Dollar Tree usually gets in their seasonal items very early. After the initial shipment their stock is not always replenished. I know there is still snow on the ground and spring and summer seems far away. When you’re out this week pop into your local Dollar Tree. Not all Dollar Trees are the same they have different size stores, if you can find a large one head in and look for their gardening section. You’ll find a large variety of seeds and the best part is they are 4 packets for $1. The packets say .99 cents but in fact they are only .25 cents a packet.

My mom a few years back was skeptical when I told her I bought most of my basic seeds at Dollar Tree. I’ve had luck using their seeds in four different parts of the country.  I usually pick up Basil, Carrots, Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes, Zucchini, cucumbers and green onions. For the Basil, Lettuce, Spinach and Green onions I get multiple packs so that I can succession plant throughout the growing season. I also like to pick up some of their annual flowers especially Nasturtiums they are edible and I add them to salads on a regular basis to give my salads variety and color.

If your Dollar Tree doesn’t have their seeds yet ask the manager when they can be expecting them. They tend to go quick so stock up early.  I’m going to do a separate post about my favorite seed catalogs. A couple of other places if you have them to pick up seeds at a great price New England- Ocean State Job Lots they usually have Burpee seeds 40% off the list price, Job Lots out west, Old Time Pottery down south, and your local military exchange. They are not as cheap as dollar tree but they beat Home Depot and Lowes any day.

If you are new to container gardening and want to start out slow I’d recommend picking up lettuce, spinach, basil, carrots- the danvers half long variety or any other small variety,  radishes, and green onions. All of these can be grown in small window box containers, and they don’t need full sunlight (except the basil). I’ll talk more in my next article about the types of tomatoes, and peppers you should look at. You can successfully grow vegetables in containers you just have to make sure you pick the right compact variety and or the right size container. Leave a comment about what you want to try and plant and you’ll be entered to win a starter seed pack.