Grow a Garden
The 2026 Grow a Garden order form opens Monday, February 2, 2026, and closes when we run out.
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
GARDENING WITHIN REACH*
Our goal is to increase access to gardening for all!
For many, growing food feels like a privilege—too expensive, too complicated, or just too far out of reach. DUG’s Grow a Garden program removes those barriers with ready-to-grow kits that include seeds, seedlings, and guidance. One of DUG’s longest programs, Grow a Garden has been around since 1997 for Denverites who want to grow their own fresh & healthy food.
Offered on a pay-what-you-can model, this program helps thousands of Coloradans turn a patch of land—or even a few pots—into nourishment, savings, and self-reliance.
How to Participate:
Select a Grow a Garden Kit From the Options Below
Seeds and seedlings for the program are sourced locally and Organic, when possible. Please note that some substitutions may be necessary, so the kit you order may differ slightly from the kit contents shown below.
To increase the size of this program to serve more Denver families, custom orders are no longer available for individual households. Please come to DUG’s annual Plant Sale on Mother’s Day weekend for individual varieties. We still offer custom orders for large groups, especially classrooms and human services organizations. Please email [email protected] to design a custom order for a large group (3 or more kits).
All Garden Kits come with a Organic Growing Guide that includes sample layouts for planting.
NOTE: The kits below are updated for the 2026 season, but may vary
Salsa Garden Kit
This kit grows a bold mix of heat, sweetness, and freshness you’ll reach for all season long. Use these crops for salsas, sauces, toppings, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, eggs, tacos, and more—or preserve the harvest through freezing and canning to enjoy later in the year. Designed to offer variety and balance, this kit supports both everyday cooking and longer-term food preservation.
SEEDLINGS: 4 Marigold, 2 San Marzano Tomato, 2 Jalapeño Pepper, 2 Toma Verde Tomatillo, 2 Habanero Hot Pepper
SEED PACKETS: 1 Cilantro, 1 Corn, 1 Valencia Onion, 1 Summer Squash
Pizza Garden Kit
This garden goes beyond pizza night. With classic, versatile vegetables and herbs, this kit supports fresh eating, roasting, grilling, and simple meals all summer long. Grow ingredients for pasta, salads, sandwiches, veggie trays, and sauces while exploring how a few staple crops can anchor many different meals.
SEEDLINGS: 4 Marigold, 2 San Marzano Tomato, 2 Genovese Basil, 2 Sweet Bell Pepper, 2 Black Beauty Eggplant
SEED PACKETS: 1 Bush Bean, 1 Corn, 1 Arugula, 1 Summer Squash
Epic Salad Garden Kit
Designed for early and continuous harvesting, this kit provides a diverse mix of leafy greens, roots, and fruiting crops, supporting fresh meals over several weeks. Use these plants for salads, sautés, wraps, smoothies, and simple sides, with plenty of opportunities to harvest throughout the season.
SEEDLINGS: 6 Buttercrunch Lettuce, 4 Violas, 2 Vates Kale, 2 Slicing Cucumber, 2 Sweet 100 Tomato
SEED PACKETS: 1 Bunching Onion, 1 Spinach, 1 Beet, 1 Carrot
Fry & Ferment Garden Kit
This kit focuses on crops that store well, preserve beautifully, and extend your harvest beyond the growing season. Ideal for fermenting, pickling, roasting, and cooking fresh, these plants support fall and winter meals while offering plenty of fresh options during the summer.
SEEDLINGS: 4 Dahlia, 2 Collard Green, 2 Walla Walla Onion, 2 Golden Acre Cabbage, 1 Brandywine Tomato, 1 Dill
SEED PACKETS: 1 Delicata Squash, 1 Bean, 1 Carrot, 1 Beet
Stir Fry Garden Kit
Designed for fast-growing, high-use vegetables, this kit supports quick meals, batch cooking, and everyday cooking staples. These crops are well-suited for stir-fries, sautés, noodle dishes, grain bowls, and fresh eating, with flavors that mix easily with a wide range of cuisines and sauces.
SEEDLINGS: 4 Violas, 2 Broccoli, 2 Asian Delite Eggplant, 2 Red Thai Pepper, 2 Shishito Pepper
SEED PACKETS: 1 Tatsoi, 1 Snow Pea, 1 Carrot, 1 Thai Basil
Select your preferred pick-up location
We partner with several local organizations (plus the DUG office) to meet our participants in the areas where they work and live. Check out the map to find a Grow a Garden pick-up location near you.
The distribution week for all Grow a Garden Kits happens in mid-May. All kits must be picked up during this timeframe.
Pay what you can with our sliding-scale pricing
In order to make the program accessible to all, participants choose what they can afford to pay using our sliding scale as a guide. Please choose what’s right for you to pay, including $0.
2025 Community Impact
17,500
Seedlings Distributed
83,550
Pounds of Projected Food Produced
18,504
Community Members Served
69
Kits Received at No Cost
28
Years in Operation
2,000
Kits Distributed
88
Total Low-Income Participation
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When do I pick up my kit(s)?
Distribution week is typically the second or third week in May. Each distribution center determines its own pickup dates and hours. The exact pick up hours for each center will be announced in early May and sent via text and email to all community members who ordered a kit.
When does the order form open?
The order form opens every year on February 1st, or the first business day in February if February 1 falls on a weekend or workday closure.
Is language support available for languages other than Spanish and English?
Yes! The program website and order form are available in English and Spanish, but DUG is committed to serving all members of our community. Please reach out to [email protected] for additional language requests.
How do I place a group order?
Group orders are available through a custom order form accessible only by emailing [email protected] to determine eligibility and logistics.
Where do I pick up my kit(s)?
The name and address of your distribution center is listed in the confirmation email you received when you ordered a kit. The name and address of your distribution center will also be emailed and texted to you in early May using the phone number and email you used on the order form.
The distribution center map is located on the main Grow a Garden website.
How do I know what I ordered?
Your kit types are listed in the confirmation email you received when you ordered a kit, and the contents of each kit type are listed on the main Grow a Garden website.
If you cannot find your confirmation email, please ask [email protected] to resend it to you.
Are the kits the same as last year?
The kits may vary year to year as we make the program better and incorporate community feedback. Whenever possible, we try to use plant varieties with higher success rates and higher yields to support novice gardeners and maximize food production. To explore this year’s kits, visit the Grow a Garden website.
Can I substitute things in my kit for other things I want more?
No! In order to serve more families, DUG uses a fixed kit system. The contents of the kits cannot be customized, but distribution centers typically have extra plants leftover at the end of distribution week.
How can I get a kit if I did not already reserve one?
All distribution sites have walk-up kits available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Select a distribution center near you and visit at the start of their pick-up hours early in the week to try to get a walk-up kit. Availability is very limited, and a walk-up kit inventory is not guaranteed.
The distribution center map is located on the main Grow a Garden website
How can I get some of the extra plants at the distribution centers?
The distribution sites all typically have extra plants leftover at the end of the distribution week. Make a plan by identifying the distribution center nearest you and visit at the end of their pickup hours.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
With special thanks to this year’s Grow a Garden sponsors, DaVita Kidney Care and CSU Spur.
”I have been struggling with my mental health and it has really helped me connect to the community around me. It was also very fulfilling to gift vegetables to friends, family and back to the community.
Grow a Garden Participant
Grow in Community With Us
Develop your gardening skills throughout the year by exploring our Organic Growing Guide, a comprehensive guide to gardening in the Denver metro area. From learning how to harden off your seedlings to diving into season extension techniques, we’ll support your growing journey from start to finish.
