Can I Save Money By Planting a Garden?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes. After having watched your neighbor relentlessly keep up her gardening routine, you may wonder what is behind her motivation. How about saving money on your food budget? Here are a few ways you can use gardening to keep a lid on the grocery bills.
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Can I Save Money By Planting a Garden?1. Start small2. Invest in equipment3. Avoid complicated crops4. Succession plantingConclusion
Contents
- 1. Start small
- 2. Invest in equipment
- 3. Avoid complicated crops
- 4. Succession planting
- Conclusion
1. Start small
Just like any other craft, take your time to learn the ropes of gardening by planting limited varieties of the crop. Start with what you are most comfortable with and plant just a handful of stems. Most newbies tend to go for leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and lettuce. Find out what each crop needs and practice with a small patch of land in the yard and observe the results.
If all goes well, extend the piece for the next growing season until you cover the portion of land you intended right from the start. This methodical approach will save you from making indulgent investments that will prove costly down the road. Planting only three crops at a time eases the pressure so you can focus on each plant without skimping on the best practices.
2. Invest in equipment
Operating a garden to save money or make some extra cash requires more than a pair of shears. You need to but the right gardening tools for each stage of the plants’ life cycle right from tilling the land to planting and harvesting. For instance, you need a brush cutter to trim back overgrown bushes in the garden as these can harbor pests like wild rabbits.
Do not be shy to ask for help before making any purchase.Visit your local garden store to get advice on how to choose the best brush cutter. Speaking to a gardening expert can make a huge difference in the choice of tools you purchase. You want an instrument that performs a spectacular job in half the time without causing too much strain on your body.
3. Avoid complicated crops
Dipping your toes in the craft of gardening is exhilarating, and many homeowners get carried away by their utopian ideals of a perfect garden. Referring to the first point we discussed, avoid complicated plants that require expert handling. For instance, watermelons thrive in fertile soils and take at least eighty days before harvest.
If your patch of land is limited, strike out watermelons as they need plenty of room to grow. Some plants like Asparagus are slow starters, and you will have to wait two to three years for them to mature. Novice gardeners may not have the level of patience required to handle such crops. Try planting vegetables or fruits that grow faster. This way you get instant gratification if the crop does well, and if not, you can do away with it just as quickly.
4. Succession planting
This method of farming entails using the same patch of land to grow different in one growing season. For instance, you can plant warm-season vegetables e.g. squash and tomatoes followed by cold season vegetables such as cauliflower and beets. Succession planting helps you utilize the same portion of land without the need to hire extra space.
Conclusion
The best advice for a novice gardener is to do thorough research on the type of crops you wish to grow and how these plants will save you money. After figuring this out, you can embark on a gardening experience to fulfill these goals.