I have got big plans for the garden this year. BIG plans.

As part of my money saving journey I want to efficiently use the outdoor space I have to grow food. Dan and I have planned that our next big purchase will be a chest freezer and then whatever fruit and veg’ I grow this year, I can freeze the surplus or make it into dishes and then freeze. It will also be useful to store larger amounts of meat meaning that I can plan meals without the need to go shopping every week.

This post is me documenting how I am saving money in the garden. Bear in mind I am an amateur so any tips or advice you have then please let me know in the comments below!

Greenhouse – Storm Eunice destroyed my second-hand plastic greenhouse so to start seedlings this year I am using upside down clear plastic storage boxes and also 2 x basic seed propagators I picked up from B & Q. I keep these in our unheated wooden porch overnight but then in the day I put them out on the patio to try and encourage the seedlings to harden up. The temperature can still drop over night to below freezing so I am reluctant to leave them out constantly until I know it will stay warmer. Also, you do not need any fancy pots to start seedlings – I just reuse the plastic trays you buy flowers in and then transplant the seeds into the pot/ground but if you are looking for a compostable option then use toilet roll centres or large egg trays. No need to buy any fancy pots!

Compost – I used to buy bags and bags of compost but this year I will be using my own compost bin and the ever-growing muck heap of horse manure! The previous owners of the house left a compost bin behind so I have placed in on to 4 patio slabs to make an even base and have started using it. I put in grass cuttings, leaves that I’ve swept from the garden or courtyard and paper. I also have a little bin in my kitchen that I put eggshells, vegetable cuttings and fruit peels which I then tip into the compost bin. Every so often you mix it all round to help it break down but other than that, you let the worms do their thing!

Seeds – I have still got lots of seeds that are in date to grow this year so I don’t think I will need to buy any at all. Also, I have potatoes chitting in the pantry so will plant those instead of buying sets. I also always have a plant swap/seed swap with my Grandparents so they will be growing me tomatoes, cucumbers, chilli and pepper seedlings and I usually then grow them some runner beans and then prepare some pickled beetroot for them.

Garden layout – As much I would love to head to my nearest garden centre, purchase multiple raised bed kits and make my garden look tidy and uniformed, my bank account is saying NO! So rather than buy them I am trying to use what I have laying around the farm to make things look tidy. So bricks, odd bits of wood, second hand patio slabs and an edge cutter are helping to make borders and different ‘areas’.

Water collection – the farm harvest rainwater into 1000L IBC water tanks so this year I will be doing the same. Rainwater is so much more natural for young plants as there is a lack of any chemicals so using only this to feed the plants should help keep them strong.

Jars and storage – For the past year I have been saving every plastic takeaway container and every glass jar. My family have been doing the same so I now have an ample collection ready to use when I need to store my food! This year I am going to grow the following:

Strawberries, carrots, onions (red and white), beetroots, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, chillis, peppers, leeks, pickling cucumbers, dwarf French beans, peas and sugar snap peas, raspberries, rhubarb, lettuces, rocket, kale and blackcurrants. With this lot I will hopefully have enough fresh produce to eat through the summer and then whiz up into jams, pickled beetroot and onions, portions of vegetable to freeze, chunky tomato sauces, curry sauces and also puddings!

So with my plans in place and the days getting warmer, I have started garden maintenance to ensure that my harvest is worthwhile. Little and often I will get the garden into shape. Spring is not far away and I cannot wait!