Gardening season in Washington has gotten pricier, with vegetable starts costing more than ever before. Many gardeners are feeling the pinch as nurseries raise prices due to increased production costs and supply chain issues.
Starting your garden from seeds instead of buying young plants can save you money while giving you more variety and control over your growing season.
1. Calculate Your True Savings
Money talks when comparing seeds to starts! A $3 packet might contain 25-100 seeds, while a single tomato start can cost $5 or more. For the price of two store-bought starts, you could grow dozens of plants from seed.
The math becomes even more compelling with vegetables like lettuce or carrots. These crops are direct-sown anyway, making expensive starts unnecessary. Plus, leftover seeds can often be stored for next season, stretching your garden budget even further.
2. Start With Easy-Growing Varieties
Not all seeds require a green thumb! Beginners should focus on foolproof options like zucchini, beans, peas, and radishes. These vegetables practically jump out of the ground with minimal fuss.
Sunflowers and nasturtiums are also forgiving flowers that grow quickly from seed. By choosing these beginner-friendly varieties, you’ll build confidence while saving money. Success with these easy growers will encourage you to expand your seed-starting repertoire next season.
3. Create A DIY Seed Starting Station
No need for fancy equipment! Repurpose everyday items like egg cartons, yogurt cups, or newspaper pots as seed starters. A sunny window or inexpensive grow light provides all the illumination your seedlings need to thrive.
Old takeout containers with clear lids make perfect mini-greenhouses. For warmth, place seed trays on top of your refrigerator or use a heating pad set on low. With these simple household hacks, you’ll have a functional seed-starting setup without spending big bucks.
4. Master The Timing For Washington’s Climate
Washington’s growing zones range from 6a to 9a, creating unique planting windows across the state. Cool-season crops like spinach and peas can be direct-sown in March in western Washington, while eastern regions might wait until April.
Warm-season vegetables like tomatoes should be started indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. A regional planting calendar helps maximize your growing season. Remember that properly timed seeds often outperform transplants that suffer from shock after being moved outdoors.
5. Join A Seed Swap Community
Gardeners are naturally generous folks! Local seed swaps let you trade extra seeds with neighbors, multiplying your garden variety without spending extra cash. Many Washington communities host seasonal swap events at libraries or community centers.
Online groups like the Pacific Northwest Seed Swap connect gardeners virtually. Beyond saving money, these exchanges introduce you to locally-adapted varieties and heirloom treasures you won’t find in stores. You’ll also meet fellow gardeners who can share valuable growing tips specific to your microclimate.
6. Save Seeds From Your Harvest
Free seeds are growing in your garden right now! Learning to collect and store seeds from successful plants creates a self-sustaining garden. Tomatoes, beans, peppers, and most flowers readily produce viable seeds for next year.
Label your saved seeds with variety names and collection dates. Store them in paper envelopes in a cool, dry place. Not only does seed-saving eliminate future costs, but it also develops plants specially adapted to your garden’s unique conditions over generations.
7. Succession Plant For Continuous Harvests
Seeds make it affordable to keep your garden productive all season! Instead of buying expensive starts every few weeks, sow small batches of seeds every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests. This works brilliantly with lettuce, radishes, carrots, and beans.
Washington’s long growing season, especially west of the Cascades, supports multiple plantings. Create a simple calendar marking when to plant each succession. The cost of a single nursery-bought lettuce start could provide months of salad greens when using succession-planted seeds.
8. Explore Unusual Varieties Unavailable As Starts
Seed catalogs offer a rainbow of possibilities that nurseries simply can’t match! Purple carrots, striped tomatoes, and unusual herbs are rarely available as starts but easily grown from seed. Washington’s diverse growing regions support an amazing variety of unique vegetables.
Heritage seed companies like Adaptive Seeds and Uprising Seeds specialize in Pacific Northwest-adapted varieties. Growing these distinctive plants not only saves money but also helps preserve biodiversity. Plus, these conversation-starter vegetables make gardening more fun and adventurous for both adults and kids.