From Seed Bundles to Raised Beds: Seven Ways to Start a Garden with Botanical Interests

Gardening starts with a decision about space: a backyard bed, a balcony, a sunny windowsill or a patio full of containers. Botanical Interests is a seed company whose official store has grown into a full garden shop, with seeds and seed bundles, seed shakers, seed-starting gear, raised beds, planters and live plants. This guide picks seven of its main products, one per product line, explains what each is designed for and sets out the details Botanical Interests lists, so you can compare them side by side.

It suits first-time growers choosing a starter set, container and small-space gardeners, and anyone planning a raised bed or indoor seed starting. It does not provide independent test results: we have not hands-on tested these products, so everything below comes from Botanical Interests' official product pages and is described as the brand's claim.

At a glance

• The Beginner's Garden Seed Bundle: 11 seed varieties for first-timers
• Precious Pollinators Seed Shaker: flower mix covering about 800 square feet
• Epic Grow Light with Tray: countertop LED seed-starting light
• Round Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit: 29-inch tall steel bed
• GreenStalk 5-Tier Vertical Planter: up to 30 plants in 2 square feet
• Epic Grow Bags, Lined: fabric grow bags with a liner and irrigation strip
• Grin and Tonic Reblooming Hydrangea: compact flowering shrub

The Beginner's Garden Seed Bundle

A seed bundle takes the guesswork out of choosing what to plant. Botanical Interests describes The Beginner's Garden Seed Bundle as a starting point of tried-and-true varieties that are easy to grow, forgiving for first-timers and rewarding to harvest, whether you have a few containers or a full backyard bed. The mix covers greens, vegetables, herbs and flowers.

The bundle includes 11 varieties: Blue Lake 274 bush beans, Danvers 126 carrots, Early Jalapeño chile pepper, Emerald Delight summer squash, Farmer's Market Blend mesclun lettuce, Gardener's Delight pole cherry tomato, Italian Genovese basil, Marketmore cucumber, Lacinato Dinosaur kale, Lilliput zinnia and Zohar sunflower. Several of the packets are certified organic.

It comes in themed packaging and is positioned as a gift as well as a starter set.

Key details (Botanical Interests):

• Contents: 11 seed varieties (vegetables, herbs and flowers)
• Organic: several included packets are labeled organic
• Positioned for: first-time gardeners, containers or beds, gifts

Best for: new gardeners who want an easy mix and a clear plan.

Precious Pollinators Seed Shaker

Seed shakers are Botanical Interests' answer to scattering seed over a larger area. The Precious Pollinators shaker is a flower mix designed to provide food and nectar for a range of pollinators, including insects, butterflies and moths. It combines annual and perennial flowers and herbs of varying heights and bloom times, many native to North America.

The mix includes smooth aster, borage, cosmos, dill, lance-leaved coreopsis, lemon bee balm, Naughty Marietta marigold, milkweed, phacelia, purple coneflower, red clover, scarlet sage, Queen mix sunflower and California Giant zinnia. The shaker covers approximately 800 square feet, comes in a 100% recyclable tube and has no shaker top by design, which Botanical Interests says prevents clumping and blockages.

Key details (Botanical Interests):

• Coverage: approximately 800 square feet
• Packaging: 100% recyclable tube, without a shaker top
• Mix: annual and perennial flowers and herbs, many native to North America

Best for: gardeners who want to seed a large or informal area for pollinators.

Epic Grow Light with Tray

Starting seeds indoors gives you a head start on the season, and light is the usual limit on a windowsill. The Epic Grow Light with Tray is a countertop LED light designed for seed starting and early plant growth. Botanical Interests says it aims for quicker germination, sturdier seedlings and less leggy growth without a high energy bill.

A built-in watertight bottom tray makes watering mess-free and holds up to twelve 6-cell trays or eight 4-cell trays. The light is described as delivering even light across the tray, so seedlings at the edges grow as well as those in the center. The height is adjustable, so you can start close to the seeds and raise it as seedlings grow, and a built-in timer sets the daily light period. The low-profile design is meant to fit on a countertop.

Key details (Botanical Interests):

• Capacity: up to twelve 6-cell trays or eight 4-cell trays
• Controls: adjustable height, built-in timer
• Tray: watertight, built in

Best for: gardeners who start seeds indoors and want a simple, countertop setup.

Round Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit

Raised beds improve drainage and make gardening easier on your back. The Round Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit is a 29-inch tall steel bed, which Botanical Interests says reduces the need to bend over and suits gardeners with limited mobility or back pain, as well as urban and suburban gardens.

It is built from Aluzinc steel with stainless steel hardware, and Botanical Interests says the structure is built to last more than 20 years. The paint is described as non-toxic and USDA-approved, and the bed is called 100% food-safe. It is available in four colors: Deep Ocean, Mist Green, Light Clay and Slate Grey. Assembly needs only a Phillips head screwdriver.

The kit is tagged nonreturnable on the store, so check dimensions and your layout before ordering.

Key details (Botanical Interests):

• Height: 29 inches, round shape (kit of 5 pieces)
• Material: Aluzinc steel with stainless steel hardware
• Colors: Deep Ocean, Mist Green, Light Clay, Slate Grey
• Assembly: Phillips head screwdriver only

Best for: gardeners who want a tall, durable bed for vegetables, herbs or flowers.

GreenStalk 5-Tier Vertical Planter

For patios and balconies, going vertical is the main way to grow more. The GreenStalk 5-Tier Vertical Planter stacks five planting tiers so you can grow up to 30 plants in just 2 square feet, according to Botanical Interests. It is a soil-based system with a patented watering design: you fill a top reservoir, and water distributes down through the tiers.

The 10-inch deep pockets hold herbs, leafy greens, strawberries, peppers, flowers and even root vegetables. Botanical Interests says it is made in East Tennessee from food-grade, UV-resistant plastic that is BPA, BPS and PVC-free, and backed by a 5-year warranty. A fully planted system weighs about 150 lbs, which helps keep it from tipping in the breeze. A spinning base is sold separately.

Key details (Botanical Interests):

• Capacity: up to 30 plants in 2 square feet
• Pockets: 10 inches deep, five tiers
• Material: food-grade UV-resistant plastic; 5-year warranty
• Weight: about 150 lbs fully planted

Best for: small patios and balconies where floor space is limited.

Epic Grow Bags, Lined

Fabric grow bags are a flexible alternative to hard pots. Botanical Interests describes its lined bags as BPA-free and suited to small spaces, with a liner system that lets soil retain moisture while still encouraging air pruning, which creates a denser, more fibrous root ball. That makes them useful through hot, dry summers.

The bag and liner are UV-treated for long-term use, and each bag has a retaining strip to keep drip lines organized and a built-in irrigation strip. Botanical Interests says the bags are much thicker than average and recommends 5-gallon sizes for lettuce and herbs, and larger 15-gallon sizes for peppers, eggplant and tomatoes. They can also be used where soil is poor, weeds are heavy or drainage is lacking.

Key details (Botanical Interests):

• Design: lined fabric bag with air pruning and moisture retention
• Sizes: 5-gallon for lettuce and herbs, 15-gallon for larger crops
• Details: UV-treated bag and liner, drip line retaining strip

Best for: container gardeners, renters and anyone growing on hard ground or poor soil.

Grin and Tonic Reblooming Hydrangea

Botanical Interests also sells live plants, and the Grin and Tonic is a representative one: a compact reblooming hydrangea that the store describes as a repeat performer. Its lime green flowers turn white, appear in spring and rebloom into fall.

The store describes it as low maintenance and adaptable to sun or shade, and its compact size suits small gardens and containers. The product listing gives a growing zone of 5–9 outdoors and a bloom time from spring to fall. Botanical Interests notes this plant cannot be shipped to California.

Key details (Botanical Interests):

• Type: flowering shrub, Hydrangea macrophylla
• Growing zone: 5–9 outdoors
• Bloom time: spring to fall; lime green flowers that turn white
• Shipping: cannot be shipped to California

Best for: small gardens and containers that need long-lasting color.

How to choose between them

Start with the space you have, then the way you like to grow.

These pieces combine well: a grow light starts seedlings from the bundle, which then move into a raised bed, grow bags or a vertical planter. The shaker and the hydrangea suit the ornamental side of the garden.

Things to know before buying

1. Know your zone and dates. Seeds and plants have planting windows and hardiness zones. Check them against your location.
2. Check shipping limits. Some live plants cannot ship to certain states, such as California for the hydrangea.
3. Measure your space. Raised beds and vertical planters are sizable, and a planted GreenStalk weighs about 150 lbs. Plan the spot before you order.
4. Read the return terms. The raised bed kit is tagged nonreturnable on the store, so confirm size and color first.
5. Organic labels are per packet. The bundle includes both organic and non-organic varieties, so read the packet labels.
6. Brand claims are the brand's. Lifespan, food-safety and performance statements come from Botanical Interests. Use them to compare products.
7. Prices and stock change. Check the store for current price, colors, sizes and availability.

Questions readers ask