When do you start?

[secuono]

Only time I see seed sales is in the fall and they are still a dollar or more. We don't bother with flowers and all that stuff, we mow everything down, no one will go around and 'weed' it.
I just plant things in random spots, trying to figure out what can be next to what and when to switch and all that, I never remember.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy started plants like tomatoes and such than try to repot them all the time in the house? It's way too cold for anything to grow at all in our house until winter is well over.

 

[897tgigvib]

Secuono, for you it's probably best to purchase Tomato plants and others that want warmth while starting them.

Things like cabbage, kale, brocolli might do well in your cool house.

Are you warm enough?

 

[canesisters]

Marshalls layering method...

you're doing it wrong...

 

[ducks4you]

It's always easiest to just buy the small plants and put them in. Certainly nothing wrong with that. I just get all excited when I can find bargains on stuff that makes my $gardening go further. If you get interested in seed packages at stores, start looking where you don't expect to find much...like at WalMart and at hardware stores, even at Walgreens, believe it or not, where it's all seasonal. I also shop for specialty items at my local FS. I'm considering buying ladybug larvae there this year. LAST year I missed buying sweet potato slips. They were the ONLY place in town that carried them, and the sold out in 4 days.
There is also a local gardening store, "Prairie Gardens." I usually don't shop there bc of their prices, but they do carry things others do not.
As for ME, I try to garden smarter every year. For some stupid reason I have never saved seed packages. All of the information you need is on them. Yesterday I grabbed an old, 3-ring binder, and a new package of filler paper and I stapled the packages of the seeds I intend to plant, so far, each on a separate page. I find that I can hand write notes better than computer log them--been there, done that, didn't work for me.
I already have a diagram of my many gardens on my property. I'm patting myself on the back for some of the biggest jobs that I'm sure my super-critical mother would never have thought me capable of, had I told her of them. Last year I removed 8 huge stumps, underground. Other jobs include creating an herb bed from a little round existing one, creating a rose bed, double-digging 4/8 raised beds 3 1/2" x 12 ', 30 inches deep, no less!!, planting 6 fruit trees, replanting my smaller horse pasture (3/4 acre) last Fall, and putting in the 2 beds that flank my front walk's steps--I dug and tilled those before planting geraniums, then replaced those with mums last Fall.
Some years you make great progress, some years you just get by.

 

[Jared77]

Never hurts to look at the clearance sections too after the big buying rush has passed. I'm a regular browser of the TSC, Walmart (other local carry a little bit of everything stores) Lowes, Home Depot anybody that sells outdoor garden stuff to see what they have on clearance that they are trying to get rid of.

2 years ago I bought 3" pots of tomatoes for 25 cents per 3" pot each at TSC. Thats how I got my Lemon Boys and Green Zebra varieties. Nobody wanted yellow or green tomatoes apparently. Mind you it was already past the big planting rush of Memorial Day (thats the big one around here) I think it was a week or 2 past. But heck why not? Got them in, cared for them and they caught right up with everything else I had that year. As my FIL says "Tomatoes are supposed to be RED!" Best part was when he tried the salsa I made with 4 different colors of tomatoes he flips over how good it is Imagine that

I've bought 6 cell packs of sweet peppers and hot peppers for a dollar, found those last year. I don't plant with some "finds" in mind however I don't pass them up if I can find a good deal. Have also gotten a number of flower bulbs that way too. Stores want them gone, gotta make room for something else. They want the display gone and want the floor space. So I'll wait for the weather to cooperate and put them in. Next year you'd never know they were clearance plants. Same with seeds, never hurts to look since lookings free.

If I'm out and about Ill swing over to any of the above mentioned stores and walk through their gardening section, or if I'm already there getting something else Ill cruise through their gardening section. You'd be amazed what you can bring back by letting the pot with the plant it in soak in a couple inches of water inside a larger bucket. Especially with some liquid ferts mixed in. Usually 24-48hrs you'll know if your going to put it in the bed or the compost pile.

I'm not afraid to take a flyer on something that's already bloomed or something that's missed a couple of waterings or been left in the sun when its a shade loving variety. Baby it a little, some TLC does wonders. I figure if it works I saved some $ and if it doesn't oh well it was going to get pitched anyway. I don't take in every last possible plant but if its a perennial and it looks like its got a chance at recovering and its something I like/want sure Ill take a flyer on it.

edited for spelling apparently I type faster than I can spell

 

[897tgigvib]

Hay Cane, I think that was taken at one of those clearance sales outside where it's ALL YOU CAN WEAR, 7.50

She doesn't have her legs done right...