Happy Spring Everyone!
Challenge yourself this year! Prices of groceries are going nowhere but UP! Use your Spring, Summer and Fall to jump into the garden for some fun, and hopefully cost savings!
Summary:
Your Material Cost: $325
Your Cost Today with a DIY With Chelsea consultation: $55
Let me do the thinking for you and make your garden plans from seed starting to implementation in your yard.
This Blog Includes Budgeting for 720 seedlings. All product links included to make it an easy shopping trip for you.
Tip: Depending on quality you can have approx 50% failure rate on germination (cut 720 in half)
Item | Description | Cost |
Tools | Bucket | $5 |
Shovel | $10 | |
Hose | $20 | |
Misters | $10 | |
Seed Packets | Various Vegetables | $50 |
Soil | Various Soils | $100 |
Water | Filter recommended for city water (chlorine) | 2 @ $25 |
Fertilizer | Miracle Gro | 3lb @$12 |
Plastic Covers | Saran Wrap | $7 |
Misters | $10 | |
Trays | Seedling Trays | 10@ $34 |
720 Seed Starting | 6-pack plug cells | 720 Cells @ $17 |
Total | $325 |
So, how much should you budget for a garden, and is it worth it?
Here are some questions to ask yourself before getting started:
Do you have yard space for a garden?
Is your soil tough or fertile?
What do you and your family actually eat?
Do you have time to prepare vegetables?
Will you remember to water / fertilize your garden?
A veggie garden can be picky, frustrating, and a learning curve for a beginner. Don't let that scare you off. What happens over time is you end up learning from mistakes and become a complete garden nerd like me.
Let us start here:
What do I use for my seedlings?
I simply use a light weight seed-starting mix or peat. This year I am trying something new with BURPEE seed starting mix starting of as bricks of coconut coir. Why don't you join me on this journey and see how our plants do!
The Bucket
Find yourself a 5 gallon bucket!
The Shovel:
Does grandma or grandpa have one laying around they no longer need?
The Soil:
#1 Coco Coir I am using: https://amzn.to/41I9PY7
Each pack will do 4-5 trays of 72 plugs
Why Coco Coir?
2x the amount you get in a seed starting mix bag
Just add water!
Can store it in a bucket
#2 Amendment Soil
Compost (use your own or buy mushroom compost): https://amzn.to/4hseof0
Manure (freebies from local farms!)
The Trays:
Seed Starting Tays - 72 plug: https://amzn.to/3R13QJ3
Bottom Trays I use in my grow room you can find here: https://amzn.to/4hvkMSS
Next, you need to wait until your seedlings have sprouted and developed their "true leaves".
The Misting Devices: https://amzn.to/4kIn0B3
The Seed Packets:
Honestly, if this is your first season, BURPEE or FERRY MORSE are great for beginners.
If you want to get wild and crazy I found this awesome site called "Seed Nerds" Seed Nerds - The Ultimate Source for Any Seeds
Some awesome marigolds I found: https://amzn.to/4bKNbD3
The Seed Starting Trays:
Seed Starting Trays - 72 plug: https://amzn.to/3R13QJ3
Bottom Trays I use in my grow room you can find here: https://amzn.to/4hvkMSS
Humidity Domes (or saran wrap): https://amzn.to/4kD8pa5
The Fertilizer:
I have always had luck with basic miracle gro. If it is your first year on a budget I would recommend. As you become more nerdy, you will learn about companion planting and nitrogen fixing plant types. That is for another time:
Get your miracle gro here: https://amzn.to/4ixYZLu
The Filter
The Water Filters: https://amzn.to/4bG7NfK
DIY Add Ons:
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