Home Veggie Garden Guide

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By JaNae Haycock

I love Fiskers brand tools. They never break or bend. The only problem is that my kids steal them to dig in the sandbox and then I can't find them anywhere! This set comes with a trowel, a spade, and a cultivator. The trowel is wide and it's great for scooping dirt and soil amendments. The spade, also called a transplanter, is the thinner shovel. It works well to dig narrow, deep holes and to dig up plants that need to be moved to another location. The cultivator, or hand rake, is the perfect size to use in small spaces to loosen up soil.

These handy pruners are perfect for light duty gardening. They are very sharp and comfortable to grip. I use them to snip herbs, lettuce and other vegetables when ready to harvest, to remove damaged leaves, and to cut back plants that are overgrown. With a lifetime warranty, you've got nothing to loose. I've used another Fiskars Pruner for over 10 years and it still works perfectly.

If you start seeds indoors and you are tired of using cell trays and peat pots, give soil blocking a try! I have found that seeds started in soil blocks grow stronger roots that are less susceptible to transplant shock. The Ladbrooke soil blocker's thick metal does not bend and it washes off easily after use. Check out their micro blocker too which is great for starting small seeds. After a seed sprouts, pop the micro block into a mini block for continued growth.

These trays are awesome! They are truly an essential item if you are starting seeds indoors. I can fit 36 two inch soil blocks comfortably in one tray with just the right amount of space in between them. The trays are also great for holding plants I've potted up to 4", 6", or gallon size containers. The sturdy plastic does not bend or bulge when loaded with heavy plants. This is something that I appreciate when I am hauling plants outside and inside daily while hardening off. They are built for years of use.

We've been through a lot of kids gardening gloves at my house, but these are by far my favorite. They are easy to put on (a game changer if you have small children), easy to clean, and they come in 3 sizes so you can find the perfect fit for those little fingers. Vgo's adorable gloves keep your kiddo's hands clean and protected.

As I have shared my love of gardening with my children over the years, we bought countless sets of garden tools for small hands, but they never lasted very long. That all changed when I bought this hand tool set from Ikea for my daughter five years ago. It is perfect for kids. I was skeptical of the plastic, but there has been no bending, cracking, or rusting, and no handles falling off. Plus, there are no sharp metal edges that could hurt your child, You'll never need to buy another set...unless it gets lost!

In Denver, the growing season is short and it's not uncommon to get a snow storm in May or September. Row covers providing frost protection have been essential to my backyard veggie garden success. They allow me to plant earlier in the spring and harvest well past those early fall frosts. They also protect young seedlings from insects, wind, and hail. Agribon has a variety of sizes and grades to choose from that can provide 2-8 degrees of frost protection.

I use these clips to fasten row covers to my hoops. They are easy to snap on and off, which is great since I often take the covers off in the daytime and put them back up at night in the spirng and fall. These clips don't tear the fabric like some other clips that I have used. Make sure you check the diameter of your hoops and get clips that are the right size for a perfect fit.

This local garden center, located in Centennial, Colorado is a gem! I shop here when I need the best selection of plants and helpful employees. I love that they provide a 1-year warranty on perennials, trees, and shrubs. Just return the failed plant with the receipt and receive in-store credit for the price paid for the item. Tagawa also offers classes and family activities throughout the year.