As most gardeners know who shop online or from catalogues by mail order, shipping costs have increased tremendously. That, in addition to companies putting fewer seeds in seed packets, has made being frugal with seeds a must. Gardening need not be expensive if some of these tips are followed.
For quick savings on garden costs, gardeners can consider sharing that cost with others. Split up your seeds among several friends or family and all of you will come out ahead. You will be able to buy in bulk and save a bundle. Most folks grow basically the same items anyway.
A gardener can also shop locally, not using online or mail catalogue offers. This can save time and shipping expenses, especially if you combine a trip for other errands with the purchase of seed. Costs saved can be eaten up by wasting gasoline on a special trip just to purchase seed.
Don't waste seeds when sowing, making every one of those little tykes important. Mix tiny seeds in with a medium such as sand, peat, or even fine sawdust to avoid over planting, and then wasting many plants by having to thin them appropriately. The packets will tell you how many seeds should be sowed together and how far away to eventually space them. If this tip is used, you may increase usable plants significantly. Follow the packet directions closely for final spacing.
Trade different seeds for something you do not ordinarily grow, but that you would like to. Other gardeners might like to do the same thing. For nothing more than time involved, many of you could try out new plants.
When considering the age-old activity of saving your own seed at harvest time, remember that open-pollinated varieties will remain true to the original plant, whereas hybrids or crossbred varieties will revert to one or the other of their parent. Heirloom kinds of seeds will keep their characteristics in tact as well. Beware of planting more than one or two or more open-pollinated vegetables or flowers in close proximity or cross-pollination can occur, resulting in characteristic changes. The resulting seeds saved will not be pure.
The expense of purchasing new seeds each year can be prohibitive, especially if growing a large garden. Even the small grower will find that buying seeds every year is costly, relatively speaking. Keeping purchased seeds in their original packs and saving them in a shoebox, or so forth, will likely end in lowered vitality and less germination success. One to three years is usually max on that system. Whether the gardener is saving purchased seeds or those gathered from their own garden, be sure they are dried thoroughly and sealed in small airtight containers, then placed in the home freezer. This will keep them viable in gardening activities for additional years, from the start.
For quick savings on garden costs, gardeners can consider sharing that cost with others. Split up your seeds among several friends or family and all of you will come out ahead. You will be able to buy in bulk and save a bundle. Most folks grow basically the same items anyway.
A gardener can also shop locally, not using online or mail catalogue offers. This can save time and shipping expenses, especially if you combine a trip for other errands with the purchase of seed. Costs saved can be eaten up by wasting gasoline on a special trip just to purchase seed.
Don't waste seeds when sowing, making every one of those little tykes important. Mix tiny seeds in with a medium such as sand, peat, or even fine sawdust to avoid over planting, and then wasting many plants by having to thin them appropriately. The packets will tell you how many seeds should be sowed together and how far away to eventually space them. If this tip is used, you may increase usable plants significantly. Follow the packet directions closely for final spacing.
Trade different seeds for something you do not ordinarily grow, but that you would like to. Other gardeners might like to do the same thing. For nothing more than time involved, many of you could try out new plants.
When considering the age-old activity of saving your own seed at harvest time, remember that open-pollinated varieties will remain true to the original plant, whereas hybrids or crossbred varieties will revert to one or the other of their parent. Heirloom kinds of seeds will keep their characteristics in tact as well. Beware of planting more than one or two or more open-pollinated vegetables or flowers in close proximity or cross-pollination can occur, resulting in characteristic changes. The resulting seeds saved will not be pure.
The expense of purchasing new seeds each year can be prohibitive, especially if growing a large garden. Even the small grower will find that buying seeds every year is costly, relatively speaking. Keeping purchased seeds in their original packs and saving them in a shoebox, or so forth, will likely end in lowered vitality and less germination success. One to three years is usually max on that system. Whether the gardener is saving purchased seeds or those gathered from their own garden, be sure they are dried thoroughly and sealed in small airtight containers, then placed in the home freezer. This will keep them viable in gardening activities for additional years, from the start.
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