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PlowBox Subscription Review + Coupon – Fall 2017

Christen Russo
ByChristen RussoNov 2, 2017 | 8 comments

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

PlowBox
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PlowBox is a gardening subscription that sends you certified organic, non-GMO seeds from Seattle Seed Co., specific to your region’s climate.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

This review is of the PlowBox Classic, $45 a quarter, box. The climate we chose was Mild.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

The Subscription Box: PlowBox

The Cost: $45 a quarter for PlowBox Classic or $14.95 a month for PlowBox Green. Save with longer pre-paid subscriptions.

COUPON: Use code TRYPLOWBOX to save 20% off your first PlowBox Classic box!

The Products: 5-10 packs of certified organic, non-GMO seeds, planting instructions, and other products related to gardening and/or a healthy lifestyle.

Ships to: The US for free and Canada for $25

Check out the Eco Subscription Box Directory and make sure to add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

As soon as I opened the box, a waft of the most beautiful lavender scent filled the air. I swear my eyes sparkled. It was amazing! Laying neatly on top of the contents was a clear, frosted envelope displaying the box’s season. The tidy first impression made the box feel packaged with care.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

Included in the envelope are a recipe and some notes about caring for each of the seeds in your box.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

The recipe is for Parmesan Crusted Broccoli. Yum! Here’s hoping my broccoli grows well so I can put this recipe to use with my own harvest!

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

This folded sheet of paper helpfully grades the difficulty level for growing each type of vegetable (Beginner, Intermediate, or Difficult). Only Beginner and Intermediate seeds are included in this box, which is a relief for me, as I’ve only ever grown herbs before. It also includes notes regarding how hardy each plant is and how much light and water each need. I definitely feel as though the folks at Seattle Seed Co. have put care into ensuring subscribers feel prepared going into planting their seeds!

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

“Because” Blank Greeting Card - Value $6.00? (Buy a similar card on Seattle Seed Co.’s site)

I’m loving this fun card! I often send snail mail to my friends who live in other states, so this “just because” card will certainly be put to good use.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

Reusable Cotton Produce Bag - Value $12.95

This cotton muslin produce bag was designed and printed in the USA and is exclusive to Seattle Seed Co. It’s awesome quality! I have been working to reduce the amount of plastic I use in my day-to-day, so this is of great value to me.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

It’s similar to a reusable grocery bag, but it has drawstrings. This will provide a welcome change from my current practice of tossing produce loose in the same bag with all my other groceries.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

I thought I’d fill this bag up with some of the produce I have in my house to see how much it can fit. Here, it’s holding 2 yellow onions, 2 avocados, a lemon, and a lime, and there’s still space for more.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

Lavender Water - Value $7.95

Aha, so this is what sent that blissful scent through the room! This bottle of lavender water holds 4 fl. oz. of pure distilled water, oil of lavandula angustifolia, and a little witch hazel (this info isn’t printed on the bottle, but it’s on Seattle Seed Co.’s website).

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

It’s marketed as being a hydrating face and pillow mist. Fittingly, the scent is subtle, but noticeable. I’m all about it!

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

Buttercrunch Lettuce Seeds - Value $3.25

Kale Seeds - Value $3.25

Arugula Seeds - Value $3.25

Spinach Seeds - Value $3.25

Carrot Seeds - Value $3.25

Broccoli Seeds - Value $3.25

Basil Seeds - Value $3.25

I’m really excited about this season’s seeds. Looks like I’ll be enjoying lots of homegrown salads soon!

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

On the back of each seed packet is information about the vegetable at hand and planting directions including where and when to plant, how to plant, how to thin or transplant, and “remarks,” which are just extra notes. This struck me as odd: every single packet advises to plant the seeds in the Spring. Seeing that these seeds arrived in August for me, I’m worried that I won’t end up having enough summertime left to watch my veggies to mature.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

Here’s the back of the broccoli packet as an example. As you can see, it’s stickered with an indication that the seeds were packed for this year and that they’re Certified Organic by Washington State Dept. of Agriculture. It also says that the seeds should be planted indoors and transplanted outdoors after all danger of frost is past, which had me nervous for a minute, until I realized that broccoli can also be planted in the fall and harvested in the spring. Unfortunately, the same isn’t true of the other vegetables included in this box, but I think since greens can be harvested and eaten at any point in their maturity, I’m hoping I’ll have time to enjoy some before it gets too chilly.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

The only packet with differing info on the back is the carrot one. Rather than giving directions, it provides a little planting guide for the climate I chose, mild. You can see here that the info listed includes vegetable type, when to plant it, how deep to plant the seeds, how far apart to space the seeds, and how many days it will take for the vegetable to mature. Not all the vegetables whose seeds were included in the box are represented on this chart, but it’s still an interesting reference.

PlowBox Fall 2017 Eco-Friendly Subscription Box

Per the recommendation on the back of my seed packets, I planted my seeds in smaller containers and set near my sunniest window, to be transplanted in my garden bed in a few weeks.

UPDATE:

So, nearly a month later, how are my seeds doing? I'm happy to report that they're coming along beautifully! Just days after planting them in small containers and leaving them in my windowsill, the first signs of sprouting started to show up. I couldn't believe the near-instant gratification! After two weeks, I transplanted the sprouts into my garden bed. This week, the salad greens really are starting to show signs of maturity and become identifiable by their leaves. I'm hoping to make a few salads using my greens in the next week or so before the first frost comes along!
The carrots and broccoli are looking a little less successful; they're definitely growing alongside the other plants, but I'm doubtful that I'll be able to harvest them before it's too cold for them to survive. Regardless, I'm very satisfied with the outcome of my seedlings so far!

Verdict: Well, if it wasn’t already evident from my comments above, I am completely and utterly stoked on PlowBox! The out-of-box experience is really nicely curated; I got the distinct vibe that whoever packed this box did it with joy. I also feel prepared to go into growing my first garden with all the information Seattle Seed Co. provided. As for the value? The items in this box add up to $49.65, which is higher than the price of the box, so needless to say, it’s a great deal. Stay tuned—I’ll follow up to let you know how my seeds are progressing.

What are your thoughts on the PlowBox offerings?

Starting at $45.00
Active Deal
Save 20% off your first PlowBox Classic box!
Use Coupon Code TRYPLOWBOX
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PlowBox is a subscription box for gardeners - both seasoned and newbies! 4 times per year, our seed experts send out seasonally-appropriate, climate-specific, organic garden seeds, planting instructions and fun, expert advice. We help you understand when, where, and how to grow your seeds so that th... read more.
Christen Russo
Christen Russo

Hi there, I'm Christen. I am all sorts of things:

🌳 a writer who loves to convey feeling

🌲 a mother who wants to have just as much fun as my kids do

🌳 an outdoors-lover who's achieved #1000hoursoutside with my family

🌲 a low-maintenance self-carer

🌳 a general hungry person with an unstoppable sweet tooth

You'll find me collecting stationery and squirreling away stickers, riding bikes and swimming with my family, creating outfits in colors and silhouettes that make me feel amazing, wearing big earrings, drinking beer and asking my husband to feed me harmonies to sing, taking my vitamins, living for dancing to live music, roping everyone into a craft, being human and vulnerable, and celebrating the phenomenon of being alive.

...and doing it all with energy, delight, and jokes along the way.


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8 comments

Michelle

Kind of late to start a garden isn’t it??

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Christen

I had that thought too, Michelle, but at least 2 of the seed offerings in this box (kale and broccoli) have a fair chance to grow well in fall. I plan to keep the basil on my windowsill so it’s readily available when I’m cooking, so that has a chance of making it, too! As for the lettuce, arugula, spinach, and carrots, well, those will be experiments. Some friends have reported that their leafy greens tend to grow pretty quickly, and since you they can be eaten at any point in their maturity, I’m hoping there will be time to enjoy some before the first frost. 🙂

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Shay

This seems like a great box. I’ve been trying to get into gardening. I used seeds from a different subscription box company and they started sprouting after about 3 weeks, and then 2 weeks later all my plants died and I was like “WHYYYYYY?!?!” LOL!

Plow Box seems to be a little more informative than the other subscription box I used. I will give them a try and hopefully I’ll have more luck this time around.

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Christen

Oh no, I’m so sorry your veggies didn’t make it! It’s still too soon for me to tell the fate of my seeds, but fingers crossed I can get some sort of yield before it gets too chilly. Let us know how your Take 2 goes with your PlowBox seeds!

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Loba

Did anyone else sing the “Because” card?

After just two of the because my song automatically went into the song version.

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Michelle

Yep

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Stefanie

I did too! Lol

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Jen

This looks like a great box, but I wouldn’t pay that much for it (maybe more like 24.95 with free shipping at the most). Many people that use seeds (at least those I know) would much rather purchase the ones they want instead of getting surprised. If they lowered the price and included greater detail on planting/harvesting instructions, this would be great for newbies. Also, it they’re heirloom seeds, information on saving the seeds would also make this even more of a valuable resource.

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