Pot Gang

Pot Gang: monthly growing kits for home gardens

Pot Gang is a British company founded during the 2020 lockdown that sells monthly subscription boxes with everything needed to grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs at home. Each box includes seasonal seeds, pots, peat-free compost, and growing guides, plus personalised support via WhatsApp. The company has shipped over 250,000 boxes and has 100,000 growers, according to its own figures.

What each box includes

The contents of each monthly shipment are designed so that the user doesn't have to do any prior preparation: just plant and grow. The main components are:

• Seasonal seeds: three types of fruit, vegetable, or herb seeds selected according to the time of year. The company says the varieties change each month; for example, in spring it includes heirloom tomatoes, cucamelons, lemon chillies, cucumbers, honeycomb tomatoes, strawberries, mint, oregano, and basil; in summer, courgettes, potatoes, squash, carrots, lettuce, French beans, radishes, and salads; in autumn, mushrooms, garlic, spring onions, shallots, broad beans, peas, rocket, chard, and cumin; and in winter, chillies, red peppers, golden courgettes, aubergines, potatoes, thyme, parsley, and chives.
• Pots: the right size for each seed to grow fully. The company offers the option to add saucers to catch excess water.
• Compost: peat-free growing medium made from repurposed coconut fibres and enriched with nutrients.
• Growing guides: detailed, clear instructions, different from those usually included on conventional seed packets. The company also publishes recipes and tutorial videos on its channels.
• WhatsApp support: personalised assistance through "The Potline", where subscribers can ask questions at any time. Tom, the Gang Manager, answers queries.

Growing calendar and varieties

The boxes are planned according to a seasonal calendar that the company details on its website. In addition to the varieties already mentioned, the calendar planned for the coming months includes:

• October: Italian broad beans, British peas, and Chinese red mustard.
• November: Provençal garlic, Brittany shallots, and fenugreek.
• December: Tabasco chillies, purple peppers, and giant parsley.
• January: potatoes, sweet snacking peppers, and orange balm.
• February: red cherry tomatoes, physalis, and dill.
• March: sweetcorn, cucumbers, and lavender.
• April: dark cherry tomatoes, beetroot, and Mexican tarragon.
• May: Roman courgettes, rainbow carrots, and sage.
• June: French beans, cavolo nero, and lemon balm.
• July: broccoli, French breakfast radishes, and mixed oriental leaves.
• August: winter spinach, Japanese turnips, and white spring onions.

How the subscription works

The service works in three steps: the subscriber receives a monthly box with all the materials; follows the step-by-step guides to plant the seeds in the pots; and finally harvests their own fruit, vegetables, and herbs. The company offers the option to pause, skip, or cancel the subscription at any time. In addition to the monthly subscription, it sells gift subscriptions (with upfront payment and a discount) and one-off boxes at full price. The stated price for the monthly box is £24.99, with an option including saucers for £29.75.

Awards and media coverage

Pot Gang claims to have been recognised as "Best Gardening Box" by The Sunday Times and to have appeared on BBC News, Sky News, and Radio 4. It also presents itself as an "Independent British Business" founded during lockdown. The company has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 1,081 reviews, according to the data shown on its website.

Target audience and philosophy

The service is aimed at people with no previous gardening experience who want to grow their own food. The boxes are described as "beginner-friendly" and require no preparation. The company emphasises the absence of technical jargon and the simplicity of the process. Customer testimonials on the website highlight the clarity of the instructions, the support received via WhatsApp, and the satisfaction of obtaining their own harvests.