homestead

Gardening is a popular hobby for people of all ages, and for good reason. It’s a great way to get exercise, fresh air, and sunshine. It’s also a rewarding experience to watch your plants grow and produce food or flowers. Gardening has also been shown to have so many health benefits for us. But one thing it doesn’t always benefit is our wallets. Starting a vegetable garden can get pretty expensive if you let it but for beginners I’ve got so many tips for saving money when gardening.

How to save money gardening

• Start small. If you are new to gardening, it is best to start small and manageable. This will help you avoid getting overwhelmed and discouraged. Pick a few vegetables you like to eat and don’t go crazy buying tons that you will not eat.
• Choose the right vegetables. Not all vegetables are created equal when it comes to saving money. Choose vegetables that are expensive for you to buy at the grocery store and that are easy to grow in your climate. Some good options include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and beans. Seeds are much cheaper and you can yield a lot of fruit from one plant.
• Start your own seeds. This is a great way to save money on plants, which can be expensive. You can start seeds indoors or outdoors, depending on your climate.
• Use recycled materials. There are many ways to use recycled materials in your garden, such as old pots, tires, and cardboard boxes. This can help you save money on gardening supplies. Yogurt cups can be reused as seed starting pots.
• Compost. Compost is a great way to improve the soil in your garden and reduce your reliance on fertilizers. You can make your own compost or buy it from a local nursery.
• Water wisely. Water is one of the biggest expenses in gardening. Water your plants deeply and infrequently to help them conserve water. Set up bins and buckets outside to catch rainwater that you can later water your plants with.
• Attract beneficial insects. Beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and praying mantises, can help control pests in your garden. You can attract them by planting flowers that they like and by providing them with shelter. Having beneficial insects can keep you from needing to buy pest sprays.
• Prevent pests and diseases. The best way to save money on pest control is to prevent pests and diseases from happening in the first place. This can be done by planting resistant varieties, rotating crops, and practicing good sanitation.
• Harvest and preserve your crops. Once your crops are ready to harvest, you can preserve them by canning, freezing, or drying them. This will help you extend their shelf life and save money on produce during the winter months.
• Save Seeds. Allow some of your plants to flower and seed. Save those seeds to start next year!
• Propagate. Tomato plants can easily be propagated by suckers. You can make lots of tomato plants this way.
• Shop Smart. Dollar Stores carry lots of garden supplies along with seeds. Shop clearance sections to find plants and garden goodies you need for the season.

Learn how to grow Tomatoes from Seed here!

Additional tips to save money in your vegetable garden:

• Get advice from a local nursery or garden center. They can help you choose the right vegetables for your climate and give you tips on how to care for them.
• Join a gardening club or online forum. This is a great way to learn from other gardeners and get support.
• Check your dollar stores for gardening supplies and shop clearance to get the things you need.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment. There are many different ways to grow vegetables. Find what works best for you and have fun with it!

By following these tips, you can save money on your vegetable garden and enjoy fresh, homegrown produce all season long.

Happy Gardening!

Zinnias are the darlings of the garden. They are easy to grow, beautiful and make great cut flowers. They are a cut flower gardeners dream plant. They come in so many different colors and sizes, there’s one or two for every gardener!

How to save zinnia seeds:

1. Choose open-pollinated zinnias. Open-pollinated zinnias will produce seeds that are true to the parent plant. Hybrid zinnias will not.
2. Wait until the zinnias are fully ripe. The seeds will not be viable if the zinnias are not ripe. The seeds will be easier to remove and will be more likely to germinate if the zinnias are fully ripe.
3. Cut the zinnia heads off the plant and let them dry completely.
4. Once the zinnia heads are dry, remove the seeds. The seeds are the small, brown arrowhead-shaped objects in the center of the flower head.
5. Spread the seeds out on a paper towel or a plate to dry completely.
6. Once the seeds are dry, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Quick tips for saving zinnia seeds:

• Do not save seeds from zinnias that have been treated with pesticides or herbicides.
• Test the seeds before planting them to make sure they are viable.

FYI: Open-pollinated zinnias are those that have been pollinated by natural means, such as wind or insects. Hybrid zinnias are those that have been bred by crossing two different varieties of zinnias. The seeds of hybrid zinnias will not be true to the parent plant, meaning that the offspring will not have the same characteristics as the parent plant.

In depth tips:

• Wait until the zinnias are fully ripe. The seeds will not be viable if the zinnias are not ripe. The seeds will be easier to remove and will be more likely to germinate if the zinnias are fully ripe.
• Remove the seeds from the zinnia heads. You can do this by gently squeezing the flower head or by using a needle or tweezers to remove the seeds.
• Spread the seeds out to dry. The seeds need to be completely dry before they can be stored. Spread them out in a single layer so that they can dry evenly.
• Store the seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. The ideal temperature for storing zinnia seeds is 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit. A refrigerator or freezer is a good option.

Choose open-pollinated zinnias. Open-pollinated zinnias are those that have been pollinated by natural means, such as wind or insects. Hybrid zinnias are those that have been bred by crossing two different varieties of zinnias. The seeds of hybrid zinnias will not be true to the parent plant, meaning that the offspring will not have the same characteristics as the parent plant.

10 zinnia varieties you can grow and save seed from:

1. Benary’s Giant is a tall variety that can grow up to 3 feet tall. It has large, double flowers in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, and white.
2. Queen Lime Red is a dwarf variety that only grows about 12 inches tall. It has bright red flowers with a lime green center.
3. Double Zahara Cherry is a double-flowered variety that has large, round flowers in a deep cherry color.
4. Uproar Rose is a single-flowered variety that has small, daisy-like flowers in a deep rose color.
5. Queeny Lime Orange is a dwarf variety that has bright orange flowers with a lime green center.
6. Oklahoma Mix is a mix of tall and dwarf varieties with a variety of flower colors, including red, orange, yellow, and white.
7. Cactus Flowered Mix is a mix of dwarf varieties with flowers that have a spiky, cactus-like appearance.
8. Isabellina is a tall variety that has large, single flowers in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, and white.
9. Unicorn Mix is a mix of tall and dwarf varieties with flowers that have a unique, striped or spotted appearance.
10. Jazzy Mix is a mix of tall and dwarf varieties with a variety of flower colors, including red, orange, yellow, white, and bicolors.

These are just a few of the many zinnia varieties available. When choosing zinnias for your garden, consider the size of the plant, the flower color, and the bloom time. Zinnias are a great choice for a sunny spot in your garden, and they will provide you with months of colorful blooms.

Zinnias are amazing and grow so freely. They make a perfect cut flower plant and can do well with neglect.

Happy Gardening!

Sweet potatoes are a relatively easy vegetable to grow, but they do require a long growing season of 85-120 days and warm weather but you can easily get your Sweet Potatoes started indoors early if you have a short growing season where you live.

Sweet potatoes are a healthy and nutritious vegetable that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are a good source of beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is essential for vision, immunity, and cell growth. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase I may earn a small commission which keeps me in the garden.

Ways to incorporate sweet potatoes into your diet:

• Baked sweet potatoes
• Sweet Potato Bread
• Sweet Potato Cookies
• Sweet Potato Biscuits
• Sweet potato fries
• Sweet potato soup
• Sweet potato pie
• Sweet potato muffins

How to Grow Sweet Potato Slips

Sweet Potato slips are young plants that are grown from sweet potato cuttings. They are the rooted sprouts that grow from an actual mature sweet potato. They are used to grow new sweet potato plants.

To grow sweet potato slips, you can cut a sweet potato into 2-3 inch pieces and let them sit in a warm, moist place until they start to sprout roots. You can also start slips by planting a whole sweet potato in a pot of soil. The sweet potato will eventually sprout roots and shoots, and the shoots can be transplanted into the garden.

Grow Sweet Potatoes In water

An even easier and soilless way to grow sweet potato slips is to put the Sweet potato in water. Sit the potato upright in a cup or mason jar fill with enough water to cover the bottom half of the Sweet potato. In several weeks you’ll see roots and shoots / slips growing out of the potato. You can cut off the slips after they reach 3-4 inches and plant them in soil or put them in water to root. Once rooted you can follow the planting guide below.

How to plant Sweet Potato Slips

Once the slips have grown to about 6 inches tall, they are ready to be transplanted into the garden. Plant the slips 12-18 inches apart, in rows that are 3-4 feet apart. Water the slips regularly, especially during hot weather. Sweet potato slips can be grown indoors or outdoors. If you are growing them indoors, place them in a warm, sunny spot. If you are growing them outdoors, plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Sweet potato slips are a great way to start your own sweet potato plants. They are easy to grow and can be transplanted into the garden once they are large enough.

Important tips for growing sweet potato slips:

• Use a mature sweet potato that is free of blemishes.
• Cut the sweet potato into 2-3 inch pieces.
• Make sure the cut ends are dry before placing them in a warm, moist place.
• The slips will start to sprout roots in about 2-3 weeks.
• Once the slips have roots, they can be transplanted into the garden or into pots.
• Water the slips regularly, especially during hot weather.
• Fertilize the slips every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
• Protect the slips from pests and diseases.

How to grow sweet potatoes:

1. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Sweet potatoes don’t like wet feet, so make sure the soil is loose and sandy.
2. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter. This will help to improve drainage and add nutrients to the soil.
3. Plant the slips 12-18 inches apart, in rows that are 3-4 feet apart. Slips are young plants that are grown from sweet potato cuttings. You can buy slips at garden centers or start your own by cutting a sweet potato into 2-3 inch pieces and letting them sit in a warm, moist place until they start to sprout roots.
4. Water the slips regularly, especially during hot weather. Sweet potatoes need about an inch of water per week.
5. Fertilize the plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
6. Keep the plants weeded. Sweet potatoes are susceptible to weeds, so it’s important to keep the area around them free of weeds.
7. Harvest the sweet potatoes when the leaves start to turn yellow and the vines die back. You can dig them up with a garden fork.

How to grow Sweet Potatoes in containers

1. Choose the right container. Sweet potatoes need a container that is at least 12 inches deep and has good drainage holes. You can use a plastic pot, a clay pot, or a fabric pot. The bigger pot the better!
2. Fill the container with potting soil. Use a potting soil that is specifically designed potted plants. You can also add some compost or manure to the soil to improve drainage and fertility.
3. Plant the slips. Slips are young sweet potato plants that have been started in water or in a nursery bed. Plant the slips 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart.
4. Water the plants regularly. Sweet potatoes need to be watered deeply and regularly, especially during hot weather. Don’t let the pots dry out!
5. Fertilize the plants every few weeks. Use a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 fertilizer.
6. Provide full sun. Sweet potatoes need at least 6 hours of full sun per day.
7. Protect the plants from pests and diseases. Sweet potatoes are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, such as aphids, whiteflies, and powdery mildew. To protect your plants, you can use insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Last minute tips for growing sweet potatoes:

• Sweet potatoes are susceptible to pests and diseases, so it’s important to inspect the plants regularly. If you see any signs of pests or diseases, treat them immediately.
• Sweet potatoes can be stored for several months in a cool, dark place.

Sweet Potatoes are an amazing and healthy vegetable to add to your garden and diet! If you follow these tips you can harvest big healthy sweet potatoes!

Happy Gardening