7 Frugal Tricks For Gardening In the City

Vegetable gardening can be a rewarding experience both in terms of harvest as well as stress relief. It can be done without having acres of land. As long as you have ample sunlight and a willingness to find the opportunities, you too will have great results. The following low cost ideas are 7 frugal tricks for gardening in the city.

What Are The 7 Frugal Tricks For Gardening In The City?

1. Upside Down Tomato Plants

This is a great way to grow some tomatoes on your balcony or backyard. If you have a pergola, you can hang some tomato plants and watch them grow. Inexpensive and compact, they deliver a large yield of tomatoes throughout the summer and fall season. The best part is that gravity works in your favour and you do not need to tie up your tomatoes like you would if you grew them in the ground.

The picture above is the exact same style we have used in the past. If you have a balcony that has sun exposure, set up a spot to grow some tomatoes and expect to receive an abundance.

2. Stems Of Dark Green Vegetables

Keep the stems of dark green vegetables and they will regrow more of the same vegetable for you in the ground. Without spending any additional money you can use the stem and regrow produce without paying for it. This is a one time purchase. When you are ready to start planting in your backyard go to the grocery store and buy the nicest kale, broccoli, collards and celery, with a long thick stem.

Wash it, cut the stem about 5-8 inches long and put it into a jar of water. Wait until the stem starts to grow some roots and then plant it in your garden soil. Mend your garden and take care of it using compost to keep it growing. Your vegetables will grow.

I did this in the first two years of gardening kale for summer. The first year did not work out so well however the second year was amazing. This year I will plant kale again.

3. Collecting Compost

Any time you buy fruits and vegetables, save them up to use for your kitchen scraps. You are not paying extra money for it and it provides valuable nutrients for your garden. Instead of throwing it away in the garbage or having the city transport it for their garden, keep your scraps and use them wisely. 

Compost for your garden is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, nutrients the vegetables need in order to thrive. Moving forward, do not look at your vegetable leftovers as garbage. Have a small compost in your kitchen or a small container on your kitchen counter and collect the scraps, filling up the container. When it is full, throw it outside in the garden. If you live in a condo and are growing very little produce, this may not be for you.

4. Collecting Leaves For Soil

As mentioned in garden compost with leaves, collecting leaves for soil is an effective method in growing a successful vegetable garden without spending money. They are already on your lawn waiting to be collected. Gather them up and create a compost out of it.

Mix in the compost with the leaves and let it break down to be used for your vegetables. The collected leaves add nutrients to the soil which helps your vegetables grow better. 

5. Coffee Grinds For Soil

Who knew that coffee grinds would be so useful for the soil, but they are. In previous blogs I mention the importance of using coffee grinds for your garden. I share that this trick can help you revive some plants back to life.

Since a large number of adults drink coffee, keep your grinds. With the price of coffee rising, keep the grinds and make extra use out of them by applying them in your garden. 

The soil will benefit from it. They provide a boost of nitrogen to your soil. They can be added to your compost or you can just sprinkle the used coffee grinds in your garden and mix it with the soil.

6. Collecting Vegetable Seeds From Produce

This is a basic low cost trick in growing your vegetable garden. Buy the produce you want and collect their seeds. For example, if you want to grow green peppers or tomatoes, buy a green pepper or a tomato. You will receive many seeds from just one vegetable, which will give you an abundant harvest if you plant those seeds into the ground.

You do not need to spend on organic seeds, or any special seeds. Save the seeds from the vegetables you currently enjoy and you can grow some more. One vegetable alone gives us many seeds that we can plant and grow a lot of vegetables from.

The abundance is readily available and low cost.

7. Collecting Rain Water

Another invaluable trick to take advantage of in the summer is collecting rain water. It is cost effective, frugal, good for your plants, grass, soil and it is all natural. Collecting rain water is a good idea to consider if you are growing a garden.

For those who live in condos, some of you can collect water while others cannot. Those on the first floor can have a bucket or two out on your balcony when water falls.

For the majority living in a building, this is probably not something for you. It all depends on your space. You will likely not have enough space to grow a large garden on the balcony of your condo so you will not be using a lot of water. 

The water collected is in accordance to how much you are able to grow in your space. I am growing at least 5 times more the amount with a small backyard than what I could in a condo. Therefore, collecting water is practical and efficient.

Conclusion

Right now the weather remains cold and erratic. Within three weeks we will be feeling the warm weather kick in. There is just a little time left to plant and grow your vegetables seeds indoors before taking them out. Apply these 7 frugal tricks for gardening in the city for a successful harvest in the fall.

April 21, 2022