Ripe red tomatoes, juicy pineapple, and hot peppers—the produce aisle at the supermarket is full of possibilities for cooking a great meal, but it can also be a great starting point for a prolific garden.
There are many types of products on store shelves that can be turned into thriving garden plants by saving and propagating seeds, which can help stretch your grocery bill and make it a fun experiment.
Lauri Kranz, urban farmer, garden builder and co-owner of Los Angeles Home Farm (a Glassell Park market featuring produce from local farms) loves growing things from seeds from produce she bought at the markets. Enjoy the exponential growth factor of this type of gardening.
“You can get a lot of food from a single seed, from a single potato,” he said. “I love that.”
Kenneth Sparks, also known as Farmer Ken, an urban farmer and gardening trainer who sells his products at Los Angeles County markets., says it doesn't take much effort to grow things from supermarket produce, but said it's important for gardeners to go into the process with a little knowledge. He recommends researching the best times of year to plant certain vegetables and fruits and researching their USDA Zone and Sunset climate zone know what to expect from the microclimate of Los Angeles County.
Kranz said the supplies you'll need will vary depending on what you're growing, but she recommends having organic soil and terra cotta pots on hand in a variety of sizes for planting and transplanting.
Here are some great grocery store options.
