Tips and Tricks of a Thrifty Gardener’s Zucchini Handbook

Our frugal family loves to eat zucchini., and that is why I am giving you my thrifty gardener’s growing tips. Through the winter we are not able to purchase zucchini because prices go up and size goes down.

My first thought when I started my gardening hobby several year’s ago was to utilize the produce so that in the winter we would still have vegetables we like.

Zucchini was first on my list to grow. This frugal garden vegetable is easy to care for, and is not a vine plant. This summer I was able to grow zucchini in my mini greenhouse and plant them earlier than usual.

High Yield, Low Effort Zucchini Plants

Zucchini plants do get large, with very large leaves and stems but if spaced properly they do not overcrowd other plants.

Zucchini has a fairly long growing season, and is a necessity to any frugal garden. Even though at the beginning of the summer our area experienced a drought I saved my plants.

My favorite part of zucchini is that fact that like tomatoes, they are durable plants with a low maintenance. Gardening is a family project because we want our children to grow up and know how to grow their own food.

Thrifty Gardener’s Pollination Tips for Plants

My youngest son planted all of the zucchini, so at harvest time we let him pick the zucchini. He was so proud of the fact that he grew eight large zucchini. An easy pollination guide is to prune lower leaves for good air flow and circulation.

Part of growing up is learning to take pride in our work. Teaching our children to tend the garden, weed, and water the plants they are responsible for helps them to take pride at harvest. Teaching about pollination also helps with a future biology course. Gardening is perfect for that by learning about the male and female flowers that produce the fruit. Our future belongs to the next generation of thrifty gardener’s and their knowledge of gardening.

This winter we are definitely ready to have some warm zucchini bread with 4 gallon ziploc bags full of zucchini.

Conserve Water with Mulching

Each year we buy several bags of mulch. It is fairly inexpensive, but mostly it protects the plants from drought. Each zucchini plant that comes up gets mulched. Then, when we hit our drier spell in July the moisture is held in.

I do still water, but not as long and not as much. This saves on our water bill. Watering plants gets expensive in the dry months so mulching in June when we plant has not proved wrong.

Seed Planting vs. Seedlings

Finally, each year to save money for the next year I save seeds from my current zucchini. It isn’t hard to do. First you cut the seeds out of the zucchini. Wash them off. and lay them flat on a dry paper towel. After a few days when they are dry and clean I roll up the paper towel and place it in a jar with a lid. Even for the jar, I don’t buy new. Old spaghetti and salsa jars do fine when washed out.

Saving money by growing your own food starts with some very basic steps. This winter save all of the glass jars and lids you can find. Likewise, after all are cleaned place them in a nice spot until the next year when you will need them.

After that, visit the dollar tree in the spring. They always have a nice selection of seeds which are 4 for $1.25. They may have went up on those so don’t hold me to that amount. Still though, they are affordable.

Finally, plant your zucchini seeds this next year. you’re ready to go! For more tips and tricks on how to save money sign up for my newsletter, or follow me on Instagram @momsarefrugal.