Every year, like clockwork, my garden surprises me with a TON of volunteer plants! 😄 These sneaky little growers seem to pop up out of nowhere, and it’s always fun to see who decides to return for an encore. Some of my most frequent repeat offenders are tomatillos, chives, Britton Shiso, and the stunning Purple Orach. Seriously, that one just refuses to quit!). It is EVERYWHERE!
👉 What is a Volunteer Plant?
A volunteer plant is one that shows up in your garden without you planting it intentionally. You didn’t sow a seed, you didn’t transplant a seedling—this plant just appeared on its own like, “Heyyy, Look at me! I live here now!” 😂🌱
But how did it get there in the first place?
- 🍅 Fruit Drop: Tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, cucumbers, squash, etc. —when the fruit falls off the plant, you leave it there, and it decomposes in the soil, those seeds often settle in and decide to sprout the next season.
- 🌿 Bolting & Seeding: Greens like lettuce, arugula, spinach, mustards, and bok choy, or herbs like dill, basil, and cilantro often go to seed in the summer heat. Those seeds get cozy in the soil, overwinter, and germinate when spring rolls around.
- 🐦 Critter Carriers: Birds, squirrels, mice, pets, and even insects can help spread seeds around your garden without you even realizing it.
👉 How Do You Know If It’s a Weed or a Garden Volunteer?
This can be tricky, especially when you’re just getting started with gardening. When seedlings first pop up, they often look very similar, especially the first set of leaves (called cotyledons). But don’t worry—you’ll get the hang of it! 💪
After a while you will quickly be able to identify things like tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and more.
🌱 Tips to Identify Volunteer Plants:
- Let it grow a bit! Wait until the plant has a few true leaves (the second set of leaves that look like the mature plant).
- 📱 Use a plant ID app like Google Lens, PlantNet, or PictureThis to help identify what it might be.
- 🌐 Ask the community! Post a pic in your favorite garden group (like AeroGarden, Kratky & Gardening Fanatics! 😉). While we may not be able to pinpoint the exact variety, we can usually tell you if it’s something edible or just a weed.
- 📸 Label everything. Once you know what it is, label it! And take photos of your volunteers as they grow—it helps you learn, and makes a great photo diary! Labeling also means that if something pops up in that spot next year, you have a better chance of knowing what it is.
🌿 What To Do With Volunteer Plants
Volunteer plants are one of my favorite garden freebies! Here’s what you can do with them:
- ✅ Let them grow where they popped up (as long as they aren’t crowding out other plants).
- 🌱 Gently dig them up and transplant them to a better spot in your garden.
- 🪴 Pot them up to give away or sell to friends, neighbors, or at your local farmers market.
- 🍽️ Use them as bonus crops—extra tomatoes, herbs, greens, and more? Yes please!
As I’ve been finding little plants that I think might be something useful I’ve been moving them to small pot, or one of my small planters while I work to amend and top off my raised beds, GreenStalks, and planters. After that, they will be moved to their permanent homes.
Sooo… Don’t be too quick to pull little unknown plants! Unless you are absolutely sure it’s a weed (like those annoying prickly Canada Thistle) that tiny sprout might be your next favorite tomato or a gorgeous leafy green just waiting to show off. Embrace the surprise! 🥰🌿
This year I even have a whole 6×3 bed of volunteer greens! Last year I let this bed go to seed and it did not disappoint!
Want to share your volunteer finds or ask for plant ID help? Drop a comment below or tag me on social media. I’m @littletechgirl everywhere! I love seeing what surprises your garden gives you! 💚👩🏾🌾
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