Windowsill Planter: Lavender

The cherry tomato kit worked great for me and my toddler! We followed the directions pretty closely with a few exceptions. First, all of the eight seeds we planted ended up germinating. It took awhile to grow after germinating because the window we placed them in front of wasn’t directly south facing. Due to this, we ended up shifting the seedlings to pots outside eventually where they flourished. In terms of watering, while seedlings were indoors we did find that we needed to water less than recommended by the directions. I think this is due to the slight lack of sun and minimal air flow. Definitely pay attention to the moistness of the soil when deciding when and how much to water. After planting outside in full sun, the tomatoes did need more water. We ended up attempting to grow all of the seedlings. So, when the directions stated to remove a certain amount of seedlings, we just transferred them to a different pot. This meant we did buy a vegetable fertilizer to use with these plants since the kit only comes with fertilizer for one plant. Once transferring the plants outside in pots, they grew strong very quickly. A few of them did get eaten by animals while small but five ended up growing to maturity. Regarding the quality of the tomatoes, we just ate our first tomato and it was so flavorful! We picked it soon after it started turning color and finished the ripening process indoors. This worked wonderfully and it was one of the most flavorful tomatoes I’ve ever had. 100% would recommend this kit.

I set mine own DIY up before even seeing this was a thing lol. I highly suggest after reading all the bad reviews on these to just do it yourself! Mine are doing great now! The wilting stopped as soon as I made a cover out of a 2L bottle for them. My plants are now almost as tall as the bottle covers so I'll be transplanting all but one plant per container. I also started using gallon apple juice containers and 3.75" net pots cause those fit perfectly in the gallon and half gallon pickle jars. I just put a net pot upside-down on top of the apple juice container then trace around it with a marker then I use a razor blade and cut the top off the apple juice container so the net pots fit right inside. They work great! Plus it's food grade plastic so no need to worry there. They should last for years and are basically all free. For seeds I just take seeds out of store bought items which are also basically free! Save yourself a ton of money and just buy net pots and DIY. The gallon and half gallon pickle jars and apple juice containers I'm using also won't tip over nearly as easily! I did buy both of these items the tomatoes and peppers from Amazon only to be disappointed by the size of the jars and quality of the seeds. Sure they are bigger than normal Mason jars but so far the seeds provided haven't been producing anything but one plant out of the 10+ seeds I planted and I know my DIY aquaponics/ hydroponic system is obviously doing much better than just the soil like these are. So I say add some fish in the bottom and let your plants thrive! Obviously don't use any kind of growing chemicals if using fish! I'm using a bunch of Yellow Tiger Endlers as I have a huge abundance of them in my 8 aquariums I have going so just threw about 4 fish in each gallon container. I came up with the idea from my old Betta container I made about 20 years ago with the Peace Lilly on top of a vase with a Betta in the bottom back in the day when Citibank would allow those types of things on your desk at work lol. So far I'm extremely happy about the success I've been having with all my "free" grow your own food ideas over these store bought ones since I'm having much better luck with my DIY solutions. Not only with the quality of the seeds but also the size of the containers. Mine are bigger and won't tip over as easily along with won't have as many creepy crawly bugs cause I'm not using nearly as much soil and in some cases no soil at all now that I bought expanded clay balls also from Amazon. Oh and all the water I'm using on all my plants comes from my fish tanks. Hence the reason the front apple juice container water looks a little dark. I use a lot of botanicals in my tanks so the water always looks tinted yellow and I actually cleaned the bottom of one of my tanks while getting water for my new apple juice grow containers. Figured all the fish poo would be very beneficial to the plants so why waste good fertilizer!

This kit has given the most temperamental seedlings I’ve ever tried to sprout, but it’s for the same reasons that I have been so hesitant to grow strawberries in the first place as this is just one of the unfortunate cons of growing them; the seedlings are incredibly delicate and can even break from watering without a mist or direct soil absorption(pools of water have high surface tension and I’ve watched them rip off leaves and even break stems of the little babies) and dry out faster than the soil itself so just watering when it looks like it needs it isn’t enough but they don’t like their roots too soggy so you can’t over do the waterings. Aside from the ups and downs in the beginning, I have been able to keep up a very happy plant which I have named shortcake or shorty, depending on how you know him. His story is one that would put you to tears, his mother abandoned him thinking he was dead and in her grief began to care for new children in his home, some lovely wild flowers, but what didn’t kill him made him stronger. How could his mother just replace him, a beautiful strawberry plant that gives back the love given to it, with some flowers that just takes from everyone for their own vanity?? He wasn't having any of it so he hiked up his roots and grew tougher than all of his siblings, however it was never to be able to say he won the race against them but to take back the motherland in their honor. He kicked all of the new babies to the curb (all on his own mind you, his mother never had to do any pruning, just cleanup) and took up his position on his throne, honoring his brethren who had fallen before the Great Coir War. It has been many moons since the war and he was no longer that warrior, he has since settled down on his deserved land and decided he would produce offspring. He is still young and has just started trying for kids but he already has four children on the way with a few more coming soon, however it is a little difficult to know how large a family he will end up having as he has always preferred the community feel of a big family and enjoys the large opportunity for support and strength in them, but cold weather may hinder his ability to reproduce since he had spent most of his youth fighting for his land rather than settling down and having kids in summer like everyone else. He has not shown signs of slowing with change in temperature and has actually seemed to prefer the bright sunny cold windowsill over the bright sunny warm one it was a few months ago so I would definitely recommend experimenting with some sort of cold stratification as that may help the seedling stage go quicker and easier. UPDATE!! HE AND HIS CHILDREN ARE TAKING OVER! I kid you not I am hand pollinating (it helps with sweeter and bigger strawberries) at least 3-5 new flowers every other day and have had to create little tourniquets for the fruiting stems because of the weight of so much unripe fruit. I’ve noticed each fruiting stems usually tries to grow about 5 strawberries and I’ve got about 4 stems so far, not including the little flower spike that has yet to try to bud. The first strawberries from Shortcake were really alien looking because of the lopsided pollination so be sure to fully brush against all angles of the stigma of the flower if you are hand pollinating but if you have outdoor plants, then the bees will do that work for you. My biggest tip is to make sure they are always soggy footed. They are crazy easy to tell when they need water because the stems get really flaccid and the bush itself looks a little sparse but after an hour of watering, the plant perks itself back up very nicely.

First, I have to RAVE about this brand in general! They were founded in Oakland, CA to help combat urban food droughts/food scarcity and they donate a kit to needy areas each time you tag them w/ your purchase (so tag them! :D), but even more importantly, each of these jar kits (the tomatoes and pepper plants--had both) come with EVERYTHING (and then some) that you need to grow a plant from seed to produce all on your windowsill/near a growing light source! The instructions and steps are easy enough for kids 7+ to do on their own and even younger kids can manage w/ supervision (my 3 year old was able to follow all of the super easy directions just fine!). Great for teaching kids about responsibility prior to committing to a pet or teaching about the life cycle/ where food comes from. Ours (this year) sprouted up in less than a week (I think 3-4 days, tops) and have already been thinned down to our final selection (though honestly I planted the other sprouts into different containers w/ externally-purchased dirt because who doesn't love copious amounts of tomatoes??). Includes 2 fertilizer spikes and some of the best product support I've ever encountered in the gardening industry, hands down! If you're wanting to get into some gardening but have never tried or are looking for a SUPER low-maintenance project, look no further than Back to the Roots! (they also have an oyster mushroom kit we haven't opened yet, that looks super promising!) Cannot rave about this brand enough--seriously, between their STELLAR products (including counter-top hydroponic kits) and their amazing plants (the seeds ALWAYS sprout and they give EXTRA!), as well as their super accessible approach, you really can't go wrong with Back to the Roots (no, I wasn't paid/compensated in any capacity--I just really fkn love this brand!!!!!!! I've already reached out about becoming a brand ambassador teehee!) Hope this helps!

I believe I posted an initial first review when I received the package and showed everything it came with. We are now at about 3 months later .. upon receiving the Grow Kit I was throughly impressed with the amount it came with. The soil was of excellent condition and I could tell it was healthy, nutrient packed soil. Seeds were packaged nicely with extra seeds. And then the directions, fertilizer spikes everything was good to go. I planted seeds, followed directions and left in my window seal that gets sun throughout the whole day. Watered it according to directions. First picture you see is when it started sprouting and was a little thing. Fast forward to the second picture 3 months later .. I have been documenting with pictures for the last 3 months of Bernie (the plants name) to track his growth. Well, at first I wasn’t concerned I knew it would take awhile to produce tomatoes. But after 3 months he has gotten no bigger. His growth has been extremely slow and I feel now he’s just stuck at where he’s at. I moved him outside, when it was still warmer to see if it helped. He had grown but not much. I put him under our grow lights with our other plants that have thrived with the light. So I know the light is effective or at least it isn’t damaging to plants. I decided to go ahead and put the fertilizer spike in, my last hope that something would happen.. nothing. Now I do have other seeds but it’s now getting colder and I don’t think it’ll do great next to a drafty window and definitely not outside once we get colder days. We’re not far from lower temperatures or I’d try again with new seeds. I got this to grow with my one year old son. I wanted to teach him and give him the experience and anticipation of watching something grow and then producing tomatoes. We both love tomatoes. I’m disappointed, I couldn’t wait to harvest them. And because the kit itself is so cute and functional, low maintenance and you’re producing a small amount of tomatoes that won’t go to waste. The box says it’s pretty much a guarantee for these to grow. And I don’t doubt that, even after this experience but I’m wondering if something was faulty or got “bad seeds.” It’s hard to tell, because I followed the directions strictly. And I don’t want to give up on Bernie, he’s not dead but he’s not growing accurately. I don’t mind that it’s been 3 months but his growth should be to the point of at least blooming flowers and preparing for the final step of his life. I think there’s lots are amazing, great for beginners, kids, teachers who want to do growing lessons. It makes the process simple, easy and affordable. I’ll try again someday .. most likely when it warms up again and we have constant sunlight. I gave 4 stars because I feel like the company stands behind their product. I didn’t ask for a refund or replacement it’s probably way too late for that. Other reviews show no issues. It didn’t have a ton of negative experiences from what I read. Maybe I’ll reach out to the company and see what they say

Everything came, and I was excited. Heard from gardener friend that it doesn’t work in a jar but I was willing to try as I have limited room, complete newbie and love tomatoes! Since I received so many seeds I grabbed 3 of my own quart masons and leftover soil (which was a mix from whatever was laying around). I planted the seeds into the jar and soil that were part of the kit and did likewise with my own jars and soil and placed the lids on and into my small plastic greenhouse. They all sprouted and it went well…I thought. All 4 jars were lined up on the same shelf, facing the same way but the jar and soil I got in the kit seemed to be growing very very slow. After awhile the 3 mason jars I had thrown together were too big for the greenhouse, but the one from the kit had barely grown. Picture shows comparisons of growth. These were treated the exact same way, had same Sun, same water, same fertilizer, etc. The only difference was the shape of the jar and the soil. So I love the kit idea and even how it was packaged and arrived and I really love that my gardener friend is getting excited as well but something is up with the soil or maybe the jar shape. I’m considering moving the plant into another of my jars. Mine are beating tomatoes now and I am enjoying this tour of set up. The experiment continues.

So far so good. The little greens have already started to grow and everything seems to be doing well. The kit is easy to use and comes with clear instructions. I’m happy with the progress so far, but I’ll have to update later once the plants are bigger and I can see how well they actually produce tomatoes. For now, everything looks healthy and promising.

The shipping bag was open although the drivers picture doesn’t show this . There is no way he missed the chunks of rattling glass and soil spilling out of the box . It literally looks like someone smashed it with a hammer. I’ve tried to fish out the remaining glass but some pieces are small and no doubt slivers are still left in the soil. And when I contacted Amazon I am informed ….And this is the best part…… ITS NOT REFUNDABLE or REPLACEABLE!!! WTF @backtotheroots & @amazon surely u don’t need my donation of 14.99 to your multi billion dollar company and @backtoroots a quick google search estimated ur revenue at 14 million last year . Maybe u should invest in better glass containers or shipping boxes . Or just do return . im gonna go out on a limb here (get it) and say have to DO BETTER ! You should do better. Just DO BETTER Why should people have to scream on twitter or be in the phone with customer support for hours wasting their time because ur product can’t handle a ride in the Amazon delivery van . I’m sure this isn’t the first time u have heard of the glass breaking . The box says “no green thumb -no problem” Right cuz after separation the glass and soil it will be dripping with blood BIG DISAPPOINTMENT