“Fruits and Vegetables are neat, they make you feel good from your head to foot.”
Ever thought that you might have a green thumb?
We may all have seen one of our grandparents work in their vegetable garden, not even understanding any importance with it. Some of us might have look at it as a pass time. But with the inflating cost of food, vegetable gardening is practical, economical and fun as well.
Gardening might be just your forte!
If you are concerned about how you can start your vegetable garden with a limited budget, here are some things to help you with:
Types Of Home Gardens
1.CONTAINER GARDEN
This is the kind of garden you would love to keep. It is easy to start with and works well with limited spaces. You can start planting lettuce, peppers, squash, oregano, basil, and even tomatoes.
You may experience a trial-and-error period but don’t worry cause it will be all worth it. Once you see your seeds are starting to grow one by one, it is such an achievement.
In this type you will need:
- Containers
- Gardening Soil
- Hand rake or Tiller
- Seeds (of your choice)
- Water
- Compost (if ever you have heavy-feeding plants)
Average Cost
The approximate amount for your start will depend on the type of supplies you will buy. Containers can range from $5 to $10 per piece. Your other items like hand rakes and seeds might cost you $2 to $5 per item. Altogether, your garden should not cost you more than a $100 as an initial set up.
Tip: You can lessen your expenses if you could grab a few containers from friends or family that is no longer used.
What to Plant
One of the most important things to keep in mind when planting in containers is that the roots of your plants can only go down. So make sure that your containers are deep and wide enough to accommodate your plants. The depth of your container is important especially if you are growing root vegetable like potatoes.
Here are some of the vegetables that can grow well in containers:
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Cucumbers
- Carrots
- Peppers
- Green beans
- Lettuce
- Squash
- Turnips
- Green onions
Tomatoes and carrots can grow well together in one container, while squash needs a separate container since it is a heavy feeder and needs a lot of compost. It can choke other plants as its vines grow.
2.IN-GROUND GARDEN BED
The in-ground garden bed is practical if you have good soil with extra space. An in-ground garden with 500 square feet can be good enough to feed a family of 4 for 8 months per year with plenty to share with neighbors and friends.
With this type you will need:
- Hand tillers
- Seeds
- Compost
- Trellis
- Stakes
- Small fence (made of stones, bricks or wood)
Average Cost
You’ll be able to save money if you have good soil and plant it directly on the ground. You can obtain bricks and woods at a cheap cost. The seed and root vegetable can be bought directly at stores. Your garden should cost you $100 to $200 for initial set-up but it will still depend on the size of your garden.
What to Plant
- Cabbage
- Pumpkin
- Eggplant
- Watermelon
- Beet
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Peppers
- Squash
- Tomatoes
3.RAISED-BED GARDEN
This can be your next project if your container garden works perfectly. This type of garden gives you a room for an experiment that can offer higher yields. This is ideal for a slightly large space and a great alternative for direct-to-ground planting.
In this type you will need:
- DIY Raised-bed (if you are discouraged of the price of pre-made beds):
- Cedar board (rot-resistant)
- Couple layers of newspaper
- Topsoil
- Peat moss
- Compost
- Grass clippings
- Seeds
- Water
- Hand tillers
Average Cost
Building your raised beds can cost you no more than $10 for the frame itself. With the addition of soil, seeds, and hand tillers, you’ll approximately cost $50 to $100.
Tip: to save a few bucks, you can borrow hand tillers from friends and neighbors as well as compost can be made at home.
What to Plant
- Beans
- Brussels
- Spinach
- Rhubarb
- Asparagus
- Pumpkins
- Broccoli
4.WINDOW BOX GARDEN
Even if you are living in an apartment, you can still try gardening with a window box garden.
In this type you will need:
- Window box or hanging box
- Garden soil
- Seeds
- Water
Average Cost
A small window box garden (an effective way to grow herbs and vegetables) should cost you $50 for a start. Seeds can be obtained from stores.
What to Plant
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Oregano
- Basil
- Chives
Things to Remember
No matter what type of garden project you will make you might have some failures but do not stop. That is normal. Try again as it is a satisfying feeling to see your hard work growing and save you a lot of money in the future.
Have a Happy Start!!!
