One of the easiest ways to save money when growing your own organic food is by starting your plants from seed. An average organic plant can range from $4-$10 a plant. A package of organic seeds can cost you $1.99-$4.99 and some of the packets have over 1000 seeds in them! A lot of seeds need to be started indoors and then transferred outside into a greenhouse similar to the ones in this post.
Greenhouses really create the right environment for your plants to flourish and grow their best. A greenhouse can vary significantly in price ranging anywhere from $150-$4,000+. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create the right environment for your plants. The two greenhouses showcased in this post were both under $200. My neighbor and I bought the greenhouse together to save even further. We both split the responsibilities and cost, making this an even better investment.
This year we purchased a new greenhouse on sale for $160. It was super easy to put together and took us less then an hour to put it up. This greenhouse is portable and can easily be removed and stored when it is no longer needed. It might seem like a lot of parts, but no tools were needed to put this together, now that is what I call easy!
We simply put the frame together and attached the screws with the elbow nuts and the frame was up and ready.
Now we slipped the tent like material over the frame and that was it…our new greenhouse!
Last week I started my seeds indoors and they are coming along nicely. They are almost ready to be transplanted into bigger containers.
When I transplant them into bigger containers, I will use plastic 16 oz cups with holes drilled into the bottom of the cup for proper drainage. This is an inexpensive way to transplant your plants when needed. I then will transfer the plants outdoors in my greenhouse to allow them to get bigger and stronger.
Choosing to grow your own plants from seeds will really save you a lot of money. You also can get a jump start on starting your seeds when you have a greenhouse to create the perfect environment for your plants. It is well worth the small investment!
Cool! Great idea with the cups–I was thinking I was going to have to go and buy some small containers but I have a whole pack of those cups still from our last party! Thanks!!
Just started some seeds last night. Too late to start tomato, pepper and strawberry plants…so will pay the extra money for those. ; )
it isn’t to late Rhonda…mine are 2 inches high and I just planted them.
Just pay for speedy shipping if you order your seeds from an heirloom company as they are really backed up right now!
I was going to get plants in about a week and a half and they are larger than what I could grow in the amount of time I have. There is a Farmer’s Expo at the end of the month. I had decent success last year, considering I didn’t really know what I was doing. ; )
You should have already planted your spinach and peas, beets etc…those you directly sow into the ground, have you done those yet Rhonda? Sara is right on ordering right now, super backed up everywhere! I have a great local nursery that carries non gmo organic seeds, so I never order by mail anymore.
I haven’t but hoping to do it tomorrow; was waiting for my dirt to settle a bit since we just did the new bed on Wednesday. I have most of my seeds. I haven’t found organic Kale, acorn squash, butternut squash or zuccini yet. My health food store has the heirloom organic seeds and it where I got most of mine. I may run down there in a bit and see what they have. I started some herbs, cauliflower, broccoli and cucumbers from seeds in small pots. I had a terrible time getting those started from seed last year. Looks like I better get busy!
When planting squash…the package says 3 seeds per mound. How do I convert that for the square foot garden–3 seeds in a square? Brussel sprouts 4 seeds every 22″, can I do 4 seeds in square? Still haven’t gotten the hang of some of the conversions. What should I NOT put directly in the ground right now? Thanks you your help!
Rhonda I would do 3 seeds in one square but you need to allow 4 squares to allow the squash to spread. Try planting it in a corner square so it can crawl on the ground outside of your garden. For brussel sprouts you can put the seeds in the center of 1 square and they grow up, so you should be fine with using only 1 square. Keep in mind, you will not be able to reuse that square, brussel sprouts are best when harvested after the first fall frost (they become sweeter and much better). I wouldn’t plant any warm weather crops as of yet…peppers, tomatoes, cucs and squash, basil and herbs… I would wait a few weeks on those. Get all your cool weather crops in though. Also don’t forget to soak those pea seeds for 12-24 hours before planting.
Soak in rain water or filtered or does it matter which? I have a map, so will have to do some rearranging so I think I am good. I will put zuccini in after my lettuces bolt, that worked well last year and I had zuccini everywhere! My husband is putting the vertical wall up tomorrow morning and putting the string in for “squares” on the newest bed I am so excited!
Either would work, mine are soaking in filtered water right now.
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