Big Box Nurseries Don't Want You To Know This Tip To Get FREE PLANTS At Garden Centers!

[@PixieDusted72]

Hi. I am a vendor for a big box store (orange aprons) This is a fantastic video. I am so happy someone is bringing attention to this. The stores do not own the plants until they go through the checkout line. They mark up the plants to outrageous costs so at the nursery we add several plants to the pots, we also do this w annuals & perennials. It helps the consumer get a bit more for their $. Always move the leaves aside to see exactly how many units are planted in your potter.

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

That explains the 8-10 cucumbers in each pot.

[@revkphil]

❤

[@jonginslaceglove3651]

I got three bleeding heart plants for 10.99 at my “local” amish nursery (they ship out certain plants)

[@michelesalazar3397]

I was just told by a big box orange aprons employee that 2 huge baskets of perfectly heathy assorted plants and lush hanging baskets were not for sale and were headed to the trash compactor. The vendor decides when they should be destroyed. I was told the plants could not be clearanced out by the store but had to be thrown not in the trash where they could be saved by plant lovers but rather, compacted. WHY?????????

[@eileengalindo4949]

Thank you guys for this 🥹

[@itsnotthesamething]

Several years ago, I bought a larger tomato plant in a gallon container. It had been reduced, because it wasn't selling, and was starting to do poorly. It was covered with large suckers. I broke each sucker off and planted them. There were eight or nine. The main plant was so sickly, I trashed it. But I had a bountiful harvest from all those suckers. If I had to guess (because it was several years ago, and I'm not getting any younger) I'd say I paid about 50 cents per plant. I always look at the reduced plants. I've nursed many things back to health, and had some fabulous flowers and veggies for pennies on the dollar this way.

[@broadwayFan28]

Here in Texas we get hot weather early and it is a race to get the tomatoes to set before these temps are normal. If you use suckers you lose weeks for them to regrow roots and start normal growth again. Like almost all garden advice for when and where to grow specific veggies, it is all local.

[@RunninUpThatHillh]

Yes! I go to the discount rack regularly. So many good plants there.

[@tagladyify]

I got my juniper bushes on the discount rack in dry season and they are now about 12’ tall.

[@louisevaughan2165]

Tractor Supply was throwing away 7 or 8 10 pot trays (3 in pots) of pickling cucumbers that had not been watered & 2 cool nights (36° to 40°) kinda zapped them . I took them just for the 3 in pots & soil but when I looked closer I saw a few might survive , now I have 4 hills of heirloom pickling cucs for free + the extra pots to start seeds in later or next yr .

[@itsnotthesamething]

@@louisevaughan2165 I really need to go roam around the stores and see if anything is being thrown out. But alas! I must mow the lawn first. (5 hour job, I have a huge yard)

[@gs_weiss]

I've joined local gardening groups. Between starting seeds, knowing people who start seeds, library and community free seed swaps, free community compost and mulch from the city, and using recycled materials for my beds I've found I can bypass the box stores entirely and keep costs down to nearly nothing. It's amazing how much food a neighborhood growing together can produce practically for free.

[@bigred6815]

Great idea. I want to check my area fir a group.

[@gwendyrose8905]

I REALLY miss this kind of connection! About 3 years ago, I moved in with my boyfriend. He lives on his parents' 100+ acre farm out in the middle of nowhere!!!! :( The nearest "city" is a minimum of 40 minutes away and doesn't have much of a community of gardeners. :\ (It's more a community of politicians. So sad.) Where I moved from, it's approx. one and a half hours away. With the price of gas these days, it's just not worth the drive. Fortunately, I have the chance to go up there from time to time. I try to get as much as I can while I'm there to bring back home. :)

[@bigred6815]

@@gwendyrose8905 You’re blessed to have this in your life. Gas prices will go down again🙂 I would try and see if he would sell me about 5 acres on a long term low interest mortgage. 😊

[@kea5763]

Good God! Just admit it; you owe us one, Elon!!!! Get 'er done,, foo! ;(~

[@Nirrrina]

Add in that you can buy food bearing plants & seeds with SNAP (food stamps) benefits & the food you can get would be a ton. That's especially true if you get the minimum of $20 a month. Also if you go to a farmers market they have a booth where you can turn up to $20 into double. They give you 'coins' to spend. I've only done it once because it was still far more expensive where I am to get anything. But I wasn't looking at the plants either. You could probably buy an heirloom plant. Harvest off it for the season & then let it go to seed for then next year. Add in what Gabriel above suggested & you'd be putting in very little actual money. Especially if you trade with others for seeds, plants & harvests. Also remember you can grow a lot even in your home or on an apartment porch even. Definitely you guys though. I suck at growing things. I even killed my poor spider plant eventually. Now I just enjoy the gardens from a couple of neighbors. Might try another spider plant though.

[@TheCraftyCryptid]

A much easier way of separating the roots is to set the entire root ball into a bucket full of warm water and gently work the water into the soil. It will loosen up the roots much faster and you can leave the bare roots in the bucket for a few minutes while you're planting each one!

[@ritawelch4949]

Yes, a much easier way.

[@lewisderfuss7537]

I was gonna suggest this but saw you already did.

[@ooohlaa13]

yay yay yay been gardening for 60 years and why have I never thought of this? love it, thanx

[@shannoneg2000]

Yes, this! Water method all the way! I actually just did an experiment with this, buying 2 basil plants from the produce department. Each cup of live basil had approximately 20 individual plants! One I separated with the water method, the other I separated using a knife. Of the ones I separated with water, I lost fewer plants to the separation process itself and fewer to transplant shock. In the end, for $7, I have 30 plants stabilized, 3 rooting out in a glass, and have already taken harvests equivalent to at least 3 of those plastic herb packets that you spend like $6 on. Of course, I could take cutting and start more, but I think I have enough for now 😂 So, if you are looking for a way to get started with everyday herbs, this is a great option! In your grocery store produce department, you are most likely to find sweet genovese basil, parsley, mint and cilantro. Do be prepared to transplant that day, as those cups are WAY over seeded. Aim to buy the shortest, bushiest plant, avoiding the leggy ones.

[@JPEvans-qh9fs]

Because seeds are super cheap and nurseries know that germination rates increase when more than one seed is planted in a hole, finding pots with multiple plants is, thankfully, common. Here's a little secret for greatly increasing the fruit yields on tomatoes - Don't get all excited when your tomatoes put out their 1st flowers but instead pinch the flowers off right away and keep doing that to all flowers instead of leaving them on to fruit. This will allow your plant to devote its energy entirely to vegetative growth instead. Keep pinching flowers until your plants are at least 3-4 feet tall, have grown an established root & stem system, then stop pinching and let your plants flower and start producing fruit. Plants that have been given time to produce the infrastructure first will produce larger fruit and vastly larger yields when allowed to do so. Don't forget to use calcium and a good no-burn phosphorus like bat guano too! I went from a yield of 10-20 tomatoes per plant to 70-100 tomatoes per plant the first year I tried this.

[@kimberlywalker1891]

Never tried that before. But I will this year. I have took suckers off of plants to grow more plants. Thanks for the info. Can't wait to try it. I started my tomato and pepper plants inside from seed. If it ever gets warm enough I'm gonna get them out in the garden.

[@flaviacotton5029]

Thanks for the tip

[@MyTi824]

It hurts to pinch those flowers off, but it worth it in the end.

[@JBNetBreaker]

Does pinching mean removing? a little confused about that process.

[@JPEvans-qh9fs]

@@JBNetBreaker Yes - pinching means remove the flowers

[@jwrightgardening]

I bought some little pots of miniature roses a few years ago the day after Mother's Day. They were on clearance for a couple dollars each so I got one of each color flower (red, white, yellow, pink, cream, and peach) plus a few extra to share. I knew they would need to be repotted since they were small decorative pots. When I started to transplant them into bigger pots, I realized that each pot actually contained about 5 plants! I ended up with over 40 rose bushes for about $20. I understand why they did it- it takes time to grow a bigger bush and this way they could sell a fuller looking plant(s) in a short amount of time. Unfortunately the bushes got powdery mildew a year later and that killed a bunch of them but I still have about 15 of them.

[@ronparsley3112]

A local grocery store sold tomato plants for $1.49. Most of the selections were heirlooms. In one case, I got 3 black Krim; in another, 5 plants for $1.49.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's a very good price.

[@ronparsley3112]

@@TheMillennialGardener They were really healthy...great selection. Indigo Rose, Indigo Sun (2 in cup), Indigo Ruby, headmaster, Genuine (2), Big Brandy, Valencia Orange, Cherokee Purple, Bella Rosa, Red Snapper and several others. I appreciate the variety. I have not grown the blues and this is a cheap intro. The plants are loaded. I live in Central Texas and the looks of confusion on the faces of other shoppers was comical. I intend to send a thank you to the buyer for the chain. The only dud was a Greek tomato suited for greenhouses. It was a risk and I pulled it quickly. I appreciate your videos and solid advice.

[@FoxTenson]

This is something I like to do too, even if florida is a nightmare to try to garden in. Something I do which is even less stressful is fill a bucket or something with water and dip the whole rootball and dirt into it and shake it around gently. The water will remove almost all the dirt and separate the plants without damaging the roots. I always save the soil that come off to mix in where I plant as they are more used to it. Its worked great so far.

[@brianseybert2189]

Before I started doing my own seedlings, I defiantly would go through the pots and find doubles and triples. Hope I will never have to resort to purchase seedlings ever again. Plus I find it so much more rewarding starting from seed, especially from saved seeds. Enjoy your videos!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's good that you did that. It really saves money. Seed starting is the way to go, but for those that only need a handful of plants in a tiny garden, the transplants do have their place. Just not at these prices...

[@holisticheritagehomestead]

I agree with Brian and The Millenial Gardener.

[@renel7303]

My results starting seedlings have never been great. No decent place to do it. I've had mixed results with what can be direct sown. I have a tiny urban yard, whole thing is only 106' x 66'. Then there's the pesky house, oversized 2 car garage, driveway, patio and mature trees. I stopped gardening for years but, oy, food prices! This year instead of a couple of square foot beds it's pots, grow bags and milk crates. I only grow for table use these days so it tends to be one or two plants of a few varieties. I also tend to grow varieties you don't see in the stores or pay a premium for.

[@sidneyeaston6927]

Buy tomatoes. peppers, squash, potatoes, anything that you can get seeds from. The idea is to buy what you want eat what you buy and save a few seeds from the ones you like label them for next season. Just remember that most root crops are a two year seed process that means leaving a few in the ground and protecting them from frost and water logging over winter.

[@renel7303]

@@sidneyeaston6927 a good idea. However that works best with heirloom varieties. Not all super market veg, which I think is part of what you are suggesting, or nursery transplants will give you viable seeds. If you buy organic veg of heirloom varieties you'll have better results.

[@michaelgailroberts]

I’ve been doing this for over 25 years, now that the word is out I’ll have more competition to get the multiples😜. I just wet them well and rip them apart. The roots grow back quickly and I plant the tomatoes and peppers deeper to root the stems. We used to get a lot more of the 6-packs of plants but the growers don’t like selling those anymore and I’m too impatient to grow tomatoes and peppers from seeds.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's a shame the 6 packs are so hard to find anymore. These individual pots are a ripoff. The potting mix costs the most, so it's pretty clear that we could get a lot more plants for less money in the 6-cell trays. What a shame.

[@kaittemurry4740]

We have a local store about 10 miles away that still carries 6 packs usually 4.39

[@renel7303]

@@TheMillennialGardener my local high end garden center has about half the veg available in 6 pack form. Only $4.99 pack. My Japanese Climbing cucumber has 18 plants! 🤣👩‍🌾 Anyone need 17 Peter Pan scallop squash plants? Apparently I did. My neighbors will all be hiding this year.

[@ragdollb9667]

I do the same. I use the water hose to separate the roots, not cut them…💖

[@beckygarcia4416]

@@TheMillennialGardener I’ve noticed that over that last few years. You can’t find the 6 packs unless it’s like marigolds, pansies. No vegetables.

[@lauranilsen8988]

I always do this! My local nursery told me I’d need to pinch off one of them because I wouldn’t be able to separate them successfully. Haha! Sometimes, with certain plants, it takes a while to separate them. I often swish them in water to loosen the roots.

[@robinrowe8025]

That's what they say so you'll buy more . Becks flower shops in Jackson Michigan sells there's for 99¢ for 2 they have nice plants and large ones too .

[@lauranilsen8988]

@@robinrowe8025 wow. That’s a great deal!

[@Decoder2040]

My mom thought I was gonna kill all my seedlings, digging around em, transplanting them, etc. Boy was she wrong. Most sprouts can be seperated or dug and transplanted if you have a gentle touch. I even successfully did this with a sunflower sprout. Don't get me wrong, I have killed some, but very few. Zero luck with Thyme, though.

[@LoanNguyen-js6zd]

I did the same thing. A few weeks ago I bought Serrano pepper plant at 99 cent store and I chose a pot with 3 plants, separated them and planted in 3 pots!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's a great deal!

[@pattyq429]

This is awesomeness!🤩

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you found this video helpful, hit the "Like" button and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😀TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 My Trick To Get Free Transplants From Big Box Stores 2:07 This Is How Much You Can Save On Expensive Transplants 2:41 I Got 3 Plants For The Price Of 1! 3:12 How To Separate Seedlings For New Transplants 5:22 How To Re-Pot Transplants 7:10 You Can Do This To Almost Any Seedling Transplant! 8:55 Adventures With Dale

[@christine3794]

I’ve been buying plants for years and trees and looking for extra seedlings and teasing them apart and getting extras and I like tug-of-war with large dogs

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@christine3794 it's a great way to save money, especially now with these crazy prices. There's nothing like a good ol' tug 'o war with your best buddy!

[@FIP60B30T]

Why don't you use water to separate the seedlings? With a bucket or a hose it's much more easy and less stress for the plants. Also: seeds are much cheaper and sold in the same store, just get them a couple of weeks earlier.

[@shawneenhammer4241]

✌️😆❤️🦋🐾🌱 I have been doing this for that length of time maybe more also that's so funny cuz people always look at me like I'm weird when I'm looking for the plants bending down and looking and then when I see it just freaks them out they're like where'd you get that. Competition and gardening is okay 🌶️🥕🧅🍠🪱🥦🫑🍆🥬🍃🍅🌰🌶️🕊️🌍

[@judywho2249]

Great ideaa!

[@kathigortman4074]

I just bought tomato plants at the local high school horticulture class for .50 cents each. All of their vegetables in 3 inch pots were the same price. If there's a high schools in your area you could check and see if they have a fundraiser for the horticulture students.🌺

[@chamongsiong6489]

I just posted an instagram post last weekend about this cause I was so excited I scored one that had SEVEN zucchini plants in one. I thought I was done with squashes due to the high issues with vine borers, so I didn't start any myself. But upon seeing the 7 for one, I decided why not try again. Love that you are sharing this tip! When I first started gardening on my own, I wished someone had told me this years ago.

[@farmermarshall]

you might even consider starting from seed for an even better value. Squash, zucchini, cucumber, watermelon, and cantaloupe are extremely easy to grow from seed.

[@chamongsiong6489]

@@farmermarshall I generally do start my own seeds. However, with the vine borer issues I've been having these past two summers I thought I was gonna quit squashes. I planted over 60 squash plants last summer spread throughout the season and vine borers killed them all before they could fruit. I covered them with insect netting too and still ... Somehow they got decimated. So I didn't start any of my own this year, thinking I was going to skip them. But seeing the seven for one I couldn't help myself. With the ones I got this year from Home Depot, I'll test it out and see how it goes. I built a netting cage for tighter control and maybe have to succession plant a bit more organized and lower numbers of plants so they fit in the netting cage. If this works I'll start some from my seed collection later this summer. I've tried everything except chemical as I want to do organic... But foil, DE, even injecting the stems with Neem, spraying the plants with Neem and BT twice a day... But the infestations was crazy. One plant would have like 15-20 larvas in them. I probably just need to build a green house if this doesn't work.

[@allblooms8972]

7 zucchini plants!?! Well I will wish you well now. After those plants start producing, we may never see you again as the tonnage of zucchini fruit will overtake your property and your house will disappear. 😂😂😂😂

[@teriw5313]

@@chamongsiong6489 Use a "trap crop". Vine borers love Nasturtium. I'll be using them among other plants for companion planting, attracting pollinators, and trap cropping. The ones I am planting are also edible, Nasturtium being one of them.

[@incognitoalias2808]

My grandmother told me the best pest repellent is the bugs that are doing the damage. Squeeze them into mush mix with water and spray the plants.....

[@KK7THK]

I just did this today (waited too long to start seeds this year due to starting my own business and spending my time on that). People looked at me strange for counting as I selected cucumbers, Mexican gherkins, and spaghetti squash. Through this method this season though, I’ve one “bought” five tomato plants, but I actually have over 30 (with more coming due to suckers), “2 zucchini” -but I got seven plants (guides actually say to plant 2-3 plants per person in the household. That’s insane, but hey, it’s food.) as well as all of my other plants I’ve scored from “over planters” in the neighborhood. Also paid for a large pot of basil, but I immediately cut it down once I got home- should have a few dozen plants from cuttings in a couple weeks.

[@MawcDrums]

Great tip!! I subconsciously did this already just to maximize how many plants I was getting without realizing how much money I was really saving, but now with things jumping in price so drastically I'm definitely going to take my time and really make sure I'm getting the best deal. Thanks again!

[@BliffleSplick]

If you're looking through the sale shelf for the plants you'll find some that are long and stringy, you can cut and root the top half and let the bottom half grow in better lighting. Also if you want to give your tomato a great head start, bury not only the roots but a fair bit of the stem as well. The stem will put out additional roots and be that much stronger.

[@theHOAmestead]

I discovered this accidentally when my vision-impaired husband weed-whacked two of my tomato plants last year! They grew back new tops a week or so after he did it and he is lucky to be alive today. :D

[@clairebeane3455]

I literally “never” buy a lone plant. I educated my roommate on this the other day and had to explain to him that by my calculations I was paying around .75 cents per plant buying them in little multiples of six.

[@Steve-ci1kj]

Thanks for all your content. I discovered your channel about a month ago, and you inspired me to start a nice little fruit garden. I now have 2 varieties of blueberries, 2 strawberries, 5 fig varieties, and I’m attempting to root 8 fig cuttings!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That is AWESOME! I'm so happy to hear that! I'm thrilled to be a source of inspiration. Thanks so much! And best of luck!

[@sandrachaluisan3048]

Excellent tip. I had sticker shock earlier this year. Tried planting from seeds; with no success. Finally went to local feed store and found better pricing.

[@lmariebowen9749]

I just discovered growing plants from seeds, and yes, you are correct it takes a lot of patience. Sunflowers are also a great one to grow from seeds but soak in a small amount of water before planting them to take root in the soil. The only issue in my area is that there are a lot of competition with the squirrels, so not all of the plants survive but it is a win, win situation. I will look out for those multiples in my next adventure to the plant store when the weather warms up.

[@user-di6cn2ne7u]

Try cutting the bottom off 2L pop bottles and 4L(gallon) milk jugs over the fresh seedlings. Then the squirrels won't eat your tender sprouts. *Might have to put a rock on the lid to avoid the container blowing away

[@lynneabretz6081]

Learned this from another youtuber....and tried it this year. Didn't have to buy much....peppers were in 4 packs already....but scored a sun sugar tomato that had 2 plants. Brought home and up potted. Worked wonderfully. They are big and beautiful! Will always look for more than one.

[@mio.giardino]

I priced the starts I’m selling for MUCH less because wanting ppl to grow food should not cost them as much as the box stores charge. If you soak the jumbled rootball in water it’s less traumatic.

[@marywatkins9438]

Yes. Water the root ball, and also consider making potting soil damp before planting your seedlings.

[@debbiedempsky8160]

Wait til you see the prices THIS year for Bonnie Plants at Home Depot and Lowes. I'm near Dallas, TX. Last year they were $4.70 per plant. This year the cups are even smaller. For a 7" tall tomato plant, it is now $5.40 per tiny plant. The cabbage plants were $5.85. Just looked at them last week. I just have a few small raised beds, so it's easier to buy starts. I spent $100 last year for 20 plants. For the first time in my life, I am attempting to grow my tomatoes, peppers and onions from seeds. Wish me luck!

[@valoriegriego5212]

I used to do this when I used to buy transplants. I didn't like paying $3 each when they weren't as high as now. If I have to I will buy transplant, but I'm coming away with multiples in a pot.😀And I always water with the 511...really does help the plants not go into transplant shock.🙂 Lovely that spring is here and Dale can play outdoors! He really is a cutie...you bring a lot of joy to us sharing these clips of him. Thank you!🙂

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Fish emulsion is magic. It's stinky, but it's totally worth it. The stinkier it is, the better it works! I am a hardcore seed starter, but every year I wind up buying an extra plant here and there out of impulse. I had some sweet pepper plants not come up, so these 3 plants will bridge the gap. Dale loves this weather. He loves the sunny 65 degree days. He has so much energy.

[@adriennesaffer4541]

Remembered your video from last year , today I was at Lowes and looked for 2 plants instead of just 1 in the container , I payed 15 dollars and got 6 plants!!! Thanks for the tip.👍

[@farmermarshall]

That's how I pick seedlings. It's rare when I buy a container that only has one plant in it. This year I'm trying to grow more items from seed for an even better value. I love the way you separate the seedlings. I'm a little hard on my seedlings when separating them.

[@careyf7859]

Thank you so much for this video. I am new to gardening. I've grown a lot from seed but have purchased some pepper, tomatoe and pumpkin plants, and didn't realize that there were several plants in each container. I successfully separated some and one plant, a pumpkin, I purchased for 4 bucks had 4 plants in it! I would have never known and just stuck the whole thing in the garden, without separating. Your video made my whole day!

[@michaelarichmond438]

Smart tip! Although, I don't think growers are necessarily ripping you off when they charge what they do from seedlings. Of course it's less economical than growing them from seed yourself, but anyone who has grown plants from seed knows how quickly those hidden costs add up (containers, sterile soil, the seeds themselves, warming mats, grow lights, electricity, fans, etc.)

[@gwendyrose8905]

I agree with you, but only to a certain extent. If I go to a farmer's market to buy seedlings, I don't mind paying a bit more. I know the time and resources they put into growing those seedlings and I'm ok with that. However, at the "big box stores," they are doing things en mass! The only thing they care about is the money they make, NOT the customers or the plants they sell! Just 3 years ago those same plants he showed in the video cost $2.78 instead of $4.78. The ONLY thing that has changed for these companies is the fact that COVID came about and got more people interested in growing their own food! They know they can charge more, so they do. It's not costing them one dime more than it did 3 years ago! If the "big box stores" were only charging even $0.50 more per plant, I could potentially say that it was due to the "distribution" issues or maybe even the "lack of employees". But, $2.00 more per plant??!! o_O They would be bankrupt if they were losing that much money that fast!

[@capitalinventor4823]

@@gwendyrose8905 More people becoming interested is not the only thing that has changed in the last two years. For the growers labour has become scarcer, COVID-19 has created new costs (both in protective gear and practices), input costs (mostly fertilizer as it is derived from fossil fuels) have shot up in price (especially since Russia started hinting at invading Ukraine, and then do so), and energy prices have also shot up. Then you have the shipping industry that has been going through turmoil with COVID-19, loss of passengers in the airline industry (which also carried some freight), and higher fuel costs all around. There has been a lot of issues with ships but the only impact that might have is with the general increase in shipping rates and any shift of freight to alternative means. Plants won’t be taken by ship long distances. Then you have the the retail industry trying to cope with staffing issues and increases in energy costs. I’m sure that these companies will jump at the opportunity to make extra money when they can but there have been a lot of pressures put on manufacturing and retailing over the last two years. You have seen many prices rise during that time and so have they. These are large companies and they have more say over the price they pay for some things than we do but there are still many things that they are unable to do anything but pay the asking price like us.

[@MARIAFELIX-ii2uo]

I just bought a few veggie plants and didn't know this trick. Next time I go to the home Depot I'm going to do exactly that. Thank you for the useful information.

[@OliviaLovesPugs]

Great tip! I’ll watch out for this when I go plant shopping this year. The only thing I’d add is that along with root crops, I wouldn’t try this with cucurbits either. They don’t transplant well as is, they most likely wouldn’t survive this. I find some times they fail just with regular transplanting from a starter pot into the ground. They easily sprout and grow quickly, so I always just grow from seed and direct sow. But this is an excellent tip for things like tomatoes, peppers, and egg plants and even flowers.

[@meganwrinkle1158]

Thank you for this video! I'm new to gardening. I was able to recognize the separate strawberry plants (about 7 per container, which really helped the sticker price!) at a grocery store, but if I were to look at your orange lunchbox peppers, i would've thought they were one plant because they seemed to be very close together in the video. I'm going to ask my friends to teach me how to recognize separate plants like this. Next year's garden will be started from seed.

[@kittiew260]

I have always searched for several plants in a pot when buying transplants. Great tips for those who don't start own plants. Soaking in water makes separation easy, spray hose and they come apart. Lunch box peppers are so good! Great video

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's a great way to save money! I have never tried these peppers, and I had a handful of sweet pepper seeds that didn't germinate, so these will bridge the gap. They look good. I like a small, prolific sweet pepper.

[@remrocket2885]

I have done this for years and have saved so much money. I bought 2 little pots of beets that end up having 25 plants and I separated all of them with 95 % success!! I soak mine in a bucket and separate the plants in the bucket where the roots float and separate easier

[@sanctifiedbytruth6048]

Ty! I would have never thought to do this! New gardener here 🙋‍♀️ Now I just wanna do this for an experiment to see if I can successfully separate the plants and up pot them

[@lbarmstrong1]

Wow, I am SO glad I clicked on your video!!! I've been watching prices go up for years and have started to plant seeds, but this is so much better! Super, super advice! Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@starlove_reigns]

I recently bought a 6pk okra seedlings only to realize it was 23 individual plants. It took about an hour to successfully pull the roots apart. So worth it!

[@karasweeney2166]

I’ve followed you for years and can’t believe how much your channel has grown! Love to see Wilmington area gardening represented on KZbin!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I appreciate it. It's been a lot of work to get to this point, but it's also been a lot of fun and really rewarding.

[@creativegirlhomestead]

I have to remember to do this because I’ve seen multiples in pots several times while shopping. Thank you so much for the reminder! Go Dale, Go Dale! 🐕😊🌱❤️

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's a little more effort to separate them, but at $5 a plant, that's a big savings! Dale says hi!

[@creativegirlhomestead]

Yes, every little bit helps! Excellent tip! 👋🏾 Dale! 😊🌱❤️

[@ThatLadyDray]

Don't forget to hit locally owned spots too bcuz a lot buy from nurseries who have done similar & sell for less. I copped 3-100 super sweet cherry tomatoes, 3- beefsteak tomatoes, 3 -hot jalapeno, 3 -keystone giant green peppers, & 2 berries galore strawberries for $12 yesterday. Hope this of help. May the growing season be good to you. 🙏🏾🌱

[@mafarmtown2086]

Since I’ve always been frugal any time I’ve purchased veggies or flowers I always check the pots and try to find the ones with more than one in each. Many times things on the discount racks make it into my shopping cart also. Enjoy your videos.

[@charlesdang2557]

Aha! I found a fellow gardener who is just as cheap. LOL. Been doing this for a while now. Combine with cutting out suckers (on certain plants) and growing them out separately, you get virtually unlimited free plants

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Suckers don't really work for me, because our plants catch disease too quickly, but I always make sure to buy multiples when it comes to transplants. Doubles and triples are usually readily available. The best way to do things is to start seed, but for folks with smaller gardens, it may not make sense to start seed for 2 or 3 plants.

[@TheGypsyVanners]

I had that same reaction this year to p Veggie prices at home depot this year. Buying a basil at Publix grocery store was much better deal. And meant to be eaten by people - not sprayed -

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

Before I started growing all of my own from seed, I had to get a few every now and then from the store. Last year, I contacted Bonnie Plants about Cubanelles. I timed it pretty well, as they let me know when a shipment had just been made to a nearby Lowe's the evening before. I got over there just after they opened and got all of the double-seeded pots I needed, LOL. HD cucumbers are notorious for having up to a dozen plants in each container.

[@CB29067]

Cool tip, I never noticed! Be damn sure I’ll look now… hopefully I’m the only one who does.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Chances are, you will find doubles. I don't think most look, but those who do can hit it hard and take them up quickly.

[@hairandmakeupforever]

Thank you I’m a small greenhouse owner and this will help me immensely.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad to hear it is helpful! Thanks so much for watching!

[@monkeybusiness1999]

That's a great tip! I usually look for the largest fullest plant instead of how many plants are in the pot. Will definitely pay more attention next time I buy (uh huh, outrageously priced) seedlings :)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I've grown to appreciate the smaller transplants. They often take more quickly. That being said, my transplants are out of control thanks to another year of late freezes holding me up 😅

[@monkeybusiness1999]

@@TheMillennialGardener Laughing! Know what you mean - the corner of my sunny warm living room looks like a jungle right now ~ bbbrrrrr!

[@avacadman2155]

Today I bought chilli peppers, in flower and fruiting for one pound each, I bought six. Scored! 👍👍👍

[@mamakat4308]

I'm sorry as you started to cut at that root ball I said no out loud 3 times hahaha ...... I just wanted to say if you dunk that root ball in another bucket with water in it all the dirt just falls away and the tangle of roots slowly separate ever so gentle...

[@ifihadthumbstheydbegreen.9426]

Ha! Was thinking the same thing. Using a knife to cut roots is called ‘shanking’ which is also known in prison systems.

[@ketarita1911]

Thank you for this tip😊 I will do that from now on for transplants

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You can soak them, but I've been cutting my roots for a decade and I've literally never lost a single transplant. As long as you don't remove all the roots, they will recover assuming you don't place them right out into the sun to roast after. I sometimes get the root ball started to break apart with a knife and it always works.

[@mamakat4308]

@@TheMillennialGardener That's totally awesome and I wasn't knocking you at all smile :) I was just screaming from the internal parts of the plant :) ;)

[@mamakat4308]

@@TheMillennialGardener ❤️❤️🤘🤘

[@linkylou13]

Great idea. When I am separating plants like this, I keep a bucket of water with a solution of fish fertilizer, which lessens transplant shock, next to me. After I pull the clump out I dip it in the water and rinse the soil off. Very easy to gently ease them apart. The trauma to the wee plants is much reduced. Then, of course, get them in their new pot quick as you can.

[@sweariefaerie9621]

This is brilliant! Decided to share with my political groups, as there's such a hike in food prices, and people need to learn to grow their own food on what they can afford. Thank you so much! Also, Dale is such a sweetheart!

[@missyleonis]

I recently went to my local heb grocery store back in Feb and off my food-stamp card got some swiss chard. I got 2 seedling pots with a total of over 30 plants for less than $10. I've still got barkey less than 20 plants after repotting killing some and freeze nights killing a few more. I recently pruned off some leaves to have veggies to eat, so well worth the cost and effort

[@michaelshawn1665]

I LOVE IT (and you too guapo ;)! I've been doing this for years, (that and more that I won't mention on here :) but mostly with house plants now since I usually start edible plants by seed. I actually picked up on the suppliers over-seeding when I would by some popular house plants! I love that you shared this and I totally support this, especially with big chains ~ However, *caveat emptor!* (buyer beware), those big chains (lowes, H depot, etc) have issues, especially w/ house plants and bugs, as well as, lack of care. Could be a good thing for additional discounts though, esp w/ open bags of soil (1/2 off), etc. ~just sayin. Peace! Love your vids!

[@renel7303]

Agreed. Locally the big box places are all Bonnie plants, all $4.69 or more and often wilted or half dead. Meanwhile at the local high end garden center you get expert advice, top quality plants that have been properly cared for at a lower price. Single plants are $3.99 and 6 packs are $4.99. Many have bonus plants. Did I mention a bigger variety? That too!

[@a105-t5m]

Lol, go full corporate sabotage and admit to taking cuttings. They still get to sell the plant for profit.

[@cmbooks2000]

I do this when buying flowers too. Get all you can for the $. Thank you for sensible tips

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Outstanding work! Thank you for watching. I appreciate it.

[@beverlyboyce1041]

My biggest gripe with Bonnie besides over priced is mislabeling. I lived near a Bonnie facility in Alabama. One of the vendors who delivered to Home Depot said it was a common problem. But they blame it on customers. One year, tens of thousands of tomatoes had a virus. Customers were bringing them back constantly. Sweet potato slips were full of sweet potato weevil eggs. I just don't care for Bonnie plants.

[@ElegantFrost]

I got some pepper plants last year that grew rather stunted. It turns out they were infested by root nematodes! None of my other plants were affected since I use pots, but I'm pretty sure the Bonnie seedlings were infected since I've never had this issue before. I thought it was just a too hot summer and overwintered, but when only one was doing well (it may still be infected but lower numbers) I dug them up and saw the bad roots. Having to set aside those plants and plant marigolds to kill the remaining pests. We did get some Bonnie and other brand seedlings again to quickly establish this year. However, after successfully sprouting some bean and flower seeds and realizing how easy and how much cheaper it is, I'm switching to seeds for my replacement peppers and fall crops. Ordering online means I can try varieties I can't normally find in-store too!

[@beverlyboyce1041]

@@ElegantFrost some growers use growth retardant on plants to keep them from getting leggy quickly. It's not suppose ti be used on vegetable plants. I got a pear tomato one year that took 3 months before it grew.

[@Skypost4ever]

And that's one of the reasons local retail garden centers don't carry Bonnie's.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

People treat the transplants terribly. They root through them with no respect. It's really tragic. I imagine lots of labels get mixed up. I noticed the delivery trucks usually come on Saturday, so you can get them before people mess them up. I've had numerous instances - probably half a dozen or more - where buying seeds off shelves have been mislabeled seed. That's a real head-scratcher. When that happens, it gets mislabeled at the facility.

[@dodopson3211]

@@ElegantFrost not only that but peppers are actually short lived perennials so you could technically overwinter the seed started peppers indoors (as frost does kill them) 😉

[@socalhomesteaders6584]

GREAT Video... thumbs up to you sir. I've been doing this for many many years. Although my process of separation of the plants is to submerge the root ball in a half filled 5 gallon bucket and shake them apart. It takes a bit of time but the roots don't tear. The roots slowly come loose, and it helped the plant shock to be reduced drastically. Again GREAT informative video. Thank you for sharing it.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I would only recommend submerging in water if you can't untangle them. Using water wastes the potting soil. If you can separate the seedlings without water, you can reuse the potting mix. That's my personal preference. These days, anything to reuse and save a bit is helpful.

[@Mark4WorldPeace]

Excellent idea 💡 and advice ☮️🇺🇸🐶

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching!

[@theeyesehaveit]

Have always looked for the doubles. Never knowing how to separate them correctly, your video has helped me. Like your channel. Liked this suggestion. Have subscribed.

[@eixrago1012]

I just went and checked my plants because of this, and I had 3 super chili plants and didn’t even realize it! Luckily I only bought them 4 days ago Edit: I just double checked my plants, and I possibly could have 2 strawberry plants!

[@louisevaughan2165]

I am glad you are helping / educating people about this . I have been doing this for so long I don't remember .

[@GrammyMidwife]

I’ve been doing this all along. Also, don’t forget when buying strawberry starts check out the hanging baskets. They sometimes have 5-6 plants and although they are 2-3 times the price of the small pots, you are getting 5-6x the plants! Also check out what I call the plant ICU where plants are marked down due to wilt.

[@GratefulBlessedImmigrant3102]

I've been watching channels like yours and I just learned something new so thank you! A lot of people I know are getting into gardening because of the food situation and fertilizer shortages so we need channels like yours. Cute doggie. I subscribed.

[@julievalencia8633]

I always look for stems and seed pods and flowers that bear seeds on the ground after a storm at different garden centers, i pick them up and usually buy one or two regular or sale priced plants, when i get to the register, i offer to buy the rest of what fell on the ground, they always tell me i did them a favor by picking them up, so they just throw them in my bag and i get so many starts that way. So fun!

[@theresaricord939]

Thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you so much for your support and generosity! I really appreciate it ❤

[@babystepsgarden6162]

I bought one cucumber. It actually had nine cucumber vines in the pot. All are doing well. 😊❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[@Dravkwn]

I just used a grow tent in a corner of a room in my place. Already produced around a 100 seedlings that more than paid for the entire set up and the electricity and I'll be able to produce several hundred more in the years to come. This video is pretty spot on though. Good stuff.

[@cbak1819]

This is a great tip on saving money if you don't have ability to sow your own seeds. I have taken water in a small vessel to separate them.

[@LindsAyWithAttitude]

Ok this is sooo easy but you completely dissected down all the information for beginners that may not fully know how to do certain things. You can't find this information easily. You hear things like "separate the plant" but we may not always know what that means. This is a great video !!!!!! you may want to add to the title about it being step by step, or, for beginners or something for more viewing traffic. Thanks for this video. A lot of times, I know what to do in things, but there's the smallest piece to the puzzle that is missing for me to fully execute a plan! 😊

[@BigAl444]

With tomatoes, you can also trim the suckers, pull the lower leaves and plant them deep and keep them well watered. You could get far more than 2 or three. You could also drop them into a cup of water and let some roots develop before planting. Not sure what other plants this can be done with. I think squash can too.

[@Frank-fs5nv]

I also use some rooting hormone on the cutting to help it root.

[@kidzfromthebloc]

I just did this too! I bought a cucumber for 4.28 but it has 5 seedlings in there. Great advice!

[@pinschrunner]

Soak that trio of pepper plants in 3" of water in a small bucket, pan, or dish. The soil will sink to the bottom. You can turn easily gently separate the 3 pepper plants with cutting with a steak knife or pulling them dry ripping the roots. 💖🐰🌴🌞. Just did it yesterday to my own starters. I also soak my new soil ahead of time then add the new plant. Tiny bit of water on top

[@scottiegrav]

hey garden brother, I use this tactic when getting my garden growing but what I do is separate the roots with a water hose on shower setting to wash way the dirt and help with shock

[@bubblezaquatics3044]

Here’s some other hacks you can buy some from cuttings from the grocery store then get water or spaghnum moss and propagate them you can also usually find cuttings on the floor in the big box stores floor so you can pick them up and propagate them as well it saves tons of money

[@cityfolkgardening980]

Yea i c that all the time. How i save alot of money is to just keep your seeds every year and grow your own. Much better n stronger plant. But if u dont have the time or space great idea.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Seed growing is the best way to go by far, but some people have a really tiny garden and only want 2 tomato plants and 2 pepper plants. For those folks, I understand not wanting to buy a seed packet to grow 1 plant. I can't imagine paying $5 a plant to start a whole row 😮

[@Cthomas5678]

I was at Walmart years ago and they had a bunch of roses dumped out on a pallet they were getting ready to trash them I asked if I could have some of them she said I can’t give them to you but I can sell them to you so I said I’ll give you 1$ for them so I got about five of them cleaned them up and they are still thriving to this day ❤️

[@My_Badd]

I went to rhs wisley last year and bought an elephant ear plant with two growing in one pot. It was £40 a pot. A nice little deal in the end. Always worth checking the plants pots over. I got two blueberry in one the other day. Also hostas can be split so I bought a hosta then split it and now have 7 from 1 pot. 😅

[@janicerusso3347]

Just got back from Home Depot and found pepper and tomato plants with multiples. Put them into separate pots until planting time. Thanks for your advise!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That is awesome! Glad you found some!

[@brokencage9723]

Great advise. alternatively just get a decent grow light and start your own seeds. you can have seedlings ready to harden off in three weeks.

[@whalechief]

very interesting!! if u wanna start from seeds, i wanna suggest getting your seeds for free from a seed library (and donating at the end of your harvest some seeds back, if possible)! i work at a public library and they have info on that on their website, so im sure anyone else's might also have info on that (or just give them a call to ask), if they dont provide it, tell them you're requesting for it! :D im definitely a starter kinda person, seeds are a bit too tricky for me, but if theres someone out there that this info's for, here u go o/ hope everyone's gardens will have a bountiful year!!!!

[@lindsey___harvey]

This just popped up on my suggested because of the location - Wilmington Native here too! Love the channel, will def be subscribing!

[@Padawan_8000]

The reason for multiple sprouts is bc when they add 3-4 seeds doing so will increase the germination rate. If you want more crops you can clone your plants. Cut the suckers and dip them in growth hormone powder then plant

[@Earthangel171]

What hormone powder you recommend

[@dannpd1955]

I’ve watched a few of your videos and today I subbed. Good video.

[@marianne3024]

It’s so funny, I’m watching, gasping outloud, “so rough!” Yet you’re an expert gardener and I just started this summer, lol. I baby my plants. I had to make some jute trellis today For my toms and I was gently bending a tomato stem. I literally said “sorry” to it. lolol

[@beatesetzer2441]

Our nursery gives ou a free gift once a month and sometimes you can choose. I chose celery and got 15 plants from one pot!

[@jeanette9221]

As a new gardener THAAANKYOU!!! SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO helps me a ton

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I'm so happy it could be helpful!

[@TheIndecisiveWigWearer]

I taught my daughter how to grow more plants from cuttings of tomato plants she bought. She was thrilled!

[@celesejones7243]

Subscribed. My kind of guy! I spend so much time in the garden section looking for the freebies. 👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you for subscribing! I appreciate it!

[@wannacya]

Thanks for the tip. I just bought a tomato plant with 2 stems. I'm happy I found your channel I just subscribed.😊

[@andrewkliss274]

I do that with perennial garden plants. Growers will place three plants in a one gallon container so it fills faster for eventual sale. I get three for one!

[@tsvandyke]

I work for a nursery - my job is to grow "bonnie plants" in Connecticut - pick the plant 3 weeks before it is ready - pack the truck full of ( um-mature plants ) ... not all of the plants arrive "customer pretty" ... some plants ( dont look good enough to sell ) .. so they are left on the racks behind the store ... as not everything we send - can fit on the shelf ... we only expect 30% of any truck load to be sold ... the rest gets thrown away in dumpsters behind each lowes location.

[@juneramirez8580]

I do the same thing. So far most are successful!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent!

[@amersklain4706]

I always look for the over seeded plants. I thought I was the only cheapskate, and kind of hide from people when I do it, almost like I’m doing something wrong. haha! I always separate my plants in water. In my experience the plants don’t show signs of shock. I just bought an over-seeded cup of watermelons~ 5 sprouts! That makes them $1 a plant! Thanks for the video, makes me more confident, so I won’t have to hide while shopping.

[@Pantsdownbrown]

Home Depot this year was selling early seedlings, still only had cotyledons showing, for $3.50. I got 6 zucchini and 3 cucumber plants for about 10 bucks! Gonna have so many zucchini this year!

[@kathyressler4764]

Have lways done this. Have to really look but can usually find doubles and triples. The prices have increased this year. I also try to find the six or four packs with extra plants. Thank you for the information.

[@HKLee-dn1fh]

This video made me smile because actually it’s a very practical tip when we go out for shopping. Why not after all..😀

[@TheMillennialGardener]

3 for the price of 1! We need all the help we can get saving money these days.

[@nattyw495]

I do this also but you know you can start seeds from when you buy veggies in winter time from your grocery store..just propagate your veggie seeds fom the veggies remains that youve cleaned and deseed or the ends of your veggie that you dont use... your gonna eat in winter veggies so just pot up the seeds put under growing light patience and time helps you learn how to use every part of your un eaten veggie...

[@violet5610]

Thank you for sharing your tips with us!

[@blondelightning6200]

Awesome video! I've been doing this for 30+ years. Just wanted to add another tip... maybe its already in the comments or another one of your videos?? Sorry if its a repeat. Don't pay for extra dirt and/or container.... sometimes (most of the time) its the same size plant.... and all you really want is the plant! Mother Earth provides the soil for free!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks! If you have good quality soil, you can dig it right up. Where I live, the soil isn't great for potting since it is mostly sand, but if you have a good loam, you can use it as long as it drains well.

[@blondelightning6200]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks and true!! When I worked in a garden centre a customer complained about having clay in her garden and I told thats awesome!!! She kinda looked at me like I was crazy, lol... I explained to her all the benefits of having clay! haha.... not everyone is so fortunate to have it. Just go with it and work with what you have. =o)

[@pejoly2]

I just throw all my veg scraps in the worm bin, then scoop out the sludge and pour it around everything in the yard, and wait for the magic to begin. I get tons of tomato, peppers, avocados, papaya, squash. I also stick the ends of onions, celery, cabbage, lemon grass, pineapples in the ground and take whatever sprouts. It is easy and fun, but sometimes a little hard to figure out what is growing in the chaos. My wife used to hate the wait, but now we barely need to buy veggies. Living in zone 9 also helps, everything grows here.

[@btchhopperou812]

Hey there Millenial Gardener- just a couple 'cheats' I've used for many years that may help you and the other viewers here get ahead. I've had excellent results with a product called 'Superthrive' for transplants(and a few other garden 'tasks'), anything from veggies to ornamentals. I've even used it on Red Bay, Poinciana and Live Oaks that needed root pruning before moving- BIG trees, anywhere from 10" to close to 24" caliper trees, some having been moved under conditions that were less than ideal. Just another possible tool in the arsenal. Now the next one can be a HUGE moneysaver for anyone that buys bagged 'potting mix'. Down here in Southeastern Florida, we have a regional(think they span several counties at least) business called 'The Bushel Stop'. It is an outdoor garden center that caters to both retail and commercial customers for landscaping needs from ornamental plants, small trees, aggregates, deco pots, fertilizers, tools, and so on. They ALSO sell several types of 'dirts, sands, mulches' in bulk with a 1 yd minimum. They sell POTTING SOIL MIX for about $35 a yard! It's light so it can be hauled in a small pickup truck too. This was a gamechanger for me regarding container growing! Their 'parent company' is Atlas Peat and Soil in Boynton Beach, Fl. and may supply other bizzes elsewhere with a similar product. If not, I encourage anyone that is paying ever-rising prices for bagged soils to check around locally- the savings can truly add up if a person is growing in larger or uses a high quantity of containers for the garden. Hope this will help someone and does not step on any toes! Thanks MG for sharing your knowledge- you are wise beyond your years young man and I learn from every video of yours I watch. Peace