To Robert Xiong, gardening is not only a method of relaxation but a lifestyle and skill that promotes food quality.

Xiong said he opened his own gardening business Vego Garden in July 2020 to facilitate gardening for the average gardener and help gardeners grow their own food.

How it started

Xiong began gardening after he purchased his first home in The Woodlands area eight years ago and realized the significance of having a rewarding hobby.“I have a pretty big backyard, and it was all grass with not even a tree,” Xiong said. “So I started to build some garden beds and to grow my own vegetables and also planted some fruit trees.”

Like other hobbies people picked up during COVID-19, Xiong said gardening is a pastime people turn to to relieve stress that continues to rise in popularity.

How its going

Vego Garden specializes in designing and selling garden products like garden beds, planters and irrigation systems, alongside greenhouses, which launched last year, Xiong said.

The gardening business also provides educational resources through its blog and instructional videos for gardeners.As a part of the community, Xiong said Vego Garden has collaborated with over 200 local schools and nonprofits and donated 1,000 garden beds to help build community gardens.

Projects range from large installations like The Maze Garden at Houston ISD’s Mykawa Farm where students can take field trips; to classic beds at Friends of Westchase; to upcoming projects with Interfaith's Child Development Center in The Woodlands.

"We’re passionate about building greener communities and helping more people reconnect with nature, grow their own food, and experience the joys of gardening,” Xiong said.

• 13808 Boudreaux Road, Tomball
• www.vegogarden.com