How to Grow Herb Gardens Cheaply

Acquire herb seeds. Purchase herb plant seeds, they are a fraction of the price of potted herbs. Join a seed-sharing club; most are free to join and give you access to a variety of seeds. Collect seeds from already established plants and store the seeds in envelopes until you are ready to use them. This costs nothing, and it is a simple way to multiply the plants you already have.

Start your seeds early by planning your herb garden in advance. Plan your garden a season or two in advance so your garden will be successful. Well planned gardens produce better because plants are planted at the proper time so they are not killed or damaged by frost or extreme weather conditions.

Sew your seeds directly into your garden soil instead of starting them indoors where you would need pots and a seed-starting medium. When doing this make sure to keep your garden soil moist at all times so your seeds will germinate. You can also start seeds indoors by collecting used cups, Jell-O and pudding cups and/or storage containers. Reuse these items by turning them into seed-starting pots. Poke drainage holes in their bottoms with a knife and fill the container with seed-starting medium. Sew your seeds in the seed-starting medium by poking your finger in the center of the soil to make a hole, and then pour a few seeds into the hole. Cover the seeds with seed-starting medium and water daily to keep the soil moist. Transplant seeds in the garden after the plants are strong enough to endure outdoor conditions, usually a few weeks after germination.

Start a compost pile to make free fertilizer for your herb garden. Take kitchen scraps that you would normally toss into the garbage and make them useful. Use items like vegetable and fruits peals, egg shells, used coffee beans, leaves and yard trimmings for composting.

Use natural pest repellents to detour pests from munching on your herb plants. Plant marigold plants throughout your garden to keep bugs off your plants. Suck up bugs with a hand-held vacuum to keep them off your plants.

Collect seeds from your herb garden to plant next season. These free seeds are available to you when the flowering season of the plant is over. Pinch off spent flower heads and separate seeds. Store the seeds in labeled envelopes in a dry place until they are ready to be used.