10 best 'gardenfluencers' to follow for beginners
The world of gardening can be an overwhelming place for beginners. Gardening involves learning about climate, soil, local pests, and the seasons, plus the perpetual mystery of exactly how much water your plants need.
If you're feeling stumped, not to worry, because these gardening pros have got you covered like mulch on a flower bed. These influencers will nurture your gardening dreams and help you grow into a gardening expert.
These "gardenfluencers," if you will, make the cut because their content caters to gardeners just starting out. (I mean this account is amazing, but a massive dahlia farm is not exactly for beginners.) We also kept it strictly to outdoor gardening. While there are some amazing people to follow for growing houseplants like @houseplantclub, @greene.piece, and @hiltoncarter we had to draw the line somewhere.
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Marcus Bridgewater (@gardenmarcus)
Garden Marcus will brighten up your social media feed with his positivity. Considered the Bob Ross of gardening, Bridgewater often uses gardening as a way to teach life lessons like his post about planting plants too close to each other: "We need to nurture each other’s roots and respect our companion’s space."
Humans Who Grow Food (@humanswhogrowfood)
Think of it as Humans of New York, but for gardeners all over the world. Each post features a different person, their location, and a mini profile about their gardening story. It may be the inspirational content you need to start planting things you can eat.
Jasmine Jefferson (@blackgirlswithgardens)
Jasmine Jefferson founded Black Girls With Gardens to provide inspiration, tips, and resources for black women and women of color. And if you're just starting out, Jefferson has you covered with courses, information on where to buy organic seeds, and black-owned plant shops to support.
Christina Chung (@fluentgarden)
Christina Chung is the horticulturist behind Fluent Garden, a garden coaching business. From videos about saving seeds to what to avoid during a heatwave, Chung's Instagram is filled with helpful and relatable tips.
Nick Cutsumpas (@farmernick)
Cutsumpas is another plant coach and self-described "plantrepreneur," which essentially means that he teaches people about planting, gardening, and living a more sustainable lifestyle. His deep knowledge of gardening and teaching abilities make him a must-follow for any beginner gardener.
Kevin Espiritu (@epicgardening)
Kevin Espiritu started Epic Gardening back in 2011 when he became frustrated by the lack of good online gardening info. And now, through his website and social media, Espiritu shares a cornucopia of information about everything from urban gardening to caring for indoor houseplants.
Allison Vallin Kostovick (@finchandfolly)
Finch and Folly embodies the rewards of investing in a self-sustaining ecosystem. Not just gardening, Kostovick posts about herbs, recipes, crafting, and birdwatching all sourced from her organic garden in Maine.
Fanny Liao (@fansinthegarden)
Sometimes the most inspiring people are the ones that learn as they go. That's what makes Fanny Liao's @fansinthegarden great. Whether it's celebrating a successful harvest of tomatoes or lamenting a watermelon that didn't make it, she brings her followers along for every step of the ride.
Lee Sullivan (@urbanveggiepatch)
Sullivan said starting her own urban garden a year after she had her first child "saved [her] in a way" and helped her rediscover herself. Her story was posted on @humanswhogrowfood, and since then, she's continued to inspire people with her determination, useful tips, and relatable approach.
Kyle Hagerty (@urbanfarmstead)
Scrolling through Hagerty's Instagram is like entering a millennial utopia. It's filled with content in which produce is always artfully arranged, and Hagerty and his wife Morgan are perpetually joyful as they tend their lush urban garden. But brand aesthetics aside, @urbanfarmstead is a genuinely great resource for gardening and eating sustainably.
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
