• It is essential to select healthy seedlings from big box retailers, ensuring they have no yellow leaves or wilting and the soil is adequately moist.
• Paying more than 50 to 75 cents up to a maximum of $1 for single-head crops (such as cabbage) is the most economical approach.
• Shopping at local garden centers, privately owned garden centers, or on Facebook Marketplace can often result in finding cheaper seedlings.
• Aim for multiple plants per cell; tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are more forgiving price-wise and can yield several pounds of produce from one plant.