You don't need a huge backyard, expensive raised beds, or a garage full of gardening supplies to grow your own vegetables. In fact, you can grow a surprisingly productive garden using things you probably already have around the house.
Container gardening is one of my favorite ways to garden on a budget.
Buckets, tubs, flower pots, and other containers can all become little gardens with just a few inexpensive supplies. I've found that with a little creativity, you can grow fresh vegetables and herbs without spending a fortune.
And if you're willing to shop clearance racks, check with local farmers, save containers, and even visit your library, you can get your garden started for very little money.
You Don't Need Fancy Garden Containers
Before you run out and buy expensive planters, take a look around your house.
You can grow plants in all kinds of containers, including:
- Five-gallon buckets
- Plastic tubs
- Large flower pots
- Old planters
- Wash tubs
- Nursery pots
- Large food containers
- Storage containers
- Other sturdy containers you have on hand
They don't have to match, either. My container garden isn't about everything looking perfect. It's about growing food and saving money.
One of my favorite things about container gardening is finding a use for something that might otherwise end up in the trash.
Drill Holes in the Bottom
There's one important step you shouldn't skip when you're repurposing containers: drainage holes.
I drilled holes in the bottom of my containers so excess water could drain away. Plants don't like sitting in soggy soil, and containers without drainage can quickly become a problem.
You don't need anything fancy. A drill and the right size bit can turn many sturdy containers into perfectly usable planters.
Just make sure whatever container you're using is sturdy enough to hold the soil, water, and mature plant.
Save Money on Soil by Using Fillers
Potting mix can get expensive when you're filling large containers, so I also looked for ways to use less of it.
For some of my larger containers, I added things like sticks, cardboard, leaves, and other natural or bulky material as filler before adding my potting mix.
The idea is to avoid filling a huge container entirely with expensive potting soil when the plant doesn't necessarily need all of that space filled with premium mix.
Of course, you want to make sure whatever you're putting into the container is appropriate for your setup and won't create drainage problems. I also leave enough good-quality growing medium around the plant's roots.
My Favorite Potting Mix for Containers
When it came to the actual growing medium, I found that I had the best results with Miracle-Gro potting mix made for containers.
I've experimented with different options, but my plants seemed to do particularly well with it.
Good soil is one area where I don't mind spending a little money. There's no point in getting inexpensive plants and containers if the plants don't have what they need to grow.
But you don't necessarily need to buy everything at full price.
That's where some of my other budget gardening tricks come in.
Buy Plants on Clearance
One of my favorite ways to save money on gardening is shopping the clearance section at garden centers.
Plants that were several dollars earlier in the season can get marked down significantly as the season progresses.
I've bought plants on clearance and gotten them growing with a little TLC. They may not always look perfect when you bring them home, but sometimes all they need is water, sunshine, and a good place to grow.
I also bought plants from local farmers for around $1.50 or less.
That's a price I can get excited about!
When you're paying $1.50 or less for a starter plant, you don't have to spend a fortune to get a nice variety of vegetables growing.
Check Your Local Library for Seeds
Here's one of my favorite budget gardening tricks:
Check your library!
Some libraries offer seed libraries or seed exchanges where patrons can get seeds for free or at very little cost.
I was able to get seeds from the library, which meant I could try growing even more plants without buying packets of seeds at the garden center.
Libraries can be an incredible resource for gardeners. If your local library doesn't have a seed program, it's still worth asking whether they know of a local seed exchange, gardening group, or community program.
Free seeds?
Yes, please!
What Can You Grow in Containers?
You might be surprised by how many things can grow in containers.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the classic container garden plants.
Give them a nice big container, plenty of sunshine, good soil, and support as they grow.
A tomato plant in a bucket can produce a surprising amount of tomatoes!
Peppers
Peppers are another great choice.
You can grow bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapeños, and many other varieties in containers.
They don't take up as much room as some larger vegetables, making them especially useful when you're working with a small space.
Lettuce
Lettuce doesn't need a deep container, so it's perfect for tubs and shallow planters.
You can grow several plants together and harvest leaves as you need them.
Radishes
Radishes are a fun choice for beginner gardeners because they don't take up much space and grow relatively quickly.
A small container can provide plenty of room for them.
Green Onions
Green onions are another easy container crop.
Plant them in a pot or smaller container and keep them handy for cooking.
Herbs
Don't forget about herbs!
Basil, parsley, chives, oregano, thyme, cilantro, and other herbs can grow very well in containers.
A few inexpensive herb plants can provide fresh flavor for your meals throughout the growing season.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers can also be grown in containers, especially bush or compact varieties.
You'll want to give them some kind of support if they're a vining variety. A few sticks can even be useful for creating a simple support structure.
Beans
Beans can work well in containers, too. Give them something to climb and you'll be able to make use of vertical space.
Strawberries
Strawberries are another fun option for containers.
They can be grown in pots, tubs, hanging containers, and other planters. They're particularly useful if you don't have room for a traditional strawberry bed.
Use Sticks for Supports
You don't always have to buy a trellis.
Look around your yard!
Sticks can be useful for supporting climbing plants or giving smaller plants a little extra structure.
You can create simple supports for cucumbers, beans, peas, and other plants without spending money on fancy garden equipment.
This is another area where I like to keep things simple.
The plants don't care if their support came from a garden center or from your backyard.
Container Gardening Is Perfect for Small Spaces
One of the reasons I love container gardening is that you don't need a traditional garden plot.
You can grow food on:
- A patio
- A porch
- A balcony
- A small yard
- Along a sunny fence
- Beside your house
- A sunny driveway or other suitable space
If you have enough sunlight and room for a few containers, you can probably grow something.
And you don't have to start with 20 containers.
Start with two or three.
Grow What Your Family Actually Eats
If you're gardening to save money, this is an important one.
Grow things you actually eat!
There's not much financial benefit to spending time, soil, and water growing a vegetable your family doesn't like.
Think about the produce you buy regularly.
Do you buy tomatoes every week?
Plant tomatoes.
Always buying peppers?
Grow peppers.
Spend a lot on fresh herbs?
Put some herbs in pots.
Even a small amount of homegrown produce can help stretch your grocery budget.
Don't Be Afraid to Experiment
Container gardening doesn't have to be perfect.
Some plants will thrive.
Some won't.
You'll probably overwater something at least once. You'll probably forget to water something else. A plant might get too big for its container or simply decide it doesn't like where you put it.
That's part of gardening!
The great thing about doing it on a budget is that you're not risking a huge amount of money.
When you've purchased plants for $1.50 or less, gotten seeds from the library, repurposed containers, and used things you already have around the house, it's much easier to experiment.
My Budget Container Garden Formula
If I had to break down my approach to inexpensive container gardening, it would look something like this:
Find containers → drill drainage holes → add inexpensive filler where appropriate → add quality container potting mix → find cheap or free plants and seeds → add homemade supports → grow!
I look for clearance plants.
I check with local farmers.
I look for free seeds at the library.
I reuse containers.
I use sticks and other things I already have instead of buying every garden accessory.
And when I do spend money, I try to spend it where it matters—like using a potting mix that has given me good results.
You Don't Have to Spend a Lot to Grow Your Own Food
There's something really satisfying about eating something you grew yourself.
There's also something satisfying about knowing you didn't spend a fortune doing it.
Container gardening is proof that you don't need a picture-perfect garden or a huge budget to grow fresh food. A few buckets, tubs, flower pots, some inexpensive plants, and a little creativity can go a surprisingly long way.
Look around before you shop.
That old bucket might become a tomato planter.
Those clearance plants might turn into a summer harvest.
The library might have free seeds.
And those sticks and leaves sitting outside might have a use in your garden after all.
You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to start gardening.
Sometimes the best garden is the one you create with what you
