On this page, you’ll find all of the gardening gear you see on my TikTok channel, along with lists of some of my favourite suppliers for seeds, raised beds, polytunnel bits, and all sorts of other gardening equipment.
Note: this page is not sponsored – all the items below are things I own, and have purchased myself – but some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small amount of commission from sales.
Raised beds, planters and arches
Raised bed gardens can be a great choice for a number of reasons. They are a simple way to amend your growing space if you are gardening on hard or paved ground, or your ground is full of mature roots. Raising crops up can make gardening easier if you have mobility issues, and can help crops to get a bit more sun in shady areas. Plus…they are pretty!
You can find all of the raised beds, planters and arches I use in my Amazon store.
If the budget won’t stretch to a raised bed – and mine often hasn’t, as you will see from my collection of mismatched beds and planters – then consider using wooden edging roll to build beds. It comes in many heights, lasts for years, and is very easy to install. It is quite often cheaper at your local garden centre. It also means your bed can be any shape that you like.
Polytunnel and accessories
There are lots of different types of polytunnels (over many price ranges). If you’re looking to have something sizeable built, try looking at a professional heavy duty company like First Tunnels.
You can do a lot with a mid-priced polytunnel and I believe mine was money well spent. I got mine from Crocodile Trading via Amazon – it is the 6m x 3m option and gives me a good amount of growing space. It has lasted for four years so far, and the only repairs required have been due to animal damage on the cover.
If you’re curious about the benefits of polytunnel gardening, you can find out more about what I grow and why I chose a polytunnel in my article on getting started.
Seed starting and storage
You can start seeds in anything that will hold compost and has drainage holes. A yoghurt pot covered in a bit of cling film will work, as will a tupperware pot with a lid and drainage holes. Plastic milk cartons make great plant pots if you cut the tops off (a bit of duct tape around the edges will smooth out any sharpness).
Buying a seed propagator (a place to start seeds) is more about convenience. It can also help as you start to scale up and grow larger amounts of crops.
My favourite propagator is from Marshall’s Garden. It’s their full seed starting kit, and is fantastic for all kinds of windowsill growing – I have two and both have lasted well.
If you’re looking to extend your growing season and get things going earlier, a propagator with grow lights is ideal. I have this kit from Amazon and love how simple and low cost it is.
When it comes to seed storage, I’ve tried everything from a big random box full of seed packets (not recommended) to making my own cardboard contraptions with dividers, but nothing is as useful or smart-looking as this storage kit from Zuvo. However you choose to store your seeds, make sure it’s somewhere cool and dark. I keep my box in the cupboard under my stairs as it is unheated.
When it comes to sourcing seeds, plants and bulbs, I felt this needed its own page! There are loads of great places to buy seeds in the UK, but these are some of my personal favourites and I’ve had great results from them all.
Compost and natural fertilisers
If you were to ask me where I spend the most money for gardening, I will always tell you the same thing: compost. I have a compost heap but am unable to produce the amount that I need, which is normal for those of us with domestic gardens. The more you grow, the more compost you’ll need, especially in the early years as you put in new beds and large pots.
In the interests of being honest: I am still very much on a journey when it comes to finding the best peat-free compost. At the moment, my go-to is spent mushroom compost, which I get delivered in bulk from Mr Muck. This way, it is at least a recycled product. If you only need a few bags then this will not be your cheapest option. Spent mushroom compost is best used on garden beds; for seedlings, I use a multipurpose compost.
As for good peat free compost: I will continue to try them out, and all recommendations are greatly received! I would encourage you to seek out recommendations from gardener friends and at garden centres. The industry is changing and developing all the time.
Feeding your plants with natural fertilisers makes a big difference to their health and the size of your harvests. I add manure or blood, fish and bone to beds when I put in new plants, then use a liquid feed like seaweed throughout the season. There are lots of ways to save money here. You may be able to source manure from friends with allotments or farms, and you can make liquid feed yourself using nettles, comfrey or horsetail (if you can stand the smell!).