You can have a glorious garden using cheap or free seeds.
There is nothing better than to pick your own flowers for a bouquet or harvest vegetables that you have grown. But, having your own flower or vegetable garden can be expensive if you start with purchased plants. This is why so many gardeners opt to start with seeds, either sowing the seeds directly into the garden or, in colder climates, starting the seeds indoors and transplanting seedlings to the garden when the weather warms. Seeds can be expensive, too, but there are ways to acquire your garden seeds cheaply, and sometimes for free. Does this Spark an idea?
Harvesting
Harvesting seeds from existing flowers and vegetables is one of the least expensive methods of acquiring cheap, or free, seeds. The flowers and vegetables do not even need to be from your own garden; ask friends, family and neighbors if you can harvest seeds from their garden. Flower seed harvesting is the easiest because the seeds are already exposed to the world in the flower head, seed pod or as a bulb. To harvest flower seeds, allow the flower to remain on its stem to die. Before the flower head completely dies and dries, carefully tie a paper sack over the flower head to catch the seeds from the pod or head. Allow the flower and stem to completely dry, with the sack over the flower head, then gently remove the stem and flower from the plant, separate the seeds from the flower head trash, label an envelope and place the seeds inside. Store the seeds in a cool, dark, dry location until you are ready to plant them.
Vegetable seeds can be removed from mature vegetables, spread out to dry and stored in the same manner as flower seeds. Be aware, though, that if you harvest seeds from a hybrid plant, whether it is a flower or vegetable, the new plant you grow from those seeds will probably not be the same as the original plant. Many times, the new plant is interesting in itself, and worth exploring the possibilities.
Seed Exchange
There have always been seed-exchange organizations, beginning with local garden club members trading seeds, to accessing people with seeds to exchange from all over the world via the Internet or through gardening magazines. Most seed-exchange organizations are free to join, though some require a free or low-cost membership. Once you have discovered a seed exchange, you will need to harvest flower or vegetable seeds yourself to exchange, or some exchanges allow you to simply purchase member's harvested seeds at a low cost. Seed exchanges are ideal for hard-to-find seeds, heirloom seeds or seeds that are expensive through retail outlets.
Discounts
Seed catalogs and discount centers often have seed packets reduced and on sale, particularly toward the end of the season. Seed companies will substantially reduce prices of flower and vegetable seeds if they are discontinuing that variety in the catalog. You will need to request a free catalog from these seed companies to be able to select and purchase your seeds. Discounted seed packets in your local stores will be less expensive at the end of the growing season, and sometimes even during the planting season. These seeds may be from last year's inventory, but the seeds will still be good and most will germinate successfully.
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