How to get plants for your garden (part 3)
Part 3 - an introductory guide to growing your own food - how to get plants
Hello there! In the previous installments of an introductory guide to growing your own food, we’ve covered site observation, selection and planning in part 1, and in part 2, site preparation. Now we’re diving into where to get the plants.
There are several ways you can get the plants for your garden. You can grow them by seed - either starting indoors or direct sowing, or get plants that have already been started (sometimes called starts, starters, or transplants), or any combination of these. If this is your first year starting a garden, I recommend starting out with healthy plants that you get from a reputable place (could be a nursery, or from an experienced person in your community that starts extras). You’re already absorbing so much new information by starting a garden, it will help with your confidence if you get some healthy and strong plants that have been started for you. But, if you’ve decided you’re ready to start plants from seeds (or have already jumped in!), I’m here to help with that too. What a satisfying process to watch your seedlings emerge and eventually reward your patience and care with food.
Acquiring plants
A few ideas for places you can buy or get plants:
Friends and family
Craigslist or NextDoor
Your local Facebook group
Local greenhouses or garden centers
Big box stores
Grocery stores
Sometimes farmer’s markets
Tip: Ask if they’ve been hardened off. Ones that were grown in a greenhouse will also need to be hardened off, since they’ve been sheltered from wind and temperature swings. If you find them being sold in full sun, they will not need to be hardened off. Here is a post on hardening off.
Is organic important to you? Ask if they’ve been grown using organic methods.
Have a budget and can’t afford starters? Look for free or inexpensive starters. Ask around - your friends, neighbors, local facebook group, or a Nextdoor post are good places to start. Think of unique trades if you’d like, offer baked goods or to do some weed pulling or lending a helping hand. Most people are happy to share!
Are you able to buy them and want to be able to choose varieties you want? Local nurseries are generally great in their selection, quality, and customer service. I always recommend supporting local whenever possible. Looking for rare varieties that are not sold at garden centers? You will likely need to start your own seeds or look for someone that sells rare varieties.
When to buy
If you’d like to have to care for your plants in pots for the least amount of time, buy them just before you are ready to put them in the ground. This chart should help give you a general idea, but I will be going over a much more in depth discussion about when to plant out in the garden in Part 4.
If you happen to see something that you want and don’t think you’ll have the chance to get it at a later date, go ahead and grab it. You will just need to keep it somewhere like a patio for a little while, and bring it in at night if the temperatures are too cold (below the 50s for warm season veggies). Don’t forget to check on them periodically and give them a drink of water if they need it.
Ok, I know where to get starts. But I’d like to start my own seeds!
Seed starting is so rewarding, and also can save you money in the long run especially if it ends up being something you do annually. I recommend knowing about what you’re getting into and what to do every step of the process. I’m here to help! I wrote a three-part series that covers
Part 1 - before you start seeds - benefits and supplies
Part 2 - how to start your seeds
Part 3 - what to do now that they’ve sprouted
If you have any more questions, leave a comment! In Part 4, we will talk about planting out in the garden and more about direct sowing.