Are you interested in DIY vegetable gardening to save money on groceries?
I balk at how expensive things have become whenever I go to the grocery store. As a family of five, keeping all these mouths fed is getting too costly. Grocery shopping is taking up most of our budget, which is ridiculous.
So, if you’re anything like me, you might wonder how to save money on groceries.
Well, you’ve come to the right place! DIY vegetable gardening is a great way to save money, especially on your produce during the summer months
Unfortunately, I am a plant killer and cannot figure out gardening to save my life, but I really want to be able to grow a simple vegetable garden. We tried to start with bell peppers last year and failed miserably. So, I asked my friend who plants a veggie garden every year for all her gardening tips, and this is what we came up with! I am thankful for her guidance and instruction, so I can try our own vegetable garden again!
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Is DIY Vegetable Gardening Hard?
I always thought that keeping a garden alive would be next to impossible. After all, I am a busy mom to three young kids; I have a job as a nurse… I only have a little time to spend in the garden every week!
But my friend has assured me that this is not the case!
My friend says DIY vegetable gardening is relatively easy, even for new gardeners like us, and can be done with minimal effort. You don’t need to have a green thumb or be an expert gardener (which is good news for me!) – all you need is basic knowledge, the right supplies, and patience.
Here are all the tips she shared with me.
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How to Set Up A DIY Vegetable Garden on a Budget
Step #1 – Find The Perfect Spot
Before you start planting your garden, you need a garden plan. Choosing the location of your garden is the first step. The first thing to look for is a spot in your backyard or front yard with plenty of sunlight during the day.
Another thing you need to consider, which I would never have thought about, is picking a spot with good drainage. This ensures your garden won’t flood.
Step #2 – Choose The Type Of Garden You Want To Set Up
Once you have the perfect spot picked out, you must decide what type of garden you want to set up. You can choose from a few different styles, which will ultimately depend on the available space in your yard.
Traditional Row Gardening
Setting up a traditional row garden means removing the grass in an area of the yard you’ve picked for your garden and laying down at least two inches of soil.
Then, you will plant your vegetables directly into the ground in long rows.
Yes, this method requires more space than other options. But it is a great way to grow larger veggies. A traditional row garden is also ideal if you want to produce a variety of vegetables, as you will have more space to use.
I found this excellent resource here that shows you step-by-step how to set up a traditional row garden in your yard.
Raised Bed Gardening
This option is excellent if you have picked an area of your yard that doesn’t get the best drainage or if you have pets you want to avoid getting into the garden.
And what’s cool is you can create raised vegetable beds in so many unique ways. For example, you can:
- Build a garden box out of wood.
- Pile up old tires or wooden pallets.
- Use old troughs or other large containers.
- Purchase a new raised bed, all ready to go.
What’s nice about the raised bed option is that it takes up much less space than traditional row gardening. Plus, the soil is MUCH easier to maintain because it’s separated from the ground soil. So, you will get fewer weeds in it, which is great for a low-maintenance option! I also like that I don’t have to sit on the ground to work in the garden! A nice little stool will be perfect!
FYI: Vegetables such as carrots, onions, and potatoes do very well in raised beds.
Container Gardening
Lastly, you can do your DIY vegetable gardening in simple containers. (Who knew!)
What’s nice about this option is you can easily move the containers around if needed, which is perfect for a small space. And even though this would be a small garden, it is an effective way to grow certain vegetables, like cherry tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Containers also cater well to growing an herb garden with herbs like rosemary, basil, etc.
For containers, you can use things like:
- Plastic and ceramic pots.
- Old barrels.
- Window boxes.
- Grow Bags.
Vertical Garden
If you don’t have a lot of space to start your own vegetable garden, a vertical garden can be a good idea. I’ve seen these on Pinterest before, and they look really nice in addition to being super functional. Here are several ideas for vertical planters.
You can set up a vertical garden like this on your fence, railing, or the side of your home. Then, hang some small containers on the board to plant fresh veggies.
Vertical gardens are an effective way to grow herbs, beans, carrots, etc.
Step #3 – Get The Supplies You Need
Unfortunately, this is the expensive part. You will need to get all the necessary supplies to set up your garden as well as any gardening tools you might need.
Thankfully, this cost is just to get started.
Once you have everything you need, you can reuse everything year after year. (All you will need to buy each year after is the seeds, soil to top up any washed-away soil, and some nutrients to put in your soil for healthy growth.)
What You’ll Need To Buy
- Any supplies you will need to set up your garden.
- Soil
- Fertilizer
- Watering Can
- Shovel
- Rake
- Hoe
- Trowel
- Seed Starting Trays or Pots
- Gardening Gloves
Where To Find Inexpensive Supplies
You can absolutely look for used gardening tools, supplies, and equipment to save money. I’m all about reuse if you can! Other places to look for inexpensive supplies for your DIY vegetable garden include Target, Amazon, Home Depot, etc.
Garden centers will be the most expensive place to shop for your needed supplies, but I always love supporting local businesses. It may cost more, but it will also have its own benefits for the local community! I also have wonderful memories of going to our local garden center as a child with my mom.
Step #4 – Set Up The Garden
Okay, now it’s time to plant your garden!
Planting Your Garden
Step #1 – Choose What You Want To Plant
The first step is choosing what you want to plant. Before you go crazy and start planting ALL the things, here are some things to remember.
- How much space do you have in your garden?
- What are your family’s favorite vegetables?
- What are the best vegetables to grow in your climate?
- Which are the easiest vegetables to grow overall?
- Are there certain vegetables that yield a lot of crops?
Once you have answered these questions, you can narrow down your list.
Here are some different types of vegetables you can grow yourself.
Cool Season Crops
- Lettuce
- Romaine
- Spinach
- Kale
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Green Beans
- Onions
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Herbs
Warm season crops
- Tomatoes
- Peppers (Bell & Chili Peppers)
- Eggplant
- Zucchini
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Corn
Step #2 – Start Your Seeds Indoors
Once you have narrowed down your list, you will need to start the seeds indoors before planting them in your garden. It’s essential to do this a few weeks before the last frost date in your area, usually in early Spring.
To start seeds indoors, you need seed-starting trays or pots with soil and some light source.
Once you’ve planted the seeds, keep them watered and make sure they get enough sunlight each day. Your seeds will start growing indoors, which is really rewarding to see!
Step #3 – Plant The Seeds Outdoors
Once the last frost has passed, you can plant your seedlings outdoors. Before you do this, you should prepare the soil by tilling it and adding compost and other nutrients.
Getting The Best Results
Okay, by now, you’ve put in a lot of work to start saving some money on your groceries. We don’t want to see all that effort go to waste.
So, how can you ensure you get the best results without it taking up too much of your time?
Here are some of the tips my friend shared with me:
Feed And Water Your Plants Regularly
Feeding your vegetables can help them to thrive and provide you with the most robust crops.
To do this, make sure you are using a fertilizer specifically formulated for vegetable gardens. Make sure to look at the packaging as well! You will find specific tips on how often to add this to your soil and get the most out of it right there on the packaging.
Watering your plants will also be essential to get the best results. When you first put them in, check if the soil is moist. If not, give it a good soak and make sure that you are keeping it moist throughout the growing season. Don’t overwater, though! Our peppers didn’t survive last year because my kids got a little excited about watering and flooded them.
Work with the weather, as well. Knowing the weather forecast will be really important to keep your garden thriving!
Monitor For Pests Or Diseases
Unfortunately, pests and plant diseases are a part of our ecosystem. But we definitely don’t want them in our garden! So, pay close attention to your vegetable plants to address any infestations quickly before they spread throughout other parts of the garden.
If you do find any issues, make sure to use an organic form of pest control.
Harvest At The Right Time
To get the most out of your vegetable garden, make sure you are regularly harvesting any of the ripe vegetables.
When my friend started DIY vegetable gardening, she said Google was her best friend. You can find a lot of helpful information online about when to harvest your vegetables, how to do it without damaging the plant or the roots, and how to store them.
Store Your Fresh Vegetables Properly
Once harvested, you must also know the best ways to store your different veggies. Proper storage will help them last longer, saving you more money on your groceries and reducing spoilage.
Again, Google will be your best friend for this! Every vegetable has to be stored differently. Make sure you do this research ahead of time to get the most out of your vegetable garden.
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DIY vegetable gardening is a great way for young families looking for ways to save money on groceries while enjoying their own homegrown produce right outside their doorsteps.
I hope these tips will be helpful as you start your own gardening journey to grow your own vegetables!
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