Gardening is only work if you make it! Maybe it’s because I’m an elder-millennial, but I am totally fine with scoping out the latest gardening gadgets. Sure, I’ve wasted plenty of dough testing out silly things that were either useless, or could have been made as a DIY for a lot less, but what’s the fun in that? I like to travel both routes until I find something truly special.

And let me tell you, I didn’t save the best for last on this list, I’m going to kick off with my very favorite gardening gadget of all time.

1. Lomi’s Countertop Composter

Want to compost last night’s dinner overnight and have it ready by morning? That’s what Lomi does and I’m totally in love with it. It makes turning kitchen scraps into compost the easiest thing ever. Just fill to the designated line with table scraps, eggs, chopped-up paper, coffee grinds, even meat, and Lomi dehydrates it and turns it into compost. You can use their tablets as well that activate important bacteria in the soil to break it down, but I find it works fine without using them too, unless you’re breaking down compostable plasticwear. In states like Vermont where composting is required by law, it’s a no-brainer!

2. Zip Ties / Garden Ties

Anyone with a trellis needs garden zip ties and Twist Ties or Lever Loops. Having these will allow you to keep stems together, and bind vines to trellises. The twist ties are great for just about everything, but the Lever Loops are easier to remove at the end of the season (and more expensive).

3. Weed Fabric

In Preventing Weeds in Your Garden, I reviewed a whole bunch of different solutions for preventing weeds, starting with the paper and burlap, which break down. I had tried weed paper, which I hated. It was infused with fertilizer, which sounded nice, but it was hard to put down and really looked terrible in the garden, and the bed where I used it, well, the plants aren’t doing so hot so the fertilizer either murdered them or didn’t do anything. I went through tests of burlap, black plastic sheeting, and traditional weed cover with little porous holes, and ultimately that’s what I ended up using on my beds. The plastic sheeting performed the best, and I’d use that from fall to spring as a general cover, but it obviously just collects water, so you need something porous if you’re planning to plant with it.  I like the ECOGardener weed fabric, because it’s made to let air and water through so that it will preserve the soil. I know not everybody likes the idea of hot plastic sitting on the soil of their edibles, and in that case, I say go with a roll of burlap. It won’t prevent weeds from coming up, but it’ll prevent new seeds from getting in.

4. Smart Pot Fabric Grow Bags

I did a deep dive on grow bags in How to Start Gardening with Grow Bags for Vegetables and Fruits and the Smart Pot Fabric Grow Bags are the grow bags I used. They’ve been incredibly durable and retain water a lot better than I expected. When it comes to grow bags, it’s not worth it to cheap out, and this brand does a great job.

5. Bloem Hanging Garden Planter Kit

I’ve used a lot of hanging planters, but I love the Bloem Hanging Garden Planter Kit, which I’ve used season after season in my vertical outdoor garden. It collects water so that the plants stay hydrated longer, but also has holes on the side so that if you over-water, your plants won’t get root-rot.

6. Gardyn Vertical Hydroponic Garden

I can’t say enough about the Gardyn. It’s the best investment I’ve ever made. Not just for the produce I get all winter long, but also for the joy I get from gardening throughout the winter. This year I tried strawberries and it was so fun to watch them grow, and then harvest them in February!

7. Bucket Boss

I can’t say enough about the Bucket Boss; I use it every single day. It turns any ol’ 5-gallon bucket into a tidy plant tool organizer.  My husband uses his for tools, but I use it for all my pruning and weeding supplies. I also keep my zip ties and plant ties in this bucket. Small shovels, watering bottles, plant labels, gloves, hand rakes, and more can all fit around the inside and outside perimeter of the bucket, and you can also use the inner well to hold any larger items like a watering can, Neem oil, or a small bag of potting mix.

8. Herb Scissors

Herb scissors are a must-have in the kitchen. Sure, you can chop herbs, but it’s time consuming and frankly a little annoying. I love herb scissors like these because they make quick work of it, and when I’m cooking, that’s what I like! I like this set because it comes with a set of blade cleaners, and I’ve definitely cut myself many times trying to wipe excess herbs off with my bare hands.

9. Ball Mason Jars

Ball jars are good for absolutely everything in the garden. Whether you’re making a new salad dressing and need an easy shaker, or you’re storing a big jar of strawberries, making an infused vodka, or preserving tomato sauce and pickles, Ball jars will come in handy. Personally I like:

• 4oz Ball mason jars with screw-top cap for spices and a dinner-sized portion of quick salad dressing.
• 8oz Ball mason jars for jellies and sliced pickles, pickled onions, or radishes, that you’re giving out as gifts.
• 16oz Ball mason jars for pickling cucumbers, carrots, green beans, and everything in between.
• 64oz Ball mason jars for infusing vodka and other spirits, or large batches of pickling or storing grains.

10. Infusion Jars

Infusion jars and bottles for spirits and oils are so fun. These are ones I’ve used before. I also love the Crew bottles, but they are often sold out.

Honorable Gardening Gadget Mentions

Those are the ten food gardening gadgets that I covered in the video, but I have a few bonus items to share with you:

Microgreens Kit / Green Onion Kit

Cheaper and easier than a hydroponic garden, a microgreens kit is awesome for the kitchen! You can use microgreens as a garnish, or grow green onions in them if you get the Hamama microgreens kit, which I reviewed in Growing Microgreens: Kits vs. DIY. I love mine and almost always have something growing in it.

Melon / Squash Cradles

Anybody who grows melons, squash, and pumpkins will happily take on more melon/squash cradles. They’re usually sold in packs of six, but that’s never enough, so even if you know someone who has some, they could probably use more. These are the ones I use, though I’m sure they’re all pretty much the same.

Rapid Soil Test Kit

Every gardener tests their soil in the spring (and sometimes the fall) so we can all benefit from the gift of perfect pH. They sell all types of tests but I suggest the Luster Leaf® Rapitest Soil Test Kit, which tests for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash.

That just about wraps up my list, though I could go on and on about all the gardening gadgets I like to try out.

Now it’s your turn, share with me the gardening gadgets that you’ve adopted and enjoy (or better yet, the ones we shouldn’t waste our money on!).

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