Tools and Gear Every Vegetable Gardener Needs
Updated: Apr. 23, 2023Whether you're a master gardener or looking to start your first vegetable garden, there are plenty of tools that will make gardening tasks easier. Here are 11 items every vegetable gardener should have to grow a bumper crop.
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Soil Test Kit
Get the most out of your garden’s soil with a soil test kit. The easy-to-use kit will let you know whether you need to amend your soil’s pH levels and the level of 14 nutrients in the soil. This information can help guide you as you make sure your soil is just right for growing vegetables.
Six-Piece Garden Tool Set
A great tool kit for every vegetable gardener, this six-piece tool set includes a trowel, five-tooth and nine-tooth rake, double hoe, cultivator and weeder. The comfortable handles will help cut down on hand and arm fatigue while you’re working.
Twist Tiller
This heavy-duty twist tiller is 38 inches tall with a step plate to give you plenty of leverage when breaking into hard, compacted soil. Use the tiller in hard-to-reach areas and for mixing fertilizer or other amendments when you’re preparing your vegetable garden soil for spring planting. When starting a new garden or working with a large space, renting a power garden tiller is another option.
Gardening Gloves with Fingertips
Get a grip on those weeds with these gloves with fingertips. The fingertips also come in handy when it’s time to plant seeds—allowing you to get them in just the right spot. “I’m one to dig right into the mud with my hands because I don’t like how restrictive tools are. Plus, I’m always afraid of damaging roots when I’m transplanting. With these I can feel what’s going on in the dirt around me, but keep my hands clean and nails intact,” said one reviewer.
Scuffle Hoe
This scuffle hoe with a 6-inch wide triangle head made from high-grade tempered steel will make quick work of weeding. It’s also great for planting, shaping the soil, digging, and any other essential garden tasks. The shape of the head and the 60-inch handle gives it the ability to go anywhere you need it to go.
Harvest Basket
Get ready for harvest time with this harvest basket, made from hardwood with handles crafted from the branches of downed trees and underbrush from a farm in North Carolina. The basket is strong enough to hold heavy vegetables like squash and potatoes, and when it gets dirty you can just hose it off. The basket can also double as a picnic basket, extra kitchen storage or to keep vegetables in a root cellar.
Hand Weeder
Perfect for smaller weeding tasks, this hand weeder will help you remove the weeds at the root without disturbing the plants around them. The soft, contoured handle keeps strain off hands and wrists, and the die cast aluminum blade won’t bend or break.
Pruner Shears
These pruner shears will help you clean up all those squash, cucumber and melon plants at the end of the season. The soft rubber hand grip helps absorb pressure and the coated blades will slide through vines with no problem.
Tool Sharpener
Sharp tools make any project so much easier, so make sure your vegetable garden tools are ready for the job with this garden tool sharpener. It sharpens blades on shears, hoes and shovels—no oil or stones necessary. And, it can be cleaned in the dishwasher!
Garden Kneeler
Give your knees and back a break with this garden kneeler bench stool. It provides plenty of support and is easy to fold and carry with you. This garden kneeler also doubles as a seat with a quick adjustment, and the tool bags on the side keep your equipment handy.
Compost Tumbler
Perfect for those with a backyard vegetable garden, this 37-gallon compost tumbler has two chambers and will help you get compost from your kitchen scraps in as little as two weeks. It has adjustable air vents to help the compost breathe and a steel frame, making it a durable choice for long-term use.
