One of the best ways to save money on one of your highest expenditures, is to grow your own food. Planting a garden can be done easily, and with a little TLC you will have food a plenty to fill your table at harvest time and well after. If you haven't noticed the price of produce is beginning to sky rocket (as is all food) because gas prices are going up. Today's post will cover how to plant your own seedlings which can be transplanted into either potted plants or your garden. The growing season here in Colorado is short, so starting your seedlings inside is a must and it will save you money in the long run from buying pre-grown plants which ranged last year from $5-7 depending on size. They will likely be higher in price this year because of inflation and the costs associated with such. So I headed to my local hardware store today and purchased a few essentials. To start your own seedlings you will need the following.
A container to plant them in (I chose Jiffy Strips)
Potting Soil
Seeds
Water
A place that is warm and sunny to help them grow
Popsicle Sticks or other markers
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| Jiffy Strips are easy for replanting |
I chose Jiffy Strips to plant my seedlings in because they are inexpensive (under $2 for 32 spots) and also because you can plant them right in the ground without transplanting them because they are biodegradable. I like earth friendly or recycling, so this works for me. Other options could be old pop bottles, yogurt containers, egg carton, and other small or compartmentalized container that will hold dirt and water.
Next you need to choose some potting soil. I chose this miracle grow potting soil because it was a smaller bag and it was made specifically for starting seeds. It was very light and airy as good potting soil should be. Fill your container(s) about 3/4 of the way full and then water. Because the soil is light is might take a little while for the water to soak in, I went over my soil a couple of times to make sure it was moist. Then following the directions on the seed packet, I made a hole in the soil for the particular seed I was planting. For example carrots required a very shallow depth so I made a slight indentation with my finger tip to create a 1/4" divet for the seeds. The seeds for green peas or peas are quite a bit deeper 1 1/2-2"...so I did an eyeball measurement of that and then placed the seed inside. After putting a seed or two into your created space, gently cover the seeds with soil. If the soil feels dry you may choose to water them a little more. Seeds like moisture. Next I labeled a popsicle stick with the type of vegetable and placed it into the container. Set them near the windows and now I just need to keep them watered until they start to grow. I will likely transplant them in about a month into the garden.
Another option for planting is to use an old pop bottle, cut it in half, fill the bottom half with soil and plant your seeds, using the top half as a mini green house. Once the seeds germinate, you can transplant them to a regular pot or outdoors. I have had good luck with both foods in the ground and in pots. Because pots normally don't retain water as well, you may have to water them more frequently and check for bugs.
Now, for what I planted. I usually grow things in my garden that are expensive in the store or that just plain taste different if you grow them yourself. A short list is tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, summer squash, zucchini, and various herbs. The tomatoes and the green beans can be trellised on a triangular teepee shape so they don't take as much room. Everything else I make room for on my garden design. I recommend you create a drawing of your garden and how much space you need for each type of vegetable you want to grow. You can find plant size on the back of the seed packet as well as required sun and time to germination and harvest. It's perfectly fine to park yourself with a notebook in front of the seeds at the hardware stores. Many beginning gardeners have done the same. Something to remember during harvest is to keep some of the seeds from the food you eat. Put them in ziplock bags or envelopes and label what they are, then you won't have to buy seeds next year. This is a trick my grandpa taught me. Some items don't need to be started from seedlings, in fact depending on where you live you may be able to just plant everything directly in the ground. That information can also be found on the back of the seed packet. I plant all my greens (lettuce, spinach, swiss chard) and earthy vegetables like onion, garlic, carrots and winter squash in the ground. If you have questions, asking your local garden shop is your best bet. They are jam packed full of information and LOVE to talk about their passion.
If you love to use fresh herbs in your cooking, you can't beat an herb garden. I am astonished by the prices of fresh herbs when one plant will continue to give you herbs for a long time, and at your convenience because it is right there at home. A snip of fresh parsley or chives will liven up your scrambled eggs for sure. So while you are buying your seeds, maybe take a look at some herbs you might like as well.
I recommend buying items at the grocery store that take up a lot of room (unless you have a spacious garden area) like potatoes and corn. Plant the things you and your family enjoy and will eat. In later posts I will teach you how to store some of those great items from your harvest. In the meantime, get on out there and get your fingers dirty...it's good for the soul.
I chose Jiffy Strips to plant my seedlings in because they are inexpensive (under $2 for 32 spots) and also because you can plant them right in the ground without transplanting them because they are biodegradable. I like earth friendly or recycling, so this works for me. Other options could be old pop bottles, yogurt containers, egg carton, and other small or compartmentalized container that will hold dirt and water.
Next you need to choose some potting soil. I chose this miracle grow potting soil because it was a smaller bag and it was made specifically for starting seeds. It was very light and airy as good potting soil should be. Fill your container(s) about 3/4 of the way full and then water. Because the soil is light is might take a little while for the water to soak in, I went over my soil a couple of times to make sure it was moist. Then following the directions on the seed packet, I made a hole in the soil for the particular seed I was planting. For example carrots required a very shallow depth so I made a slight indentation with my finger tip to create a 1/4" divet for the seeds. The seeds for green peas or peas are quite a bit deeper 1 1/2-2"...so I did an eyeball measurement of that and then placed the seed inside. After putting a seed or two into your created space, gently cover the seeds with soil. If the soil feels dry you may choose to water them a little more. Seeds like moisture. Next I labeled a popsicle stick with the type of vegetable and placed it into the container. Set them near the windows and now I just need to keep them watered until they start to grow. I will likely transplant them in about a month into the garden.
Another option for planting is to use an old pop bottle, cut it in half, fill the bottom half with soil and plant your seeds, using the top half as a mini green house. Once the seeds germinate, you can transplant them to a regular pot or outdoors. I have had good luck with both foods in the ground and in pots. Because pots normally don't retain water as well, you may have to water them more frequently and check for bugs.
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