Lindy's Top 10 Must-Have Items for the Beginning Gardener

Lindy's Top 10 Must-Have Items for the Beginning Gardener

Are you thinking about starting a garden but have no idea how to actually get started? It can be intimidating when you don't have a lot of experience, so that's why we asked home and gardening expert, Lindy (@smalltowngardenlife), for her picks on what to get as a beginner. Here's what she had to say:

"So many people tell me they want to grow their own food, but they're afraid of failing or don't know how to get started, so they just don't. But most good things don't start in your comfort zone. 

I've been growing my own food for a few years now on my hobby farm in Illinois and I still get intimidated by all the different aspects of gardening! There are a few things I wish I had known before I started my first garden and I thought it would be helpful to share them with you, too! Here is my curated list of the top 10 products every new gardener should have."
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Lindy
Home & Garden Influencer

I'm just a regular mama growing vegetables, flowers, and twin boys in small-town Illinois. I love all things gardening, sustainability, and thrifting. I am a... See More

  • Rebel Gardens Heirloom Vegetable Seeds Image 1
    Source：amazon.com
    Rebel Gardens Heirloom Vegetable Seeds Image 2
    Source：amazon.com

    Rebel Gardens
    Heirloom Vegetable Seeds

    Lindy

    You can't start a garden without seeds! I love this seed variety pack because it contains the perfect mix of vegetables every new gardener wants to grow. I always recommend the beginning gardener to grow at least one tomato plant and one pepper plant to make homemade salsa and this variety pack contains everything you need to do that and more.

    We all love supporting small businesses and this is a small business I am obsessed with. I have had the opportunity to work with the founder of Rebel Gardens, Jason, on past projects and he is a wonderful human who not only runs a small business but also supports local horticulture non-profits in his area as well.
    $17.99
  • Miracle-Gro Potting Mix Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Miracle-Gro
    Potting Mix

    Lindy

    All good things in the garden start in the dirt. Whether you want to grow flowers, fruit, or vegetables, you'll need a good all-purpose soil medium. This Miracle-Gro potting mix is my go-to soil for potting up flowers, sowing vegetables in the winter, or amending the soil in my raised beds. I also use this when repotting and refreshing my house plants as well. 

    I love that it already has fertilizer built-in because fertilization is not one of my strong points as a gardener. It's also great that you can have it shipped straight to your door! You can never have too much soil laying around.
    $13.47
  • Bogs Women's Sweetpea Ankle Rubber Rain Boot Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Bogs
    Women's Sweetpea Ankle Rubber Rain Boot

    Lindy

    These ankle rain boots are so cute, and if you saw someone wearing these in public you would never know they were technically rain boots. These are the perfect boots to wear while working in the garden because they are durable in the mud, keep your feet dry, and protect you from pests like snakes and bugs. Not to mention, they are super comfortable too! 

    These BOGS boots have become a staple in my wardrobe year-round; I wear them in the fall while planting tulip bulbs, winter when it snows, springtime while I'm prepping the soil, and, of course, summer while I'm working in the garden. 

    Last but not least, BOGS is incredibly environmentally friendly. They have a recycling program for their boots and they also use as much as 40 percent post-industrial recycled material in their products.
    $69.99
  • Fiskars Garden Tools Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Fiskars
    Garden Tools

    Lindy

    Every gardener needs a good set of gardening tools. I've tried buying cheap tools from the dollar store in the past, and every time I am let down. So save yourself money in the long run and spend a little extra on a quality set of tools. 

    This set from Fiskars is the perfect variety for helping you plant your garden, trim your shrubs, or weed your existing garden beds. I have used Fiskars for a few years now and am super impressed with the quality of their tools. 

    I have never had any issues with any of them but it is nice to know if you do experience problems, you can get a replacement sent for free with their lifetime warranty policy.
    $21.83
  • Jessica Sowards The First-time Gardener: Growing Vegetables Image 1
    Source：barnesandnoble.com

    Jessica Sowards
    The First-time Gardener: Growing Vegetables

    Lindy

    I could go on for days about how much I admire Jess from Roots & Refuge! She is a woman who loves to grow her own food and who started sharing her homestead journey on YouTube and now has released her first book. Jess is a wonderful teacher who is so down to earth and willing to explain the small things to beginning gardeners. 

    In this book, she teaches you how to start a garden, what to plant, how to care for your plants, and when to harvest them. Jess is a true inspiration and if you aren't following her journey on YouTube and Instagram, I highly suggest you go check her out.
    $16.55
  • Gardzen Garden Propagator Set Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Gardzen
    Garden Propagator Set

    Lindy

    If this isn't your first year gardening, chances are you have probably started to think about starting your own seeds under grow lights. It always seems like, in your first year gardening, you start off growing a few things, and by the following year, you start wanting to grow everything. 

    That's where this set comes in handy! This garden seed tray set is the perfect set for the beginning gardener. It allows you to start 200 seeds under grow lights. Each cell pack also comes with an added plastic dome that goes over the top and will keep your soil moist until your seeds germinate.
    $23.99
  • Peter Pauper Press The Gardener's Logbook Image 1
    Source：peterpauper.com

    Peter Pauper Press
    The Gardener's Logbook

    Lindy

    One of the best things I did when I first started my garden was to keep a garden journal. I always thought I would remember what I planted and when, but by the end of the gardening season, it was all a blur. This gardener's logbook is the perfect tool to help you keep track of your garden. 

    It has a place for you to write what plant you started, when you started it, where you planted it, and an option to write what you did successfully and what you would like to improve on the following year. 

    Trust me, next year you will thank yourself for buying this and keeping track. Since you have it all written out, it helps save you so much time when garden planning for the next year.
    $9.99
  • Right Hardware Zinnia Flower Seeds Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Right Hardware
    Zinnia Flower Seeds

    Lindy

    I never knew I needed zinnias until I had them in my life. And I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but I had absolutely no interest in flowers until two summers ago when I randomly threw a few packs of mini zinnias in my raised beds. Once I saw their beautiful blooms and how easy they were to grow, I was hooked! 

    I have now expanded my cut flower garden to half of my gardening space and always make extra room for lots of different varieties of these. They bloom all summer long, have a great germination rate, and last for up to two weeks in floral arrangements. 

    Just trust me on this one - you need zinnias. Once you add that pop of color into your vegetable garden, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
    $10.99
  • BelleMark Kitchen Compost Bin Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    BelleMark
    Kitchen Compost Bin

    Lindy

    Do you compost? If not, you totally should. It's super easy and great for the environment! Now, I know what you're thinking - but what about the smell? I don't want a pile of rotting food sitting in a bowl on my counter. But no worries, Bellmark has you covered with this super sleek modern countertop compost bin! 

    If you saw this on someone's counter you would never know it holds food scraps. Plus, this compost bin has a stainless steel interior compartment keeping the smell to a minimum and making it really easy to clean. Just make sure to empty it every other day or so.
    $52.00
  • Zkptops Wooden Plant Labels Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Zkptops
    Wooden Plant Labels

    Lindy

    Nothing is worse than planting your garden and realizing you forgot to label which variety was which! Most plant labels are plastic, but I love that these are wooden and you can throw them in the compost bin whenever you are finished with them. 

    The size of these are perfect for the average garden space and wide enough for a touch of personalization. You can personalize them simply with a marker. Or, since these are fairly large, you could draw a picture of whatever plant you're growing on them if you have a more artistic side.
    $9.99