Gift AlmanacA directory of good gifts

Mother's Day gifts for gardeners

Gardening gifts for Mum. Note that Mother's Day falls on different dates in Australia, the UK and the US.

21 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.

Raised vegetable bed

In Veggie & fruit growers

A bed on legs or with a cover means less bending, fewer slugs and possums, and a tidy patch even on a patio. A big gift that's often shared between family.

Harvest basket or trug

In Veggie & fruit growers

Something sturdy to carry the crop in. A mesh hod lets them rinse the mud off outside, before it reaches the kitchen sink.

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.

Trowel and fork set

In New gardeners

The two hand tools a new gardener needs first, for planting and loosening soil.

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.

Bulb collection

In New gardeners

Bulbs are about the easiest flowers there are, so they're ideal for a beginner. Check the season in your country before you buy.

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.

Haws watering can

In Heirloom tools & tool lovers

Haws have made watering cans in England since 1886. The long spout and fine brass rose give a gentle, even shower.

Personalised trowel

In Heirloom tools & tool lovers

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

Easy-grip tools with arm-support handles

In Easy-reach gardening

The handles sit at right angles to the blade, keeping the wrist straight. Designed for people with arthritis or weak grip.

Kneeler that flips into a seat

In Easy-reach gardening

Kneel on the padded side or flip it over to sit, with handles to help push yourself back up. One of the shop's long-time best-sellers.

Waist-high planter on legs

In Easy-reach gardening

A planter at a comfortable working height (the Vegepod stand raises the bed to 80cm), so there's far less kneeling or bending. Good for patios and balconies too.

Houseplant gift box

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

Plants sent in a gift box with wrapping and a card, so it arrives ready to give.

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.

A flowering orchid

In Houseplant & orchid lovers

A moth orchid in flower lasts for weeks, far longer than cut flowers.