Gardening can be an exciting outdoor hobby but buying seeds and plants can get very expensive. There are several ways to get free plants and seeds for your garden. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Harvest Your Own Seeds
One of the easiest ways to get free plants for your garden is to save seeds from your existing crops. Once the growing season ends, let your plants go to seed. Carefully collect the seeds from mature vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, beans, and peas. Allow them to dry completely in a warm, dry place, then store them in an airtight container. Properly stored seeds can remain viable for several years.
Seed saving isn’t just about saving money. It also allows you to preserve varieties you’ve had for years and ensure you have seeds for your favourite plants in future seasons. Plus, it’s a satisfying way to connect with the natural cycle of growth and harvest.
Farmers Market
Do you have farmer’s markets in your area? Did you happen to go to one this year? Save the seeds from any seed bearing foods that you bought and dry them out as recommended above and store them ready to plant next year.
Local Garden Centres
Many local garden centres have a “free seed/plant giveaway day”. Take advantage of any near your home. These days are when gardeners in and around the area will bring in their extra plants free for the taking. So keep your eyes open and watch those ads, you never know when you could really score a deal.
Another tip is to check with any grocery stores that sell plants regularly. Quite often they have plants that are just about dying that they sell off very cheap, or free, to get rid of them.
Often these all-but-dead plants can be brought back to good condition with a little love and care.
Regrowing Celery: A Kitchen Garden Hack
Ever wondered if you could grow your own celery? Well, you can! It’s a simple and satisfying project that’s perfect for the kitchen gardener.
Next time you buy a bunch of celery, save the base. Cut off the stalks, leaving about two inches of the root. Plant this root in a pot of moist soil, covering it lightly. Within a week or so, you should see tender green shoots emerging.
Give your celery plant plenty of sunlight and water, and before you know it, you’ll be harvesting fresh, homegrown celery. It’s a fantastic way to reduce food waste and enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own produce.
Regrowing Leafy Greens – Bok Choy and Romaine
You can easily regrow bok choy and romaine lettuce too. It’s a simple and sustainable way to enjoy fresh greens all year round.
After you’ve finished your salad, save the base of your bok choy, or romaine lettuce. Cut off the leaves, leaving a few inches of the root. Plant this root in a pot of moist soil, covering it lightly. As with celery, within a few weeks, you should see new shoots emerging.
Simply harvest the outer leaves as needed, allowing the inner leaves to continue growing. This method can provide you with a continuous supply of fresh, homegrown greens.
Check Online
Another useful resource is social media. There are lots of local social media groups as well as groups on Facebook where you can find people giving plants away.
Just do a simple Google search for free plants and you should see several options in your area.
Now that you know how to find free plants for your garden you won’t have to spend money and can have the gorgeous garden you’ve always dreamed of.