Photo: Getty Images/Aleksander Rubtsov
It won’t be much longer until gardening folks start thinking about what to plant! So let’s look at how to save on plants!
Trade Seeds!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t do a giant farm every year. My vegetable garden may be a little larger than some, but still, a packet of seeds is way more than enough even when I’m planting extras “just in case” something happens to one of my seedlings. Rather than buying a bunch of seeds, chat with your friends, your family, your neighbors! Often people are happy to trade seeds- so you take care of the tomato seeds and your friend can provide the zucchini seeds and both of your will be knee deep in produce this summer!
Trade Clippings- or just ask for them!
Speaking of trading seeds, have you ever been walking your neighborhood and saw a beautiful plant? Don’t be afraid to to ask your neighbor if they would let you have a clipping! When we first moved to our new home, my husband met one of our neighbors while admiring her elephant ears- and she was happy to bring a trash bag full of plants to him when she thinned them! Considering Tim already wanted to plant his own, this saved us having to spend our money on them! I have given out my own clippings, bulbs and baby plants when thinning around my garden, and it makes me feel better to know “my babies” are going to people who want them, rather than trashing them or composting them!
Buy Smaller Plants:
If you don’t mind putting in a little extra work or thinking ahead, buying smaller plants is a great way to save! I see it every year- a small tomato plant may run you $3-4 depending on your area, but an older plant in a larger pot can be every bit of $20 or more! Normally these larger plants are closer to producing (in terms of vegetables). The same holds true for followers though, especially perennials. If you are willing to wait a year or two, your small little pot of flowers can be just as beautiful as those larger and more expensive pots!
Don’t forget, you can also regrow some plants from vegetable scraps!
Do you have any tips for how to save on plants? Let me know!