Put more food on your table for less money by growing these money-saving crops…

Some people think that it takes a lot of money to start a garden, but the fact is that gardening on a budget is actually quite doable. While you may have to invest some time and hard work (especially in the beginning), the money you’ll need to get started can be minimal – depending on the type of garden you are planning. In many cases, all you’ll need to get started are a few garden tools and some seeds. Even better, growing your own food can actually save you a lot of money once your garden starts producing! If you are on a tight budget, you may want to strategically plan out your garden and choose some of the most money-saving crops to fill your garden space.

There are many different types of money-saving crops that can help put more food on your table for less. Whether you’re looking at quick-growing crops that will produce multiple harvests over your growing season, or plants that produce bountiful harvests that you can preserve to feed your family outside of the growing season, there are plenty of options for stretching your budget through growing your own food!

This quick video shares some of the most high-value fruits and vegetables you can grow in your garden. Make sure to plant some of these this year if you’re on a budget!

Here are a few more frugal tips for starting a garden on a budget:

1.) Make your own fertilizer. Purchasing soil and fertilizer can be quite expensive – especially if you opt for organic. Instead, create your own homemade fertilizer through composting! Compost is the most nutritious, well-balanced fertilizer for your plants anyway, and it’s easy to make your own! All it takes is some yard and garden waste and some time. Need fertilizer right away? Try these easy and quick DIY ideas…

2.) Buy (and then save) and plant seeds. Pre-started seedlings may start growing faster, but you’ll save a ton of money by buying seeds and starting them yourself. You’ll often pay the same price for a whole packet of seeds as you would for ONE seedling plant. You may have to buy some seed-starting containers if you don’t already have some old pots or trays lying around, but you can re-use your containers year-after-year – or make your own for free out of cardboard or old newspapers! And if you let a few of your vegetables go to seed this year, you can save the seeds for next year, and then you won’t have to buy more.

3.) Look for free resources. There are tons of ways to save money in the garden if you are resourceful and keep an eye out for free or low-cost materials! For example, maybe you know someone who raises livestock and would be willing to give you some manure to get your compost off to a great start – especially if you promise them some fresh veggies when summer arrives! Old straw or hay bales can often be found free at the end of the fall season, and may be used for mulch. Depending on where you live, you may be able to collect bagged leaves or grass clippings in your neighborhood, which can be used as free mulch, or added to the compost pile. Wood chips make wonderful mulch and you can often get them free from local arborists just by asking – or use a service like ChipDrop if it’s available in your area. Get creative, and you can grow an amazingly productive garden for much less money than you might think!