Are you a gardener on a tight budget? Here's a money saving guide for all green-fingered lovemoney.com readers.
Believe it or not, October is one of the best times for planting. Not too hot, not too cold and lots of lovely moisture from all the rainfall. And if you do it now, you’ll have a lovely garden of flowering bulbs come Spring.
But if you don't have much space - or money - or gardening know-how - the idea might seem a bit daunting. But it really doesn't have to be.
Here, I'm going to have a look at how gardeners can get the ball rolling as cheaply and easily as possible.
I'm also going to highlight lots of flowers and plants that are relatively cheap and very easy to grow.
Getting prepared
Equipment: You can pick up second-hand gardening equipment (like pots and tools) quite cheaply - and sometimes even for free. People are usually keen to get shot of these bulky, heavy items just to make a bit more space.
So - before you buy anything new, ask for what you're looking for on Freecycle, Freegle, Streetbank or Snaffle Up. Everything on these websites is free to get or borrow, donated by local folks in your area. And don't forget to check out local charity shops and car boot sales.
And try and think ‘outside the box' (or pot). For example, dustbins and compost bags with holes are great for growing potatoes.
A friend has an old Belfast sink which looks fantastic filled with flowers - and other gardeners I know also use tyres, apple crates and wellington boots!
If you do want to buy equipment new, high street stores are likely to be cheaper than your local garden centre. Lidl, Aldi, Woolworths, Wilkinsons, Robert Dyas, Netto and your local pound shop are all worth a look.
Compost: The cheapest compost is the stuff you make yourself. Have a look at this DIY guide.
Seeds, bulbs and plants: Read this excellent article for lots of good advice on how to get hold of the cheapest seeds, cuttings and plants.
I also find eBay is a good place to look for specific seeds, because there are loads on offer and you won't have to pay much for postage.
And check out Garden Swap Shop, where you can swap your excess seeds and plants with other website members for just 20p.
Easy, cheap plants for beginners
If you'd like to have a go at growing something - but you don't know where begin - just start small.
Choose cheap plants that need the minimum of care and equipment - and are very hard to kill!
This way, if you decide gardening really isn't for you, you won't have spent all your savings on high-tech bits and bobs.
If you fancy some nice bright flowers come Spring, here are some of the easiest flowers to plant in Autumn:
- Crocuses. Crocuses can be planted anywhere and are hardly bulbs, which are ideally planted in a bit of shade rather than full sun.
- Daffodils. The humble daffodil, inspiration of Wordsworth, can be planted as late as November and will still bloom come Spring. Plant it at three times its depth.
- Tulip bulbs. The best time to plant tulips is right now, because they need to chill for a while. Here’s Everything you need to know about tulips and how to successfully grow them.
What else should I plant?
Other good Autumn-planting Spring-flowering flowers include grape hyacinths and fritillarias. Use a shopping comparison site like Twenga or Google Shopping to find the best deals!
Still sound too ambitious?
You can even try some cheap and easy gardening indoors. Basil, coriander, parsley and chilli peppers can all be grown on a warm windowsill, from seeds costing a few pence.
I hope I've given you a few ideas. Now do excuse me - I'm off to talk to my radishes...