Cheap Seed Starting Set Up

You might think that gardening will be a way to save money on food until you start to order the supplies to get started. Equipment, seeds, and compost can add up faster than expensive grocery bills. But you don’t have to have a Pinterest-worthy greenhouse and a top-of-the-line setup to start seeds indoors. Here’s my cheap seed starting set up that will help set you up for success.

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Why Might You Even Need a Cheap Seed Starting Set Up?

Some seeds can be directly sown outdoors depending on your climate. Other seeds need to be started indoors to ensure they have the best chance to grow and thrive.

If you choose to start your plants from seed instead of plant starts from a garden center, you will most likely need an indoor seed-starting set up.

Many plants, such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, have long growing seasons and need extra time to mature. Starting them indoors provides a head start, especially in areas with shorter outdoor growing seasons.

Additionally, seeds often require consistent warmth to germinate, which might not be available outdoors during early spring when the ground is frozen or cold. Indoor environments offer the controlled conditions—such as ideal temperatures, light, and humidity—that fragile seedlings need to grow strong before facing outdoor challenges.

Starting seeds indoors also protects young plants from late frosts, pests, and diseases, which can be especially harmful in their early stages. This process not only increases germination success rates but also allows for earlier blooms or harvests compared to direct sowing.

Which Seeds Should I Start Indoors in my Cheap Seed Starting Set Up?

While this can depend on where you live and what you want to grow, here are some general guidelines for seeds to start indoors:

Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplants
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kale
Celery
Onions (bulb or bunching)
Leeks
Asparagus
Strawberries
Melons
Pumpkins
Basil
Parsley
Thyme
Oregano

My favorite place to order seeds is from Botanical Interests!

Here are some of my must-have items for my cheap seed starting set up, plus where to find them! After you price everything out, it may not be extremely inexpensive; however, it is much cheaper than a greenhouse with all of the fancy tools that you may think you need!

Below, I offer suggestions for ways to save even more. Plus, once you invest in these items, you can reuse most of them for years to come!

Shelf

You may or may not need a shelf depending on how many plants you want to grow. I, personally, use one, four-tiered shelf like this. It is not the most aesthetic; however, it is fairly affordable and it is perfect for hanging lights.

Currently, this shelf is available for $55.99. However, you could probably find one secondhand for significantly less!

Lights

Some people say that you need fancy grow lights in order to grow seedlings effectively. While I have a few grow lights, I mostly use cheap shop lights and they work just fine! I even have a friend who simply uses a sunny window!

I like that these lights can hang from the shelf recommended above. I raise mine up higher as the plants grow! They are also linkable, so you don’t need lots of outlets to plug them in.

The lights are not quite as powerful as grow lights, so I counteract this by putting my seedlings near a bright window as well. I rotate them so that they grow up instead of out to the side.

Containers

I usually start my seedlings in trays with small cells like this and repot them once they outgrow their pots. These trays have a lot of slots and are inexpensive. I have had similar trays for several years, and they have held up well.

In addition to the tray with pots, you will need an open tray or drip pan to catch the water. These cell trays also include the drip-pan tray.

Cups for Re-Potting

Last year, I used disposable plastic cups as an inexpensive option for re-potting my plants. I simply drilled three holes in the bottom of each one. I will be able to reuse most of them for years to come!

You could also purchase pots like these or wash and re-use pots from store-bought plants if you prefer something slightly more durable and compact.

For a more sustainable and inexpensive option, you could re-use containers that you already have at home such as egg cartons or clean milk jugs! If you use this method, just use caution if you are also using a heat mat.

Markers

I’ve made the mistake of not labeling my plants before, which is really unfortunate when you want to utilize planting techniques like companion planting.

You can use these small popsicle sticks and break them in half to use as markers to label what your plants are.

Heat Mats

Since you typically start seeds at different times based off of their planting dates, I find that having just a few heat mats works just fine! While an initial investment, they will pay off and help your seeds that prefer warm weather germinate quickly!

Seeds

I like to buy my seeds from Botanical Interests, True Leaf Market, and a local garden center. I prefer organic, non-GMO varieties, and I like that these companies provide lots of unique, heirloom seeds.

This post has some of my favorite seed varieties to order!

Soil

You will also need soil for your seedlings. I recommend a high-quality seed starting mix. Soil is something you don’t want to skimp on. Once I tried using a cheaper seed-starting mix, and it had sticks and larger clumps in it. My seeds did not grow well at all!

Seed-starting mix is made of fine particles–ideal for small seedlings to push through. It is worth the investment to get a good seed-starting mix!

I usually mix the soil with a little water to moisten it before planting. This extra step is a little messy, but I have had much more success starting seeds this way!

Germination Covers

A few years ago, I could not get the majority of my seeds to germinate. I tried idea after idea. Finally, I asked for help from the employees at my local garden center.

One of their suggestions was to use a cover on my seedlings until they germinated to create a more humid environment–essentially creating a greenhouse effect. You could buy plastic domes like this, or you could save even more money and just use plastic saran wrap!

Just make sure that you remove the covering once the seeds germinate to prevent mold growth!

Spray bottle

You can get a simple glass or plastic spray bottle to mist your plans. I usually mist the seedlings when they are small, and then I bottom water and use a small watering can once they are more established.

Fertilizer

Although not completely necessary, an organic plant food like this can help plants grow! If you get your seedlings off to a good start, they are more likely to transfer well once established.

Tips to Save More on this Cheap Seed Starting Set Up

One of the biggest seed-starting expenses are the containers. You can save even more by using old milk jugs, egg cartons, or fruit containers instead of buying new. You might be able to ask family or friends for extra seed containers if they buy annuals. You could also ask a local garden center if they have extras.

Whether you buy new containers or not, you can wash, save, and reuse them from year to year!

Another way to save is to save seeds from your garden each year instead of buying new packets. This post will give you some pointers on how to effectively save seeds.