Thanks so much for stopping by! If you are here, I’m assuming that you attended my Seed Starting & Garden Prep 101 Workshop. Thanks so much to the AKARAMA Foundation, Inc. for having me again!
The full presentation will be added in a few days, until then, here are some useful links…
My Communities
Chicagoland Veggies & Vines Squad 🍅🍇- Gardening & Hydroponics (Kris’s new Chicago area gardening group). Join this one to connect with people in your immediate answer! While the group is online, we may occasionally plan in-person trainings, events, garden crawls, and more. We cover indoor hydroponics, outdoor gardening, and everything related. Get recommendations and tips on all things gardening in Chicago like which plants, products, and more work in our area. Share your pretty garden pics, successes, and failures.
AeroGarden, Kratky and Gardening Fanatics (Kris’s larger gardening group). This international group is now over 20,000 strong! It covers indoor hydroponics, outdoor gardening, and everything related. Join to get your questions answered, get gardening advice on what, how, and when. Get recommendations on which systems to buy, or just share your pretty pics.
The Preservatory – (Kris’s preserving group) – Join here to learn what to do with your indoor and outdoor garden harvests! We cover preserving techniques and recipes including canning, dehydrating, freeze drying, fermenting, and more.
Other Useful Links
How to Start Outdoor Garden Seeds in your AeroGarden – This is my guide on how to use your AeroGardens or similar hydroponic units to start your outdoor garden seeds. This is a great time and space saver!
Kris’s YouTube – YouTube is a wealth of gardening info! My channel is LittleTechGirl’s Digital Homestead. There are so many other great gardeners! Almost too many to name. I am always finding someone new. Just jump on and search “gardening”, “Chicago gardening”, Zone 6a gardening” or whatever you are curious about.
Products Mentioned in the Workshop
The below includes my affiliate links. If you use these links to purchase, I make a small commission. I appreciate the support!
These are just a few highlights. For a full list of all of my affiliate partnerships and discounts please see my Affiliate Links and Promotions page.
Kris’s Favorite Seed Starting Products
These are just a few options. Of course you can get what works best for you.
Building Your Seed Starting Area for around $125-130 – While not exactly part of my favorite products, these are the products that I found on Amazon that will get you started. The great part is most products are durable and reusable with care. And the seed packs are stuffed and will last you for a long time.
Now on to my favorites…
AeroGarden Harvest Lite + Seed Starting System – This is a great choice for starting seeds. And when you are not seed starting you can use the regular deck to grow out lettuce, herbs, micro dwarf tomatoes or small peppers. The seed starring deck allows you to grow 23 seeds for your outdoor garden. This model seed starting deck fits on the regular Harvest, Harvest Elite, Harvest Lite, and Harvest 2.0. It does not fit the Harvest XL. You can see other AeroGarden products on the Amazon AeroGarden store.
LetPot Seed Starter – These are great all-in-one countertop seed starting units! I now have 2. Just like the AeroGarden, using this saves space and eliminates the need to buy an additional grow light in the early stages of your seedlings. It will fit right on your countertop or table.
- Start 40 seeds at once, 80 if you double up
- Option to use biodegradable peat sponges, or soil
- Built-in 24w full-spectrum grow light
- Built-in EC & temp meter (but you do not have to use it)
- Built-in heat mat that automatically adjusts
- (optional) WiFi and app controlled
- Includes humidity dome w/ vent
- One time investment
- Fits right on the counter or table
GreenStalk Seed Starter Kit with Domes – These have large cells that make it very easy to grow and remove seedlings. The kit comes with bottom tray, seed cells, and domes.
- Carrier tray includes a comfortable handle for quick transportation
- Includes air-pruning slots for healthy root development
- Use the trays to drain or allow water to collect as needed
- After seed starting, use the Carrier for convenient harvesting and pruning
- Made from high-quality, food-grade, UV-resistant, BPA, BPS & PVC-free plastic
Park Seed Bio Dome – These are one of my favorite seed starting tools. They are durable, clean, and seeds sprout fast. The biodegradable sponges are enriched to get your seeds off to a fast start. And you can plant them right in your garden. I prefer the 60-cell. And bonus… the same sponges fit right in AeroGarden or similar units, so be sure to order extra Bio Dome sponges (only the 60-cell ones fit). They do often go on sale. Or you can use my code LITTLETECHGIRL15 to save an extra 15% off your order.
Bootstrap Farmer – These will be some of the strongest, most durable seed starting supplies that you can find. I actually put my cell trays and pots right in my dishwasher. If you do this, be sure to turn off heated dry. Another bonus is that they come in lots of gorgeous colors. I have 1020 trays, inserts, cell trays, and nursery pots.
Vego Garden – These are incredible quality!! They put the same love and attention into their indoor products that they put into their outdoor products. The trays are super strong, and will last forever.
Of course if you are not feeling comfortable starting your own seeds just yet, you can buy seedlings from a local nursery, hardware store, or big box store. There is nothing wrong with that. However, starting from seed is usually more economical and you get a larger variety.
Raised Beds & Planters
GreenStalk Vertical Garden – Vertical planters perfect for patios, decks, balconies, and gardens. Use code LTG10 to save $10 off your order of $75 or more. I now have several! If you would like more informaition or to see them in action check out this post of all my greenstalk links in one place.
Vego Garden – Great selection of raised beds for your garden. Use code LITTLETECHGIRL10OFF to save $10 off your order. I have several of their raised beds and accessories. You cannot go wrong.
Organic Pest Insecticides
Unfortunately, pests do happen in the garden. But there is no reason to let them eat all of your hard work. You can treat for them organically. You can also cover things like your greens to keep them off.
BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) – For worms and caterpillars
Sluggo Plus – For snails, slugs, pill bugs, and more
Neem Oil (100% Cold Pressed) – For a variety of pests. Great addition to an all-in-one mix.
Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew – For a variety of pests.
SOIL TIP: You will need to invest in soil over and over again when gardening outdoors. Beds and containers settle, so may need soil added in the next season. Do not ever throw out your soil!
Put a note on your calendar to check local stores like Walmart, Home Depot, Menards, Lowe’s and other places that sell soil at the end of the season at around Aug – Sept, and again in winter. During this time these stores often put potting mix and garden soil on sale for almost nothing. Over the past few years I have stocked up for $1-5 per bag.
Feel free to reach out for more information.