They said they ignore the “packed for” dates and still see success years after in their garden.
Reddit user BoozeIsTherapyRight gave a cheap gardening hack that will enhance the longevity of your seeds and save money in the long run.
They went into detail about the cost-saving trick in a post on the social media platform.
One of the first things they shared was that “tomato and pepper seeds basically never go bad.”
If there were any two plant seeds to keep in your home, it would be these two.
The Redditor said to “store them nicely.”
In their case, the seeds are vacuum packed in the basement, so no air or environmental conditions can seep through.
Another storage hack is to put them in the fridge, which they have done.
They said it will last years and years if you follow these methods.
They know what they’re talking about and have the growth to prove it.
They said the following winter, they germinated 20-year-old seeds.
Germination is the process of seeds developing into new plants.
“My germination rate was over 80%,” they explained.
They explained that many seeds keep for years past the “packed for” date, but some do not.
Some of these include sweet corn and parsley, according to the Reddit user.
“Tomatoes seem to be incredibly long-lived, though,” they added.
Although storing seeds can cut costs by itself, the original poster admitted that seed starting overall will save you money if you plant a lot.
They also offered planting tricks to get the most out of your buds.
First, start your seeds in little cell packs.
Then, plant up into Solo cups with holes punched into the bottom.
They explained how this is another way to save some money.
“The cell packs are reusable if you’re gentle, and the Solo cups are too,” they said.
They called it a “bonus” because you can write the name of the cultivated plant on the cup.
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.