After posting about 'recession gardening', I received a question asking me if it was hard to grow herbs and strawberries.

The short answer, not really. I have found that most herbs and strawberries grow well.

Strawberries will be planted about this time of year, using "strawberry sets", which look like dead roots. If you go to a local nursery, you can usually buy these very a very affordable price by asking. They are usually kept in a cooler.

I do not like the kind of strawberry sets that you purchase at the grocery/department store, as these have almost always not grown for me when I have bought them. The nursery plants are usually more reliable than something that was shipped in to a store in a package, and is likely dried out.

Many of my favorite herbs are perennials, which means they grow back each year. Many of them spread so much that I am able to divide up the plants every few years to plant new plants, which is great. For my perennials, I usually buy a seedling, rather than starting the plant by seed, as I find this is more reliable. In my book, Growing your Groceries, I have information on growing many different kinds of herbs

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One of the best ways to save extra money on the grocery bill is to grow your own groceries, but getting started with a garden can be challenging and intimidating. If it's not done properly, a garden can potentially cost you more than you actually save. Many gardening books on the market today contain costly suggestions. Most of the time, gardening books aren't directed towards busy mothers with young children either, and it shows! That's where my new ebook, Momma's Guide to Growing Your Groceries comes in!