I really don’t have much of a green thumb. Growing up, my parents’ and grandparents’ gardens were teeming with fresh fruit and veggies of all kinds. It’s difficult for me to eat cucumbers these days because there was nothing quite like noshing them straight from the garden, rinsed with the hose and dressed with a touch of salt (everything else pales in comparison). The plants I’m really good at growing are the ones that thrive from neglect (I currently have a little cactus with about 10 flowers, and my fig tree that sat dormant outside all winter sprouted new leaves last week — success!).
But although that green thumb came naturally to my dad and grandparents, it’s not something that magically evolved overnight. It took decades for them to become experts, and my dad is still learning with each growing season. This is now my fifth year planting a garden, but it’s my third using Vego raised beds and other garden supplies, and they’ve been an absolute game-changer. Read on for my experience with the brand and how Vego can help you on your gardening journey, too.
What Is Vego?
I didn’t know much about Vego Garden before I wrote our spring gardening guide. Ben Pauly, the master gardener at Woodstock Inn & Resort, explained that the brand’s raised beds are customizable, efficient and damn good-looking. They’re made using eco-friendly metal, which is cheaper and has a longer lifespan than wood (and doesn’t require cutting down trees).
The modular systems mean you can adapt the beds to fit your space and alter them depending on your needs. For example, last year I assembled the 17″ Tall 10 In 1 Modular Raised Garden Bed without four of the panels. But after a successful growing season last year, I’m going to expand the bed by adding those four panels to the structure.
Finally, Vego really loves gardeners and giving back. They’ve worked to sponsor numerous non-profit farms around the country by providing them free raised garden beds.
Assembly and Use
I’m not a handy person, but putting together the Vego Raised Garden Bed last year was actually a pleasure. My husband and I spent an hour in the backyard quietly assembling, and we both noted how nice and relaxing it was, nothing like trying to decipher a difficult Ikea instruction booklet. Seriously, anyone can put these things together, and it’s not a tedious chore.
Before I got a Vego garden bed, I was using felt buckets to grow produce. Last year, I filled the Vego but also used some of these buckets, so as not to overcrowd the garden bed. Everything in the Vego thrived — I’m talking Ichiban eggplants and plump jalapeños that I couldn’t harvest fast enough. Not all of the buckets did poorly, but the plants were one-third to half the size of what was growing in the Vego, and the fruiting yield didn’t even compare.
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Everything you need to get started
Seed Starting, Made Tidy
We’ve been starting plants from seed in my house for the last two seasons. It’s super rewarding, but it also takes up a lot of space and makes a mess. After two years of using the top of my dog’s crate and giving up special space on my bookshelf, I was over it. Luckily, Vego’s new 2-Tier Grow Light Garden swooped in to save the day. This handsome little cart is sleek, designed with edged shelves to catch any water or dirt that may escape the plant trays. Full-spectrum white LED lights mimic the sun, and I can say my plants have been loving them.
An Elevated Bed for Easier Gardening
I’m still young and fairly flexible, but even I’m not immune to getting a sore back from stooping low for too long. That’s why this year, I added a Vego Elevated Garden Bed to the mix (now I have two classic series raised beds and one elevated bed). I opted for the 2’ x 6’ configuration in olive green, which perfectly complements the British green and terra cotta beds I had at the start of the season. It’s a really nice size that fits six to eight plants, and the built-in storage rack is a perfect place to store things like extra soil and tomato stakes. I have no need for the wheels because mine is sitting on soft earth, but it’s an excellent detail if yours would be placed on concrete or another smooth surface.
Add-Ons and Nice-to-Have Accessories
I’ve had really bad luck growing tomatoes in my New York City backyard. But with Vego’s Self-Watering Rolling Tomato Planter Pot With Trellis, I was finally able to grow my favorite summer crop. I had a ton of cherry tomatoes last year, and I’m trying regular-sized guys this year to see if it works just as well for them.
Vego sent me their Garden Bag last year, and I can’t tell you how handy it is. I keep all of my tools in the convenient exterior pockets, and it’s equipped with an interior hook so you can easily hang it on the side of the garden bed. It also has a waterproof interior and molded bottom so it stands on its own without tipping over.
Completely New to Gardening? Vego Can Still Help.
Maybe all you have is a fire escape to work with or don’t want to spend a ton of money the first time you garden (yes, it can be expensive to get set up). Vego has a bed for that. The brand’s Small Garden Collection means you can try your hand at herbs, berries, a single pepper plant or even flowers without making a full-on commitment. Wherever you are in your gardening journey, Vego can help.
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