How Experienced Gardeners Save Money on Seed Starting

By Ashleigh Smith for True Leaf Market

Growing a garden can quickly become expensive when you purchase all the components needed to grow plants from seed. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here we are going to break down some of the best ways home gardeners can save money this season. Check out these tips for mixing your own seed-starting soil, shopping for big discounts on popular garden seeds, and learning which materials will provide the best return on your investment. Let's dig in!

Why Seed-Starting Gets Expensive

Most people think growing your own food saves you money at the grocery store, but that isn’t always true. Growing your own food comes with lots of expenses, like trays, soil, fertilizer, etc. These expenses can quickly add up if you aren’t considering the best ways to source them. By identifying reusable, quality materials and shopping sales or discounts, you can actually see your grocery bills decline over time.

Sourcing and Reusing Quality Materials

While flimsy cell packs are readily available and usually don’t cost much, they are a recurring purchase that can be replaced with more durable and reusable materials. Bootstrap trays and inserts are a great way to upgrade your growing materials, as they can be cleaned and reused year after year. Additionally, you can use them to grow microgreens outside the seed-starting months. These heavy-duty trays are available in shallow or deep depths, with or without drainage holes, and in various color options. You can also find individual durable 6-cell inserts that are traditionally seen joined as 72-cell inserts.

Intentional Shopping

Just like shopping when you are hungry is a bad idea, so is convenience shopping for garden supplies. When you shop without a plan, you are likely going to end up with more than you intended or needed. By planning your garden first, you can shop with intention for the best supplies and deals available. Many seed companies, including True Leaf Market, offer steep discounts on newly grown seeds that produce more than expected. Overstocked seeds can often be purchased for up to 70% off, which is better than you will likely see on any seasonal sale. Be sure to check for these deals before window shopping for specific varieties.

Mixing Your Own Seed-Starting Soil

When you first become interested in gardening, you will likely shop at popular big-box stores where materials like seed-starting and potting soil are prepackaged in large bags. While this can seem like a good option, it can quickly add up, along with your back pain from moving all of those bags. There is a solution to both the price tag and your muscle strain! Mixing your own soil mixes may seem daunting at first, but it is actually quite simple. Most soil mixes contain coconut coir and/or peat as the base. Coconut coir is usually compressed for more efficient shipping. Just add water and watch it expand into a wonderful growing medium.

Along with your soil base, you will want to mix in amendments like perlite, vermiculite, worm castings, insect frass, and fertilizer, depending on what your end goal is. For seed-starting soil, it is best to stick with perlite, vermiculite, and maybe a handful of worm castings or insect frass for a gentle dose of nutrients. New seedlings can often be “burned” by high doses of nutrients at these beginning stages of growth. It is best to wait until after true leaves have formed. However, you may consider adding some fertilizer when mixing your own potting soil.

Basic Small Seed-Starting Soil Mix Recipe

• 7 Parts Coconut Coir
• 1 Part Perlite
• 1 Handful Worm Castings or Insect Frass (optional)

Mixing Instructions:

Start by hydrating your coconut coir pucks, bricks, or blocks. Once it reaches a soil consistency, measure it into your mixing container. You can use anything from a scoop, a measuring cup, or a plastic leftover container to measure each portion. For every 7 scoops of coconut coir, add one scoop of perlite. If desired, add a handful of worm castings or insect frass to provide a boost of nutrients and beneficial, natural microbes.

Growing your own food doesn’t have to be expensive. By planning ahead and shopping intentionally, you can save money growing nutrient-rich food all year long!

About the Author:

Ashleigh Smith is the Managing Editor at True Leaf Market with a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. True Leaf Market is a nationally certified organic, non-GMO seed and horticultural company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The True Leaf Market staff specializes in supplying a large selection of conventional, heirloom, and organic seeds to home gardeners everywhere. Learn more about our seeds, supplies, and other growing ideas: www.trueleafmarket.com.

All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.

Article URL:
https://www.gardensmart.com/?p=articles&title=How_Experienced_Gardeners_Save_Money_on_Seed_Starting