Time to Read: 3 minutes
I detail here how I save money when I fill my raised beds, but I also grow things like fruit trees and potatoes in large 50l containers and if you have a few of those, buying in bags of compost or potting mixes can get really expensive.
Here are some different ways to fill your containers economically and still keep your plants healthy and get maximum yield.
1. Add recyclable material to add volume.
Adding plastic bottles, food containers etc is a great way to reuse single use plastics. Put these at the bottom of large containers to take up volume. They will also reduce the weight of your pot plant too so they will be easy to move around.
Bonus Tip: If you’re using plastic bottles, keep the lid off for flexibility and cut in half if your bottle is too big. Add both halves to the bottom of the pot.
2. Make your own compost.
Of course making your own compost is a great way to save money on buying in bought in compost and it’s great for the environment. I explain here and here how I create my compost. Personal preference though, while homemade compost is great for important nutrients like nitrogen, I prefer to fill containers half with homemade compost, and then top up the rest with store bought.
However you choose to use your homemade compost in your garden, you will still likely save money.
3. Use Straw
During the P-demic, I bought a kilo and a half of barley straw for like £2. Admittedly, I did not know what exactly I would do with this straw, but three years later, and I am only halfway through the bag and I use it as mulch for a lot of my fruit trees.
However, I have recently learned that straw can be used to “earth up” potatoes. So when my potatoes have chit and are ready to be planted, I put about 10cm of good potting mix into the container.
Place the potatoes on the mix and cover with compost.
Once the potatoes begin to sprout, I cover with straw instead of more potting mix. This is good for three reasons. 1. You save on potting mix. 2. The potatoes are easier to harvest and 3. Straw means your potato plants are light and easy to move around.
4. Reuse old compost
Now, of course it is possible to reuse old potting soil compost, especially when an old plant had not been in the compost for long, but this comes with the caveat that nutrients must be added, such as well rotted manure, fresh compost or a slow release fertiliser.
5. Create your own mixes
Another way to actually save money on store bought compost is to be strategic with your purchases. For example, buying a few blocks of coco coir, a bag of peat free potting mix, a large bag of perlite and some mushroom compost (I recently bought some at the side of the road in a small village for £1.50 for about 20g).
Creating your own mixes – depending on the plant’s needs, can go a lot further than trying to fill the same amount of containers with the same bag of potting mix.
All Homesteading 
A useful post. Thank you 🙏🌍
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