I hear so many people talk about how much it costs to garden. WHAT? You can garden for almost free. Yes, you can. Using what you have, trading seeds, keeping seeds, making your own compost and fertilizer and plating where you can and in all kinds of vessels.
Heirloom may cost a bit more - but know that you can keep the seed from your produce to use next year and the year after and will get exactly the same thing.
If you don't use heirloom and save seed - you get plants and produce, but it may not be what you think it will be.
You can start plants early and use various things as mini greenhouses. Trash can be a wonderful thing in all aspects of gardening!
There was a conversation on here with Frances the other day. Her homeowner's association says no planting garden out front. You can plant lettuce, cabbage, kale, and greens and most root crops and no one would know!!!! Plants are plants!
You can start seeds in your own little 'peat' pots. No need to buy them. Use newspaper to make little pots - which are then plant-able as well and will rot into the ground. You can also use those little cardboard egg cartons. Sections can be planted as well (not foam).
My brother uses the tubes from toilet paper or paper towels (cut to size). Trash working for you!
I have seen people use their soup/veg cans to start plants. Poke a few holes for drainage and plant.
Tables scraps can become fertilizer of sorts - it is called compost. NO you don't have to have a compost pile out in your yard. Use those ice cream buckets or a plastic coffee can - throw in your coffee grounds, crushed egg shells, tea bags, etc. Scraps from veggies and fruit - work as well. You can actually place peels of about anything in the blender first (lessens volume) and use it as well. All this adds nutrients to your soil and your plants. Boil eggs or potatoes or other veggies? Cool that water and use that on plants as well.
Fertilizer - no need to buy. You can make your own version of Miracle Gro. So easy.
You can plant in those flower beds, you can also use pots, buckets, and any worn out vessel for planting. Pots can often be found on neighborhood swaps. Use what you have.
Plant something and put on your patio or veranda or balcony. Can you grow houseplants? Then you can grow some items on a window seal or on a table that gets light.
You can even buy a bag of soil - slice it open down the middle and then across each end (like an I) and plant directly in the bag - no pot needed. Shallow root plants will grow fine that way.
You can also regrow food!!!!! Many people only use the green part of green onions and place the white part in water and regrow. I have always eaten the entire green onion - to me the onion IS the white part! I buy onion sets to plant. But in the winter I do use the regrow system some.
You can grow bunch lettuce and even cabbage. I get Romain or other bunch lettuce and when I have cut off the leaves - I scrape that bottom part (where it was cut off) a little (to open pores) and restart in water. Once it roots - you can plant. Same with cabbage. NEVER pull cabbage plants entirely out of the garden! Cut off the heads and it regrows many baby heads (as does broccoli)!!
Celery is another great regrow item. Start that bottom end in water (using same method as above) - once rooted you can plant.
I have never tried - but have heard that you can plants dry beans (that you buy to cook).
So you CAN grown something and trust me, today anything you can grow, will save you money. It will probably be healthier as well - as you know where it is grown and it will be fresh!!!
Use what you have and start some plants or start a little patio garden this year.
Trash can be a wonderful thing in many, many ways. It can give you seeds, pots, compost, fertilizers, pots - FOOD!
Doesn't get much better than that!
I agree, I plant in wheelbarrows I still have from years ago. I have a huge cast iron pot we that we received when my husband's Aunt that went into a nursing facility. It sits in my front flower bed. My husband drilled a couple of holes in it and I use it for herbs. I am surprised that no one has stolen it. I just dig a hole, drop in seeds an see what happens. The only plant that I buy are tomatoes, I have not had luck from seed. I have to pollinate them myself with a tiny paint brush, the kind you would use to paint a picture. The ones that grow well from seed are squash and okra. Silly as it sounds I just do this for pleasure, not for food. The food is a bonus. LOL I am going to try to do the celery and green onions from root ends to see if I can do it.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun hobby, not even for the fact of food. I agree. Sounds like you have some good methods and neat planters. I am going to change some stuff up this year a little I do believe. Like you said, just for fun!!!
DeleteI re-grow green onions from the stub, and celery works great too! Just doesn't like very hot weather! Laura
DeleteLike Frances, my HOA does not allow in-ground planting of vegetables. We can plant flowers within the garden borders, but the landscapers will not maintain them and they pull them out at the end of the season, perennials or not. I do container gardening on my deck, as a result. I have banister boxes (similar to these, https://www.walmart.com/ip/HC-Companies-heavy-duty-24-Inch-Width-Deck-Rail-Box-Planter-White-w-plugs/779476906) that sit atop the top rail, straddling the board. My association-approved flowers are planted in the outside section of the box, and my herbs and lettuces are planted on the inside, where they're easier to access. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. are in regular large pots. While my deck tomatoes and peppers do not produce enough to put up for the winter, they do provide me with fresh produce during the summer months, andI always have ample dried herbs to supply me all winter. I can't tell you the last time I bought basil, oregano, parsley, or chives. Need to try the romaine lettuce and cabbage trick this summer and maybe even green onions! My chives come back every year, and I haven't transplanted the pot since I first started them about 5 years ago. I just stow them in a corner of the deck in the Fall and pull them out and trim them back in the Spring. Every little bit helps!
ReplyDeleteGood for you on out-smarting the association. I just find it totally ridiculous that food can not be grown. I understand big old gardens maybe, but a pretty pepper or tomato (?).
DeleteAs long as you have enough to eat during the summer - that is a huge help. I just went out and looked and yep, the chives are popping up again. I think they have been there about 10 years! Got to love it!
Herbs is such a giving thing - you can grow enough for a year, easily.
I picked up a seeding kit at Dollarama yesterday for less than $4 Cdn. Last fall I harvested seeds from my green and red peppers, tomatoes, and marigolds. This will be my first time attempting to start my own. I may not have much luck but it won't have cost me much.
ReplyDeleteLike Lori, I grow in containers on the deck so it's mainly for a bit of fresh produce for a brief period in the summer. Our growing season is much shorter than yours would be - I'll plant around the end of May, early June and harvest no later than early September. Though we can get frost in August.
There is something so satisfying about putting my hands in the dirt!
Have fun! That sounds neat. I have only started tomatoes once and had them do well. They are tough for me. My brother starts all of his.
DeleteJust being able to go out and pick that nice tomato or pepper or some fresh herbs or lettuce - is wonderful. It all tastes so good.
Yes, playing in the dirt is a great tension reliever. I went out and did a little playing in the yard this morning.
The green onions regrow nicely. It is so wonderful (and healthier) to grow your own produce, not to mention the convenience of walking out your back door to "shop". The Urban Farmer has planted carrots, parsnips and beets so far. Potatoes will go in the ground the middle of April. The Farmer emptied one of the compost bins into five gallon buckets and has started another pile. Chicken poo goes into the compost which makes good fertilizer.
ReplyDeleteNice to have some things planted already. Daddy always planted potatoes on Good Friday. It won't be long and YES walking out your door and getting produce is the BEST!
DeleteI believe a vegetable garden, no matter how small, is going to be especially important this year.
ReplyDeleteGoing to try composting. I need to get a plastic coffee can from my neighbors. I'd love to have a regular compost bin, but the raccoons are plentiful around here. I want to check the pH of the soil before I add coffee grounds. I think our soil is already acidic enough.
Beets and onions are going in the front flowerbed regardless of what trailer park mgmt says. I'd rather see a well-tended vegetable garden in front of a trailer than overgrown bushes and ratty flower beds. Last year a neighbor had a very impressive brussels sprouts plant right out front.
I save fresh mushroom containers all year long to use as seed starting planters. Great for giving away seedlings, too. Kept my old cookie sheets to use under them to catch any water that leaks out. Be sure whatever you use as a planter is safe for food and won't leach toxins. I have a collection of food-safe buckets for container gardening.
I start sunflowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini from seed in the house. Peas, beets, green onions, onion sets, carrots and most flowers go directly into the ground when appropriate. I don't buy seedlings any more.
Making two new raised beds this year. Trying cedar fence pickets for the sides instead of cedar boards. Much less expensive. I have a 4'x4' raised bed of strawberries that comes back every year. I throw a bag of cow manure on it each February before the new runners come up.
WalMart had heirloom seeds in stock this week for $2.69/pkg. Dollar General was advertising seeds for 25 cents/pkg. At that price, everyone can afford to garden!
Glad you planted out front. I agree - if nicely tended, it shouldn't matter. Food is important - more important than flowers.
DeleteGood tips for starting seeds. Thanks - I am sure that will help someone.
YAY on getting new raised beds. That is great. I am thinking on replanning some of my big pots this year.
I have also heard that SNAP (food stamps) will cover seeds, not sure.
Yes, SNAP will buy seeds and plants. They have to be food seeds and plants.
DeleteI agree with this. I spent very little when I had a garden. My parents always grew lots of veg and flowers and had no money to spend on it. My mum grew our huge hedge from a neighbours trimmings. She also rooted roses from some she was bought. I dont like gardening, cooking or craft tv programs as they make these activities look expensive and complicated.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a fun hobby and YES they all make it look like it costs a lot. Well, the way they do it - it does. Do you remember Designing on a Dime? I loved that show - she could take anything and make something out of it. That was a true trash to treasure show.
DeleteI have used dollar store seeds forever and they are fine. I do buy a few things, like tomato plants in the pony pack. Gardening can be expensive if you go out and pay full price for everything.
ReplyDeleteYou just have to know where to look and what to use. I use the dollar store seeds as well. I buy tomato plants as well.
DeleteI had many posts collected over the years. But, when my house was destroyed, someone stole all the pots! So, I have started over. I like to regrow things. All plants on the porch fed critters, so until I figure out what it is/was, I will stick to salad greens.
ReplyDeleteSorry you lost your home and pots. Critters can be little rascals and like to indulge in a fresh free meal as well!!
DeleteWe will be purchasing our seeds very soon. Harvey likes to plant directly in the garden. I have never tried regrowing things, but just might this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the gardening tips.
God bless.
You need to give it a try. It is fun seeing what would be trash come back to life! Wishing you big successes.
DeleteYou are welcome.
I hate pretentious housing associations that won't allow food gardens and clotheslines; as if they represent poverty. I have had good results taking seeds from store bought peppers and tomatoes that I liked the taste of and laying them in damp paper towel in an open plastic bag. They germinate quickly and then they get put into little starter pots, sprout down of course as that is the root. I have also planted the variety of beans that come in a package of soup mix just for fun and had good results from most of them. The navy beans need a long season but I had plenty of green beans through the summer. Romano beans are particularly heavy producers and you can buy the seed for a dollar or a dollar and a half a pound at the grocery store. You can nip a dead flower from a park or someone's yard and have enough seed for a garden border next year. Marigolds! I found that celery root end only produced leaves and very little stem. For green onions in perpetuity, get some 'walking' or 'egyptian' onions. When allowed to mature, they throw a seed head of bulbils that will provide up to a dozen more plants. They overwinter well even in cold (-40) climates. Not that we see -40 anymore (where I live) what with global warming.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the housing associations. I think it is so silly - there is nothing negative about it. Yet, they allow some of the dumbest other things that look hideous to me.
DeleteGreat tips and ideas. Glad to know someone has tried starting beans from dry cooking beans. There are so many ways to get free items for the yard and garden.
My celery has gotten tiny stalks, buy yes, mainly leaves. They taste good too.
Thanks for all the great ideas.
We will be planting some things we have never tried before like cabbage and beets and using your tips to help me out.
ReplyDelete