First we have to consider all the things required for beginning your gardening journey. Obviously, you'll need a place for plants to grow. Then, soil for those plants. Next, you'll need seeds or seedlings to put there. And honestly the only other thing you really need is water. Everything else I consider optional.
So, let's look at your physical space. You can select an area of land you rent or own. If you rent, please get permission from your landlord prior to moving on. Otherwise one day you could come home to find your baby patch destroyed. If the soil quality seems good, you can plant directly in the ground. You don't need raised beds or containers unless you really want them.
But if you're wanting to use containers, you can save money by using repurposed materials. Plastic buckets, gallon jugs, soup cans, fabric tote bags, takeaway containers, and even cardboard boxes can by used for your garden. You can also build raised beds using free wood from pallets. Any repurposed container needs drainage holes, however. Don't miss that step! I have also found some nice garden pots at the thrift store for really good prices.
Saving money on dirt and plants is your first real challenge. You don't need fancy soil to start out. I suggest purchasing an affordable option for vegetable gardening. If you're using containers, there are soils for that as well. You can shop around for prices as well, but pay attention to the size of the bag. Otherwise you may not actually be saving any money.
Starting plants from seed is the most affordable way to begin your garden. You can purchase seeds from a garden center, or attempt to collect some from produce you have purchased. You can do this will peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers, and you can start potatoes and sweet potatoes using existing vegetables. When purchasing seeds, you can save money by getting them from discount stores. There may be less seeds per packet, they'll be pretty common varieties, and they most likely won't be organic, but they will be fine to start. Beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc., can all be started by the same dry versions from the grocery store.
Here's a fun story as an example of using affordable seeds:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/dollar-tree-shopper-buys-957-202900745.html
You can also save money by starting garden plants from cuttings or regrowing vegetables you've used. Scallions are an excellent choice for this. You can root herbs from the grocery store like mint and basil. You can regrow heads of cabbage and lettuce, though I've had mixed results doing this.
If you plan enough in advance, you can buy seed for the following season when they are getting marked down in the fall. Many seed companies that sell online also have Black Friday sales. Many libraries even have seed banks where you can get heirloom seeds for free.
To get a better return on your investment, save seeds from your harvests. Vegetables like lettuce and kale will go to seed during warmer temps. They develop little shoots full of seed pods, even while the plant continues to make leaves. Wait until these are fully developed prior to cutting them off, letting them dry, and then removing the seeds. Trust me, you will never have to buy kale, bok choy, lettuce, and other greens seeds more than once if you allow at least one of your plants to do this. They produce hundreds of seeds!
I have also had good luck asking for free things on both Freecycle.org and Craigslist. In my second year gardening I posted online looking for free plant pots and a wonderful woman gave me dozens of nursery pots she had saved. I posted in search of perennials and another woman gave me a bag of iris bulbs that I have since divided and shared with others. I was also given bags of unused bulbs, pea gravel, cut logs, and pallet wood.
Making compost and collecting rain water are another two cost saving tools you can opt for. Neither requires a big investment and, in fact, can be started simply by purchasing some garbage cans or heavy duty plastic tubs, often found in thrift stores.
Your most basic rain barrel could be a garbage bin with the lid turned over. Cut a hole in the lid and cover it with mesh to prevent bugs and animals from getting in. Keep the mesh in place just by setting a rock on one side, or glue it in place. When you need water for the garden, dunk your watering can inside!
For directions on making a compost bin, click here.
https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Compost-Recycling-Bin
The last money saving advice I can personally suggest is making your own plant food. My usual technique is to place grass clippings and weeds in a plastic tub and then covering it with water and a lid. Let it sit for 2 weeks before removing the solids and then storing it in a pourable container, such as an empty gallon water bottle.
After awhile you will be quite skilled at reducing your costs. If you have any suggestions you think I should add to this list please leave me a comment! And be sure to ask questions if you have them. Thank you!
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