If you have ever wanted to start a garden but thought it was too expensive, follow these tips for frugal gardening! Gardening is possible for everyone with just a little creativity and planning.
When I first began gardening, I thought that I had to start out with all the right tools, soil amendments, etc. I quickly learned that all of those things were out of our budget. However, my husband and I have been pretty creative over the years learning to garden with very little. We have managed to grow a lot of food for our family that has saved us hundreds, if not thousands on groceries.
If gardening sounds too expensive to you, follow these tips and you can have a productive but frugal garden in no time!
1. Plan!
The first step to creating a frugal garden is planning. What do you and your family like to eat? If the thought of tomatoes turns you off, don’t grow tomatoes. But if you love potatoes, write that down as a crop you would like to grow.
Plan out the amount of space you have to grow in. People with just apartment balconies can grow a lot of food! Decide the square footage that you have to grow in. This will look different if you are container gardening vs. raised beds or in ground, but plan out what crops will go where.
However, if you don’t even have a balcony, ask around and see if anyone has space they would allow you to garden in. Maybe for a small share of your crop. There are also community garden spaces all across the U.S. that you can look into.
2. Till, build, or fill.
If you have room for an in ground garden, you have two choices. You can either till up a space to garden in or go the no dig route. Ask around if you don’t own a tractor or tiller. Likely someone you know would be willing to either help or lend you a tiller for the day.
Your second option is to do a sort of no dig in ground bed. Start by cutting your grass down as much as possible. Next lay cardboard down. Atop this add your soil, about 6 inches or more if possible. Do this at least 3 months before you plan on planting. Although I do know of people who have done this and immediately planted with success.
If you are growing in raised beds, now is the time to build them. There are many free and cheap options to build raised beds. Building out of pallets, wood scraps or concrete blocks are always inexpensive options.
If you are container gardening, ask around to see who has pots lying in their shed going to waste and see if you can have them. Also, check the curbs on trash pickup day and see who has left something out that you can use. Just be sure that it is legal in your area.
3. Getting Soil
With a tilled in ground garden you don’t have to worry about this. However for raised beds, container gardening and the no dig method, soil will have to be acquired. Top soil is often fairly cheap. Getting potting soil in the late fall and winter is a great way to get it on clearance.
The absolute cheapest way to get soil though for growing is to make your own compost. If you can start a few months ahead, and are diligent, you can make a fair amount of compost. However, this is an option that isn’t always accessible to everyone. Buying it in bulk can also save you money.
4. Seeds
By far, the cheapest way to grow your own food is by using seeds. Plant starts can be crazy expensive at big box stores. Local nurseries are a place to look if you don’t have the ability to start your own seeds. I can get two packs of healthy pepper and tomato plants at mine for $1.50.
Seeds can be found very cheap at dollar stores. There is nothing wrong with the seeds at the dollar store! Although they may not be the most unique heirloom varieties, they can grow lots of food.
Seeds and plant starts can be bought at places like Walmart with SNAP benefits. There are also options like seed swaps held at local community centers and libraries.
Ask someone who is an avid gardener and they will likely share seeds with you. Gardeners love to share seeds and talk gardening to anyone who will listen. At least, I do!
5. Amendments
Feeding your soil does not have to be expensive. Again, making compost at home is one of the cheapest amendments you can get. It’s also one of the best ways to improve your soil. But there are so many other ways to feed soil. Here is a list of some inexpensive ways to feed your soil and plants.
- Rabbit poop. It’s a cold fertilizer so it can be added straight to soil and plants without composting first. Many people with rabbits sell five gallon buckets worth of rabbit poop.
- Fish emulsion. Not free, but a $30-$40 gallon bottle will last you for years!
- Compost tea. If you are already making your own compost, it will make a great quick absorbing liquid fertilizer. It doesn’t take much!
- Worm casting tea. One small bag of worm castings can make gallons and gallons of this homemade fertilizer.
- Leaf mold. This takes time (as in at least 1 year to make), but greatly improves your soil, plus it’s very hands off and free!
- Well rotted cow or horse manure. If you know anyone with cows or horses, ask if you can scoop the poop and let it sit for about 6 months.
- Wood ash (in moderation). Small amounts of wood ash can add a lot of minerals to your soil.
- Comfrey tea. If you are already growing this nitrogen rich plant, why not use it to make a nutrient rich liquid fertilizer.
- Epsom salt (for the minerals). Very inexpensive. 1 tbsp. to 1 gallon of water sprayed on plants can add minerals like magnesium and perk up your plants.
- Cover crops/green manure/nitrogen fixing plants. Local feed and seed stores usually carry 1 lb. bags of cover crops like clover seed for fairly inexpensive. If you are already growing beans or peas, chop them down at the end of the season instead of digging them up and the roots will give the soil nitrogen as they break down that will be available next growing season.
You can do this!
I hope these tips for frugal gardening help you to get started this spring. You can garden on a budget and feed you and your family, filling your larder with delicious and healthy homegrown food. If you would like more tips on how to plan a garden, check out this blog post here. Let us know if you have anymore great frugal gardening tips in the comments below!
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.” Proverbs 3:9
