Grow Your Own Food: A Step-by-Step Guide

Lisa Miller
Feb 25
3 min read

Have you been to the store recently? Whether you have a family or not the cost of food is absolutely riddiculous. Growing a garden is easy way to reduce the cost you pay at the store. How? Let do this:

1. Start Where You Are

Its tempting to want to grow a garden like you see other influencers and neighbors, but thats not you. Your garden, needs to be as unique are you are. So, start where you are. You don't need all the things to make a garden beautiful, but what you do need is bit of creativity, and will-power.

Assess Your Space: Determine how much space you have available for gardening, whether it’s a backyard, patio, or even windowsill.
Evaluate Your Climate: Understand the climate in your area to choose the best plants for your garden.
Learn your first and last frost date. This is important information to help you know when to plant certain crops.

2. Plant in Ground

Planting in ground is a lot less expensive than using raised garden beds. If you are on a budget, plan on an in ground garden.

Understand Soil Quality: Check the quality of your soil and amend it as necessary with compost or organic matter.
Choose the Right Location: Select a sunny spot that meets the needs of your chosen plants.
Prepare the Ground: Clear the area of weeds, rocks, and debris to create a suitable planting environment.

3. Plant from Seed

Seeds are the most inexpensive way to grow any crop. It may seem intemedating at first, but if you simply follow the instructions on the back of the seed packets, you are likely to have success.

Select Quality Seeds: Choose seeds that are known for their resilience and suitability for your climate.
Follow Planting Instructions: Pay attention to depth and spacing as recommended on the seed packets.
Be Patient: Understand that seeds take time to germinate and grow into mature plants.

4. Choose High Yielding Crops

Start with high yielding crops like cherry tomatoes, beans, zuccini, lettuce and peppers. These crops will give you plenty of food for little to no work.

Research Crop Varieties: Look for plants that produce abundantly and are compatible with your growing conditions.
Consider Hybrid Options: Explore hybrid seeds that may offer increased productivity and disease resistance.
Plan for Succession Planting: Stagger planting times to maximize harvest periods throughout the growing season.

5. Reuse

To use things like old pots, cement blocks and even old yogurt contains to plant in can greatly reduce the cost of plants that you want to grow in containers.

Use Recycled Materials: Incorporate containers, pots, and materials that you already have at home into your gardening setup.
Implement Companion Planting: Utilize the benefits of companion plants to enhance growth and deter pests naturally.
Save Seeds: Collect seeds from mature plants to reuse in future gardens, ensuring a sustainable cycle.

Water the ground and not the leaves as shown here

6. Water Wisely

Watering your garden is essential. Knowing when and how to water is also necessary. Water early in the morning to reduce the chance of mold on any crops, and be sure to water at the base of your crops and not the leaves.

Create a Watering Schedule: Develop a routine for watering based on plant needs and weather conditions.
Utilize Efficient Methods: Implement drip irrigation or soaker hoses to minimize waste and provide even watering.
Monitor Soil Moisture: Pay attention to soil moisture levels to determine when and how much to water, avoiding overwatering.