Gift AlmanacA directory of good gifts

Gardening gifts under 25

Gifts under 25 in your currency (A$, £ or US$): small, useful and easy to post.

26 gift ideas here, each with a real shop for your country where we've found one.

Vegetable seed gift collection

In Veggie & fruit growers

A box or tin of easy vegetable seeds is the classic gift for a food grower. Seeds can't be posted across borders, so pick the shop for your country.

Seed-starting gift kit

In Veggie & fruit growers

Seeds, little pots and instructions in one box, so they can start a crop on the kitchen windowsill.

Self-watering seed starter

In Veggie & fruit growers

A tray that waters seedlings from below, so they don't dry out if the grower forgets for a day.

The home-preserving "bible"

In Veggie & fruit growers

For the grower with too many tomatoes. 400 recipes for jams, pickles, sauces and safe canning, from the makers of Ball jars.

A grow-your-own guide written for their climate

In Veggie & fruit growers

Growing advice only works if it suits the local seasons, so pick the book written for your country.

Blueberry bushes

In Veggie & fruit growers

Blueberries crop well in a big pot, so they suit small gardens too. Planting two varieties together usually gives a better harvest.

Raspberry canes

In Veggie & fruit growers

A row of raspberry canes gives fruit for years. An autumn-fruiting variety is the easiest for a beginner to prune.

Thornless blackberry

In Veggie & fruit growers

All the blackberries, none of the scratches. Grows happily on a fence or trellis.

An apple tree

In Veggie & fruit growers

A classic gift that marks a birth, a wedding or a new home, and keeps giving every autumn.

Garden planner and log book

In Veggie & fruit growers

Somewhere to record what was sown where and when, so next year's garden is better than this year's.

A first good trowel

In New gardeners

The one tool every gardener uses daily. A sturdy trowel beats a cheap boxed set that bends.

Self-watering jar grow kit

In New gardeners

A small, almost foolproof first project that sits on a windowsill. Good for children too.

Garden kneeler

In New gardeners

A cushioned pad that saves knees from damp, stony ground. Cheap, light and used every time they weed.

Good gardening gloves

In New gardeners

Gloves that fit properly make every job nicer. A gift that's always needed, because gloves wear out.

An easy-care houseplant

In New gardeners

Tough, low-light-tolerant plants that forgive forgetful watering, so they build a new plant parent's confidence.

Everyday bypass secateurs

In Heirloom tools & tool lovers

A well-made pair for cutting flowers and pruning shrubs, at a price that doesn't make losing them in the compost a tragedy.

Heart-shaped stainless trowel

In Heirloom tools & tool lovers

A pointed, heart-shaped blade slices into soil easily, and stainless steel doesn't rust. Pretty enough to give.

Tool sharpener

In Heirloom tools & tool lovers

Sharp tools cut cleanly and are easier on hands. A small stocking-filler that keeps good tools good.

Personalised trowel

In Heirloom tools & tool lovers

An engraved name or message turns a good trowel into a keepsake.

Ergonomic trowel

In Easy-reach gardening

A curved, padded grip that spreads the load across the palm instead of the wrist.

Ceramic indoor planter

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

A good-looking pot is the easiest way to make a plant feel like a gift. Choose one a little wider than their current pot.

Orchid repotting kit

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

Orchids need a special airy mix and a clear pot to thrive. This is the kit to rescue a supermarket orchid.

Orchid fertiliser

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

Regular gentle feeding is what gets an orchid to flower again. A small, useful add-on gift.

Indoor watering can

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

A small can with a narrow spout gets water to the soil, not the leaves or the windowsill.

Plant mister

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

A fine mist for ferns, orchids and other plants that like humidity.

Plant stand

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

Lifts a plant off the floor into the light, and makes a small plant look like a feature.