Thrifty Gardening
In another month or so it’ll be planting season. For many gardeners this can be an expensive time. Plants and supplies really do add up. Many plants are worth the investment, for instance, vegetables. It’s much cheaper to grow your own fresh, delicious veggies than to buy produce at the supermarket. Bulbs are another good investment, because they come back every year. Because annuals die out after the first or second frost, they’re seen as a bigger risk. Still there are ways to save.
My marigolds are the gift that keeps on giving. About five or six years ago, my sister in law gave everyone in our family marigold seeds she harvested from her own. I planted them in the spring and they grew into big, beautiful plants, bushes really. I harvested the seeds in the fall and began the cycle again. We’re on the fifth generation for marigold seeds and every year our flowers come out bigger and better than before. In fact, we have so many seeds I give cups full to my son and let him plant them wherever he wants. As a result we have marigolds springing up in the most unlikeliest of places. I also tried harvesting impatiens, portulaca, petunias and a few other annuals. The portulaca and petunias came back best. The others didn’t fare well at all, but I’ll keep trying.
Your local nursery may have good deals on annuals and other plants if it’s towards the end of planting season. You might also find discounts on damaged plants. In most cases the damage is to a leaf or stem, and though it looks unsightly, your plant can still flourish. Don’t let money concerns keep you from having a lovely garden. There are always ways to save, sometimes you just have to be a little creative.
Tags: gardening, gardening-plants, gardening-supply, gardening-tips, gardening-vegetable, organic-gardeningRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Eco Simplicity, General, Reusing and Recycling, Simple Pleasures, Simpler Thinking
5 opinions for Thrifty Gardening
Teri
Mar 24, 2007 at 2:23 pm
You are so right about the marigold seeds. I have been using mine from 3 years ago, and every year - they are bigger… last year they were HUGE!
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