bag liner has a natural UV treatment for long-term use. The exterior fabric is still BPA-free and woven felt for lightweight portability. It is permeable enough to promote root pruning yet moisture-retentive enough to preserve soil moisture in drought-prone climates.
Grow bags are extra awesome for gardeners in locations with high weed pressure, poor soils, or a lack of drainage. The built-in irrigation strip helps tidy up water lines so grow bags can be lined together in an automated container gardening system with drip irrigation. The robust handles are twice as thick as our competitors and make it easy to move plants around without the risk of ripping the bag.
Like unlined bags, you can get lined grow bags in several sizes. They’re available in a small 3-gallon bag ideal for a lettuce plant, a 10-gallon bag for a tomato plant, or a 100-gallon bag for compact shrubs or young trees. The non-woven felt and liner should last at least four years or longer!
This video explains more about how to use grow bags for portable quick-start gardening:
Books
Winter is the ideal time for aspiring gardeners to cuddle up by the fire and learn all the information they need for a successful season ahead. These books are wonderful stocking stuffers or dinner table conversation starters loaded with gorgeous full-color photographs, detailed guides, and handy DIY projects that beginners can dive into right away.
Field Guide to Urban Gardening
Field Guide to Urban Gardening
- Container Gardening
- Raised Beds
- Vertical Gardening
- Indoor Edibles
- Balconies and Rooftops
- Hydroponics
This practical and attractive book is the kind of gift that will stay sitting on the coffee table for years to come. Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening shares his secrets and tips for starting and tending an urban garden using containers, raised beds, vertical growing, indoor edibles, and even hydroponics.
The book has in-depth garden plans, stunning full-page photographs, and simplified explanations of daunting tasks like building, pruning, and pollinating. If you know a gardener who needs a detailed roadmap to start growing right away, this is the gift for them!
Epic Garden Journal
Epic Garden Journal
- Comprehensive Garden Documentation
- Personal Insights
- Annual Planting Calendar
- Individualized Plant Profiles
- Garden Layout Design
- Monthly Task Tracking
Beginners often underestimate the power of their early garden mistakes. As you learn to grow diverse veggies and vibrant flowers, it’s important to document your epic successes and your lesson-teaching crop failures.
A garden journal is a lovely gift to help new growers stay organized. They can design their growing space, document seed starting days, record their transplanting days, and keep track of their harvests. Next season, they can look back on their journal to reflect on what worked and what didn’t. In the process, they’ll remember you— the lovely friend or family member who gifted them this handy progress journal!
Vertical Planters
No outdoor growing space? No problem! Vertical planters allow you to grow a huge diversity of compact edible crops by a window, on a patio, or directly in the kitchen! GreenStalk Original is a patented soil-based vertical gardening system made in Tennessee.
All of their vertical planters are made with food-grade plastic free of toxins like BPA, BPS, and PVC. This means indoor and small-space gardeners can grow vertically without fears of contaminating their crops. Every GreenStalk includes a 5-year warranty for long-lasting food production. Watering disks and reservoirs are included for functionality and mess-free irrigation.
Choose from 2 sizes to wrap up for your favorite beginner gardener:
GreenStalk 5-Tier Vertical Planter
GreenStalk 5 Tier Vertical Planter
- Made in the USA
- Durable and Patented Design
- 30 Deep Planting Pockets
- Flexible Watering Schedule
For a gardener who wants to start an attractive vertical garden right away, this planter is the ultimate holiday gift! The 5-tier GreenStalk includes 30 planting pockets for a multitude of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and strawberries.
Each planting tier has six pockets that are 10” deep and arranged circularly to support anything from kale to petunias to thyme. It is quick and easy to set up. Fill with one cubic foot (about 8 gallons) of quality potting mix per tier, and start seeding.
Remember that a fully planted and watered 5-tier planter weighs around 150 lbs. It needs a solid, level base to sit on to avoid toppling over. If you know that they plan to grow indoors, you may want to purchase the GreenStalk Mover or Ultimate Spinner Base for them to place under the planter to direct the water via a hose so it doesn’t drain onto the floor.
GreenStalk 7-Tier Vertical Planter
GreenStalk 7 Tier Vertical Planter
- High-Quality, Food-Grade, UV-Resistant Plastic
- 42 Planting Pockets
- Patented Watering System
- Warranty
For beginners who mostly want to grow greens and small root veggies, this shallow version of the GreenStalk has 42 smaller planting pockets that are 7” deep. Perfect for a bright kitchen corner window or a full-sun patio, this planter is attractive, functional, and compact. It only takes up a little more than 2 square feet!
By growing vertically, beginners can maximize their space and practice producing food without as much investment in soil and supplies. With attractive colors like stone, terracotta, or Epic Oasis green, this planter can easily fit into any interior or exterior color palette.
As with the 5-tier model, you will need a base to help direct any runoff from watering so it doesn’t spill onto the floor. Use one of our bases and connect a hose to a receptacle to catch any water for indoor use.
Seed Starting Supplies
If seeds feel like too small of a gift, consider throwing in some seed-starting supplies that will help your favorite beginner gardener start growing their seeds! Most vegetable growers start seeds indoors in the spring to get a head start on planting while waiting for the weather to warm.
Starting in cell trays also provides seeds with a more stable germination environment, making it easier for beginners to grow their own starts successfully. Unlike the flimsy disposable seedling pots at garden stores, heavy-duty Epic cell trays and starting supplies are specifically designed to be used for decades to come. They produce high-quality starts that are easy to grow indoors without any mess and transplant in the garden when the risk of frost has passed.
Small Garden Starter Kit
Small Garden Starter Kits
- Versatile Kit Options
- Complete Starter Kits
- High-Quality Materials
- Germination Domes and Bottom Trays
- Optimized for Plant Growth
- Durable and Long-Lasting
This giftable kit includes everything needed to start seeds in one handy pack (except the soil). The signature Epic Cell Trays are rigid yet flexible and virtually unbreakable, meaning your generous gift could lead to a lifetime of seed starting! The #5 polypropylene plastic is recycled, BPA-free, food-grade, and made in the USA!
The kit is available in a 6-cell starter 12-pack, 4-cell starter 8-pack (3” or 4” deep cells), or a mixed-cell starter pack for diverse crops. It includes germination domes to increase humidity and warmth for emerging seedlings.
The bottom water trays ensure growers can start seeds indoors without dripping moisture everywhere. Specially designed holes in the cells also allow plant roots to suck up moisture from the tray to prevent overwatering (which is one of the most common mistakes made by beginner gardeners).
Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus Organic Plant Food
Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus Organic Plant Food (4 lbs.)
- Grows larger root mass to help plants establish fast
- Reduces transplant loss
- Promotes bigger blooms
- Microbe-enhanced, all-natural organic fertilizer with no sludges or fillers
All-purpose fertilizer is the easiest for beginner growers because it can be used on everything you plant with very little risk. This ultimate starter fertilizer blend includes everything plants need to establish quickly, avoid transplant shock, produce larger flowers, and grow nutrient-dense foods without any fillers, sludges, or chemicals.
Epic 6-Cell Seed Starting Trays – Pink
Epic 6-Cell Seed Starting Trays
- Rigid and Durable Design
- Proudly Made in the USA
- Optimized for Plant Growth
- Convenient and Flexible
Seed starting just got even more fun with these adorable bright pink trays! Like all Epic Cell Trays, they are still BPA-free, UV-treated, and ultra-durable! They also include air-pruning slots on all four corners to promote strong root growth that won’t result in root circling or binding.
Growers can easily fit these vibrant starter trays into a nursery tray or bottom watering setup. The cute pink hue ensures they’ll never lose cell trays in the garden or tool shed!
Americana Epic 6-Cell Seed Tray
Americana Epic 6-Cell Seed Starting Trays in Red, White & Blue
- Patriotic Color Variety
- Rigid and Durable Design
- Optimized for Plant Growth
- Convenient and Adaptable Design
- Made in the USA
- BPA-free and UV-protected plastic
For the patriotic gardener, add more colorful fun to the seed-starting process with this set of 24 seed-starting trays in red, white, and blue. The rigid material is so durable you can step on it without breaking it (but I still prefer to handle it gently to ensure longevity!)
These cell trays are engineered for perfect plant growth and are brightly colored so they never get lost amongst the sea of brown, black, and green garden tools.
Fun Stocking Stuffers for Beginner Gardeners
Garden gifts don’t have to be massive or expensive. If you’re on a budget or just need a quick stocking stuffer, these smaller gifts offer just as much delight for new growers!
Felco 701 Garden Gloves
Felco 701 Garden Gloves
- High-Cut Resistance
- Lightweight and Comfortable
- Nitrile Rubber Coating
- Abrasion and Tear Resistance
- 13-Gauge HPPE Fiber
- Perfect Fit
It’s nice to get your hands dirty, but not all scraped up! Beginner gardeners will appreciate this gift of durable and comfortable garden gloves made of knitted HPPE fiber that is highly resistant to abrasion and tearing. The palm has a nitrile rubber coating for strength and grip while performing any garden task.
From transplanting to weeding to pruning thorny shrubs, they’ll be grateful you gifted them with something to protect their hands for years of growing to come.
Epic Candles
Epic Gardening Candles
- Multiple Garden-Fresh Scents
- Seasonal Ambiance
- Cruelty-Free Soy Wax
- Elegant Glass Vessel
- 12oz Size
Who doesn’t love a holiday candle? These pure soy wax candles take the gardening spirit to the next level with all-natural earthy scents like First Rain, Fresh Mint, Tomato Leaf, Lavender Fields, and Squeeze of the Day. Each 12-ounce garden-inspired candle comes in an attractive painted glass vessel and a nice gift box for illuminating the dark days of winter.
Epic Gift Cards
Epic Gift Cards
- Ideal Gardener’s Gift with over 730 gift options!
- Epic Branding
- Online Shopping Convenience
- Limited Availability
A digital gift card isn’t as fun to open from a stocking or gift card! That’s why we started offering physical gift cards with a vibrant photo of Epic Gardener Kevin’s smile and the inspiring words “Keep on Growing.” If you don’t know what to give the beginner gardener in your life, let them choose from a range of exciting and practical products that best suit their growing needs.
Epic Farmers Market Tote Bag
Epic Farmers Market Tote Bag
- Eco-Friendly Design
- Supernatural Paper™
- Spacious Interior
- Sturdy Handles
- Vegan and Sustainable
- Water-Resistant
In a world of single-use plastics and flimsy shopping bags, we could all use more sustainable bag options. This tote bag is extra eco-friendly with its Supernatural Paper construction that comes from tree cellulose. The interior can fit an impressive amount of fresh produce and groceries, and you never have to worry about the sturdy handles breaking.
This bag is sustainable, reusable, and water-resistant, plus it features the iconic Epic radish logo to look great on the go. Growing your food doesn’t mean you won’t need to supplement with delicious farmer’s market produce!
Plant Daddy T-Shirt
Plant Daddy T-Shirt
- Spring Green Design
- Sustainable Fabric
- Ridiculously Soft
- Made in the USA
Kevin is nicknamed the Potato Daddy, but you can be a plant parent for any garden species! This minimalist spring green tee is a fun way to share your gardener status in an understated way. The material is outrageously soft and made from recycled fabrics that reduce our environmental impact.
You Grow Girl T-Shirt
You Grow Girl T-Shirt
- Positive Garden Message
- Elegant Design
- Sustainable Fabric
- Silky-Soft Comfort
Simple and cute, this ladies’ shirt empowers female gardeners to show off their garden message in style. The silky-soft fabric is made of recycled materials that keep textile waste out of the landfill. The snow white color and subdued text are eloquent but not over the top.
Raised Beds
Starting a garden in the ground isn’t as easy as it sounds. You need yard space, tools, and many amendments to make the native soil workable and amenable to crop growth. It’s far easier for a beginner gardener to start with a raised bed.
If you want to “wow” the beginner gardener in your life, gift a raised bed to have them leaping joyfully! Raised beds offer a more controlled growing environment for beginners to experiment and learn. They can fill with a soil blend of their choosing and get growing in one weekend with less work.
Elevated gardening containers are warmer and better-draining than their in-ground counterparts. They are less prone to weeds and pest issues, too! Best of all, they look beautiful in any yard or patio.
Birdies Small Raised Garden Bed, 15″ Short
Birdies Small Raised Garden Bed, 15″ Short
- Long-Lasting Durability
- Enhanced Gardening Benefits
- Space-Efficient Design
- Kid-Friendly Height
- Easy Assembly
- Food-Safe Materials
- Sustainable Production
The perfect starter bed for an urban or suburban yard, this pristinely designed metal raised bed is as functional as it is aesthetic. Birdie’s Metal Raised Beds have set the gold standard for raised beds for over 20 years.
The food-safe painted aluzinc steel construction and stainless steel hardware can last for decades without rusting or degrading in the elements. That means your favorite gardener will remember you every time they grow in this bed for seasons to come!
This gift is also special because it is customizable. The kit has everything you need to assemble a raised bed in six different configurations. The beginner-friendly assembly makes for a fun family project after the gift-giving has concluded. Better yet, the 15” height is kid-friendly to inspire little aspiring gardeners.
Birdies Medium Raised Garden Bed, 15″
Birdies Medium Raised Garden Bed, 15″ Short
- Built to last 20+ years
- Improved drainage, soil health, pest protection
- Suitable for urban and suburban gardeners
- Kid-Friendly Height
- Comprised of aluzinc steel, USDA-approved paint, and stainless steel hardware
- Manufactured in Australia
For a larger footprint raised bed, this medium-sized metal planting bed will get any beginner gardener off to the races! With up to 20 square feet of planting space, the gift recipient can use square-foot planting principles to easily grow a multitude of vegetables, from kale and cauliflower to roots and herbs.
The 24-gauge cold-rolled aluzinc galvanized steel is the most lightweight and durable raised bed material on the market. It is 7x more rust-resistant than regular galvanized steel. The material is 100% food-safe, so you don’t have to worry about nasty chemicals leaching into garden soil.
This kit includes a reinforced bracing kit to help provide extra support in storms or windy areas. Like all Birdie’s Metal Raised Beds, you can order this bed in mist green, slate gray, or light clay-colored food-grade paint. Choose the option that complements your giftee’s landscape aesthetic!
Birdies Small Raised Garden Bed, 29″
Birdies Small Raised Garden Bed, 29” Tall
- Durable Construction
- Ample Height
- Improved Drainage
- Soil Health
- Pest Protection
- Versatile Use
- Sustainable Production
Is your favorite beginner gardener hesitant about hurting their back in the garden? An easily accessible tall raised bed is the solution! This compact but elevated bed offers superior drainage and easy access to plants. The 29” depth allows ultra-deep root growth for crops like tomatoes, squash, melons, and sweet potatoes.
Like all Birdies beds, this kit includes all the hardware and materials you need for six customizable configurations. Each provides up to 12 square feet of growing space. This bed looks gorgeous on a patio, in a yard, or even on a balcony. Beginners will appreciate the user-friendly setup and quick start to growing.
Birdies Medium Raised Garden Bed, 29″
Birdies Medium Raised Garden Bed, 29” Tall
- Robust Construction
- Best for Bad Backs
- Improved Drainage
- Pest Protection
- Versatile Gardening
- Sustainable Manufacturing
For the ultimate beginner gardener gift, this tall raised bed offers enough growing space for several tomato plants, loads of greens, or compact perennials. No more hunching over or cramming plants together! Your beloved beginner gardener will feel like you just bought them the Ferrari of raised beds!
This Birdies Metal Raised Bed is made of weatherproof and rust-resistant aluminum and steel. The cross bracing, quality hardware, and attractive, non-toxic paint make it even better. Any eco-conscious grower will be especially delighted to know it was made using green energy, ethical labor, and recycled steel.
The vinyl safety edging ensures nobody gets their hands cut on raw edges. Plus, the extra tall 29″ height ensures that pests, kids, or dogs can’t access edible crops.
Final Thoughts: How to Choose the Best Beginner Gardener Gift
Shopping for a gardener can be daunting if you don’t know anything about growing plants. Moreover, it’s hard to guess what they already have in their tool shed. If you’re unsure about what to buy for the beginner grower in your life, use this simple guide:
- If they’ve expressed interest in urban growing, buy them a book!
- If they don’t have much space, get them grow bags or a vertical planter!
- If they have a nice yard or patio, consider buying a raised bed.
- If you’re on a budget, toss a seed packet or quality gloves in their stocking.
- If you’re completely clueless, go for a gift card or a garden-scented candle!