Before You Plant
The Basics (applies to every kit)
Soil
Most of what's in your kit isn't picky about soil, but it will reward you for starting right.
- Best option: a raised bed or garden bed filled with a 50/50 mix of quality topsoil and compost (or a bagged "raised bed mix" — many garden centers and big box stores sell this pre-blended).
- Where to find it: local garden centers, Lowe's/Home Depot garden section, or a local landscape supply yard (often cheaper in bulk if you need a full bed's worth).
- In-ground planting: work compost into your existing soil about 6-8" deep before planting. If your soil is heavy clay, raised beds or amended beds will perform much better than planting straight into the ground.
- Containers: use a bagged potting mix (not garden soil, which is too heavy for containers) — look for one labeled for "raised beds" or "containers."
Sunlight
Nearly everything in these kits wants full sun (6-8 hours) of direct light daily. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with fewer blooms. Pick your sunniest spot!
Watering
- Water deeply but less often rather than a little every day. This trains roots to grow deep and strong.
- Aim for about 1 inch of water per week (rain included). A finger test works well: stick your finger 1-2" into the soil — if it's dry, water. If you get serious about this gardening thing, a moisture meter is a handy tool to grab.
- Water at the base of the plant, not overhead, when possible… wet foliage overnight can invite disease. We recommend watering early in the morning or late afternoon, when it’s cooled down outside a bit.
- Newly planted seeds/seedlings need consistent light moisture until they germinate — don't let the top inch dry out during this stage.
Weeding
- Weed weekly while plants are small… Weeds compete hardest with your seedlings in the first few weeks.
- A layer of mulch (straw, shredded leaves, or bagged mulch) after seedlings are a few inches tall cuts weeding time dramatically and helps retain moisture.
- Once your plants fill in and get bushy, they'll shade out most new weeds on their own.