First Harvest Kit
First time growing? Start here.
Ten seeds, nine will sprout. We replace the rest. Every stage has a guide. When something looks wrong, our troubleshooting library covers 90% of what comes up. If seeds don’t sprout within 30 days, we reship once. That’s not marketing. That’s the system.
What’s Included
| Variety | Count | Sprout Days | Harvest Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttercrunch Lettuce | 100 | 7-10 | 50 |
| Cherry Belle Radish | 50 | 4-6 | 25 |
| Bush Bean | 20 | 7-10 | 55 |
| Zucchini Black Beauty | 15 | 7-10 | 55 |
| Genovese Basil | 100 | 5-10 | 60 |
Also included:
- Planting card with timeline
- Access to 290+ growing guides
- Automated email reminders at each stage
- 30-day germination guarantee
The 4 Promises
🌱 90% germination rate — Tested per batch 📖 Complete growing guides — 290+ articles 🔁 30-day reshipment guarantee — Photo required, once per variety 📬 Automated email reminders — At key growth stages
Who It’s For
- You’ve never grown anything from seed before
- You have a balcony, windowsill, or small patio
- You want your kids to see where food comes from
- You want fast results (radishes in 25 days)
Who It’s Not For
- You want instant results (seeds take time)
- You want 1-on-1 growing support (we’re content-driven, not service-driven)
- You can’t spend 10 minutes a week on care
Your 60 Days
| Day | Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant | Sow lettuce, radish, basil |
| 4-6 | Sprout | Radishes appear |
| 7 | Plant | Sow beans, zucchini |
| 14 | Thin | Thin lettuce to 4 inches |
| 25 | Harvest | First radishes |
| 45 | Harvest | Lettuce, basil |
| 55 | Harvest | Beans, zucchini |
| 60 | Harvest | Cherry tomatoes |
We email you at every stage. No need to remember.
If It Fails
Seeds didn’t sprout? Reply to your order email with a photo. We reship once per variety within 30 days.
Plants died? Check our troubleshooting library. It covers 90% of common issues.
Something else? Email hello@zomae.com. We respond within 24 hours.
What Growers Say
“First time growing. Day 58, I picked 12 cherry tomatoes. I actually screamed.” — Sarah, Chicago
“The radishes sprouted in 4 days. My daughter checked the pot 14 times on day 1.” — Mike, London
“I killed basil 3 times before. This time it worked. The pruning guide was the difference.” — 小林, Shanghai
Common Questions
How much space do I need? 3-4 small pots for starting, then 5-gallon pots for tomatoes, zucchini, and beans. A 3x3 balcony is enough.
What if I only have a windowsill? Grow lettuce, radish, and basil. Skip beans and zucchini.
What soil do I need? Potting mix. Not garden soil.
Do I need fertilizer? Not for the first 4-6 weeks. After that, a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks.
Can I grow this indoors? Only with a grow light. Not recommended for beginners.
What if I’ve never grown anything? This is the kit for you.
Related Reading
- How to Grow Lettuce from Seed
- How to Grow Radishes in 25 Days
- Why Your Seeds Didn’t Sprout
- First Harvest Kit FAQ
- 5 Easiest Vegetables for Absolute Beginners
Learn as you grow
Everything behind this kit.
What you'll grow
- Buttercrunch Lettuce: The Beginner's Lettuce That Doesn't BoltButtercrunch is a butterhead lettuce with soft leaves and a mild, sweet flavor. It takes 55-65 days to mature and tolerates heat better than most lettuce.
- Bush Bean: The Bean That Doesn't Need a TrellisBush beans grow 18-24 inches tall and produce in 50-55 days. No trellis needed. They're the easiest bean for containers and small gardens.
- Cherry Belle Radish: 25 Days from Seed to PlateCherry Belle is a round, red radish that matures in 25 days. It's the fastest vegetable in most gardens and the best confidence-builder for beginners.
- Cherry Tomato: The Balcony Tomato That Produces All SummerCherry tomatoes are small, sweet, and prolific. They mature in 60-70 days and produce dozens of fruits per plant. The best tomato for containers and balconies.
- Cucumber: How to Grow It Vertically (and Avoid Bitterness)Cucumbers are vining plants that produce in 55-65 days. Grow them vertically to save space. Harvest at 6-8 inches to avoid bitterness.
- Danvers Carrot: The Carrot That Tolerates Heavy SoilDanvers carrots are 6-7 inch orange roots that mature in 70-80 days. They tolerate heavier soil better than most carrots and store well.
- Genovese Basil: Why It Dies and How to Keep It AliveGenovese basil is the classic Italian basil for pesto. It's easy to grow but easy to kill — usually from cold, overwatering, or not pruning.
- Kale: The Green That Gets Sweeter in ColdKale is a cold-hardy leafy green that matures in 55-65 days. Frost makes it sweeter. It's the most forgiving green for beginners.
- Spinach: The Cool-Season Green That Bolts in HeatSpinach is a cool-season leafy green that matures in 40-50 days. It bolts (goes to seed) above 75°F, so plant it in spring or fall.
- Zucchini Black Beauty: What to Expect (and How It Fails)Black Beauty zucchini is a classic dark green summer squash. It produces heavily in 50-55 days. One plant feeds a family — plant two and you'll be giving them away.
Growing guides for this kit
- Balcony Gardening for Absolute BeginnersA balcony garden needs 4-6 hours of sun, pots with drainage, and varieties suited to containers. Start with lettuce, radishes, and herbs — they're the most forgiving.
- How to Deal with Aphids Without ChemicalsControl aphids without chemicals using water spray, soapy water, neem oil, ladybugs, hand removal, or companion planting.
- Bottom Watering vs Top Watering: When to Use EachBottom watering keeps leaves dry and encourages deep roots. Top watering washes salt buildup and mimics rain.
- Why Your Basil Leaves Are Turning YellowYellow basil leaves come from overwatering, cold, nutrient deficiency, or downy mildew. Check soil moisture and temperature first.
- Companion Planting: What Works, What Doesn'tCompanion planting pairs plants that help each other. Basil with tomatoes, marigolds with everything. But some pairs compete.
- Container Size Chart for Every VegetableContainer size determines yield. Tomatoes need 5 gallons. Lettuce needs 6 inches depth. Here's the minimum for every common vegetable.
- Why Your Cucumbers Are BitterBitter cucumbers come from heat stress, inconsistent watering, or harvesting too late. Peel, salt, or soak to reduce bitterness.
- Why Your Seedlings Fell Over (Damping Off)Damping off is a fungal disease that kills seedlings at the soil line. It's caused by wet soil and poor airflow.
- Growing Food in 5 Hours of SunWith 5 hours of sun, grow leafy greens, herbs, radishes, and root vegetables. Fruiting plants like tomatoes need more or a grow light.
- Fertilizer for Beginners: What, When, HowFertilizer is plant vitamins, not food. Use liquid fertilizer at 1/4 strength for seedlings, full strength for established plants.
- Hardening Off: A 7-Day ScheduleHardening off acclimates indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. Skipping it causes sunscald and transplant shock.
- How to Harvest Lettuce So It Keeps GrowingHarvest lettuce by cutting outer leaves at the base, leaving the center intact. The plant regrows from the center for 4-6 weeks.
- How to Pollinate Tomatoes by HandHand-pollinate tomatoes by tapping flowers or using a small brush. Do it in the morning, when pollen is dry.
- What Is Heirloom vs Hybrid vs GMOHeirloom seeds are open-pollinated and 50+ years old. Hybrids are crosses of two varieties. GMOs are lab-modified.
- How Often to Water Seedlings (Not a Schedule)Water seedlings when the top inch of soil is dry. Not on a schedule. The finger test is the only reliable method.
- How to Grow Basil Indoors (and Keep It Alive)Basil grows indoors with 6+ hours of light and temperatures above 60°F. It's ready to harvest in 50-60 days. The main killers are cold and overwatering.
- How to Grow Bush Beans in ContainersBush beans grow 18-24 inches tall and produce in 50-55 days. Use an 8-inch deep pot, plant 4 inches apart, and harvest when pods are 4-6 inches.
- How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes on a BalconyCherry tomatoes grow well in 5-gallon pots on a balcony with 6-8 hours of sun. They mature in 60-70 days and produce dozens of fruits per plant.
- How to Grow Kale That Doesn't Taste BitterKale sprouts in 5-10 days and matures in 55-65 days. It doesn't bolt in heat and gets sweeter after frost. Harvest outer leaves for months.
- How to Grow Lettuce from Seed (Without It Bolting)Lettuce sprouts in 7-10 days and is ready to harvest in 45-60 days. Plant in cool weather, keep soil moist, and harvest outer leaves so the plant keeps producing.
- How to Grow Radishes in 25 Days (Day-by-Day)Radishes sprout in 4-6 days and mature in 25. Plant 1/4 inch deep, thin to 2 inches, keep soil moist, and harvest when the root pokes out of the soil.
- How to Grow Zucchini Without It Taking OverZucchini produces in 50-55 days and can grow 3 feet wide. Plant one per 5-gallon pot or 3 feet apart in ground. Harvest at 6-8 inches to keep production going.
- Why Your Seedlings Are Leggy (Tall and Thin)Leggy seedlings are caused by not enough light. Move to stronger light or add a grow light 2-4 inches above plants. Rotate pots daily.
- Why Your Lettuce Tastes BitterBitter lettuce is caused by heat, bolting, or inconsistent watering. Harvest in the morning and grow in cool weather for sweet lettuce.
- How to Prune Basil for More LeavesPrune basil above a leaf node to trigger two new stems. Pinch flower buds to keep leaves coming.
- Why Your Radishes Are All Leaf, No RootRadishes grow leaves but no root when they're too crowded, too hot, or have too much nitrogen. Thin to 2 inches and plant in cool weather.
- Why Your Seedlings Have Purple LeavesPurple seedling leaves usually mean cold stress or phosphorus deficiency. Move to 65-70°F and the purple fades in 1-2 weeks.
- How to Read a Seed PacketA seed packet tells you days to maturity, planting depth, spacing, sun requirements, and whether to start indoors.
- How to Save Seeds from Your GardenSave seeds from open-pollinated varieties only. Let fruit fully mature, dry seeds completely, and store cool and dry.
- How Deep to Plant Every Seed (Chart)The rule is 2-3 times the seed's diameter. Lettuce goes on the surface. Beans go 1 inch deep.
- How to Store Seeds Long-TermStore seeds cool (50-60°F), dark, and dry. Properly stored, most seeds last 3-5 years.
- Seed Starting Mix vs Potting Soil: Which to UseSeed starting mix is sterile and light for germination. Potting soil has nutrients for established plants.
- Why Your Soil Has White MoldWhite mold on soil is usually harmless saprophytic fungus. It signals wet soil and poor airflow.
- Why Your Seeds Didn't Sprout (Decision Tree)If your seeds haven't sprouted after 10 days, the cause is almost always one of 7 things. Use this decision tree to identify which one.
- What to Plant in Spring by ZoneSpring planting depends on your USDA zone and last frost date. Cool-season crops go out 4-6 weeks before last frost. Warm-season crops go out after.
- How to Test Old Seeds for ViabilityTest old seeds with the paper towel method: 10 seeds, damp towel, 7 days. 7+ sprouted = viable. 0-2 = dead.
- How to Thin Seedlings Without Killing ThemThin seedlings by snipping, not pulling. Wait until they have 2-3 sets of true leaves.
- The 30-Day Garden Plan (Fast Results)Radishes harvest in 25 days. Lettuce in 30. Here's a 30-day plan for gardeners who want to see results fast.
- Why Your Tomato Has Black Bottom (Blossom End Rot)Blossom end rot is a calcium deficiency caused by inconsistent watering. The fix is consistent moisture, not adding calcium.
- Why Your Tomato Leaves Are CurlingTomato leaf curl has 6 causes. Upward curl is usually heat or water stress. Downward curl is usually pests or disease.
- When to Transplant Seedlings OutsideTransplant when seedlings have 2-4 sets of true leaves, nights are above 50°F (tender) or 40°F (hardy), and you've hardened them off for 7-10 days.
- How to Read USDA Hardiness ZonesUSDA zones indicate the coldest winter temperature in your area. They help you choose perennials that survive winter, but not annuals or planting dates.
- Why Your Plants Have Tiny White SpotsWhite spots on plants are powdery mildew, spider mites, or sunscald. Texture tells you which.
- Why Your Plants Have Yellow Leaves (Diagnostic Chart)Yellow leaves have 6 causes. Old leaves yellowing = nitrogen. New leaves = iron. Wet soil = overwatering.
- Why Your Zucchini Flowers But No FruitZucchini flowers but no fruit when pollination fails. Hand-pollinate or wait for bees. High heat also causes flower drop.