Grow More, Spend Less: The Ultimate Guide to Seed Starting on a Budget

Many gardeners start seeds indoors in the spring to save on the costs of buying greenhouse seedlings. While it's true that seed and supply prices are going up, there are plenty of ways to still save some money! You can enjoy growing your own veggies and flowers from seed without breaking the bank. Here are some friendly tips to help you start seeds on a budget!

Share Seeds with Friends

If ordering seeds is putting a crimp in your style, consider ordering with a friend and sharing the seeds. Many seed packets contain more seeds than you will use. By sharing the cost with a friend, you get to try out more varieties without breaking the bank.

Buy Dollar Store and Discount Store Seeds

Other options for saving money with seed starting includes shopping at the Dollar Store or other discount store. I have found that packets of common flowers, like petunias, marigolds, and cosmos do just fine from Dollar Store seeds. I don't commonly buy my veggie seeds there and probably wouldn't try an exotic variety of flowers, but for basic seeds, the Dollar Store is fine.

Save Your Own Seeds

While it may not help you out for your first year of gardening, many gardeners save seeds in the fall for growing the following year. But, beware, saving seeds from hybrid plants yields uncertain results. Some hybrid plants produce sterile seeds that will not germinate, while others produce viable seeds, but the plant varies from the original. Sometimes, this yields amazing varieties that you never expected, but sometimes it yields weak, inferior flowers or veggies.

My mother once saved the seeds from a squash. The following year, she produced a large patch of gourds. Although they were attractive and certainly became a topic for conversation with her gardening friends, they did not produce an edible crop.

Check the seed packet of the original plants to determine if the variety you are growing are hybrids. If so, you can still save seeds at the end of the season but be aware that saving hybrid seeds is always a risk.

Make Your Own Seed Starting Mix

Making your own seed starting mix is less expensive in the long run than buying premade mix, but that all depends on how many seedlings you are starting. If you have a home greenhouse, like I do, and have room to grow all your seedlings, this may be a good choice for you. However, if you are only starting a few seeds and don't need a lot of seed starter buying the premade starter is both easier and less expensive.

Mix equal parts peat moss (or coconut coir), perlite, and vermiculite together in a large container to make your own seed starting mix.

Use Recycled Containers for Pots and Trays

While you can certainly buy pots and trays for starting seeds at your nearest garden center or home improvement center, you don't really need them. Yogurt cups, sour cream containers, or any other reusable plastic container will do. While some recommend using egg cartons, I have not had success with them. I prefer to start my seeds in a larger container, so I don't need to transplant them right away.

My mother always started her tomatoes in the tiny milk boxes from school lunch. Yes, back in those days, the school actually saved them for her. While that may not be an option now, you could use milk or juice boxes if your little ones drink them.

Disposable plastic cups from fast food restaurants, or even a pack bought from the store will also work well. I am not fond of them because the sides taper to a narrow bottom and makes them top heavy. Once you have experienced a little episode of dominoes-in-motion as your seedlings tumble one after the other, you tend to be a bit pickier about which containers you choose to use.

Remember to poke holes in the bottom of the containers to allow water to drain.