The Frugal Veggie Farm: Gardening With Groceries

A person can go broke trying to save money by gardening. Here's one way to pinch a penny or two.

The most reliable results come from heirloom plants and vegetables. Hybrid plants and vegetables are a mix of 2 or more varieties -- you may not like what you get. Commercial fruit trees, like cherries, apples and peaches, are usually grafted and are notorious for not growing true from seed.

Beans: Dry beans, not canned! (But you knew that ...) Storebought beans may be too old when you buy them. To test, put a handful of unsplit, intact beans in a cup of water. If they float, they're deceased. Sprout the survivors in water or wet paper towels, or plant directly in soil. Plant outdoors in spring. Bush-type beans require little space and no support. Runner-type beans will require more space and support. To tell which is which, Google your bean!

Citrus Seeds (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, etc.): Healthy seeds should grow if planted in soil, and can be grown indoors year-round. But don't expect fruit for 5-6 years, at least.

Garlic: Plant a clove in soil, root side down. You can harvest the green shoots and use them like garlicky green onions. If you let it flower, it will produce "bulbil" which can also be planted and give you full heads of garlic after about 2 years.

Herbs: Fresh herbs with stems can go straight from the produce section -- or fridge(!) -- to your windowbox. Dip the stem bottoms in homemade rooting compound (1 or 2 aspirin dissolved in a half-cup of water) and stick them in a small container of soil. While the roots are taking hold, you may want to water them once or twice in a light solution of aspirin and water. When your herbs have rooted, you can transplant them outdoors or into a bigger container if you wish.

Peppers, Sweet and Hot: Some supermarket peppers' seeds may have been sterilized; if so, they won't grow. Farmer's market seeds may be more reliable. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Dry your seeds and plant them indoors in late winter, or outdoors in early spring, in soil about 1/4-inch deep. Peppers make great container plants. NOTE: Keep sweet and hot peppers apart. They tend to cross-pollinate, resulting in not-so-hot, not-so-sweet peppers.

Potatoes: Let your unused potatoes sprout. Cut large potatoes into small pieces with one or 2 "eye-sprouts" apiece. Set them aside until the cuts have dried so the potatoes won't rot in the ground. Small potatoes can be planted whole. Plant 'em sprouty side up. Start outdoors only after all danger of frost is past. No room? No problem. Stacked tires, garbage cans (clean ones), 5-gallon buckets or wine barrels all work wonderfully whilst sparing you much digging and muscle strain. If you have some outdoor space, planting them in a mound is far less labor-intensive than stooping and digging. Harvest baby potatoes after flowering has been finished for 2-3 weeks -- this will involve completely digging up the plant. You may continue to harvest potatoes until 2-3 weeks after foliage has died back. Store your harvest in a cool, dry place.

Tomatoes: Once again, heirlooms are your trustiest friends. Your seeds will need a bit of treatment before planting, because the "jelly" around your storebought tomato's seeds keeps them from germinating. The process is a teensy bit yucky, but worth it. Put your seeds in a small container of water, cover and leave them for 2-3 days to ferment. On your next visit, you'll find a smelly, mouldy crust or blob floating atop the water. Make sure all the "jelly" has dissolved around the seeds, then pour out the yuck. Fill again with clear water. Discard any seeds that float. Keep the sinkers, rinse them, then dry them thoroughly on a plate so they will not rot. Seeds should be somewhat brittle, and if kept safe from moisture, should last several months. Plant outdoors about 2 weeks after the last expected frost.

Ornamental Experimentals: Pineapple tops will grow into an interesting green plant, but fruit is not likely. (I did luck out once. It was small, but very sweet!) Just place the top in a pot of soil mixed with used coffee grounds -- they like the acid -- and water frequently. Carrot greens are a kindergarten classic, and will produce a lovely, if relatively short-lived, ferny plant. Place leafy tops just below the soil. (THIS JUST IN: Carrot greens are food, too! Check out the cool carrot greens recipe in Lela Davidson's hub.) Avocado seeds will produce a nice, if unfruitful, tree. Stick 3-4 toothpicks around the middle of the seed and suspend the seed, point up, in a glass or jar filled with water. After about an inch of root has grown, plant seed half-deep in soil. Keep it well watered.