People are becoming more health-conscious concerning food, explaining why vegetable gardening is a prevalent trend.
Many individuals also chose to grow their food during the pandemic to manage restricted movements to supermarkets. When considering vegetable gardening, you may wonder, “Is it cheaper to grow vegetables?”
Homegrown vegetables’ better taste and cost-effectiveness make them attractive to many farmers.
Statistics also show that people use different areas to grow their vegetables. A study found that 91% grow food at home, and 5% use a neighbor’s or friend’s place. Approximately 3% rely on a community garden, while 1% grow the food in unknown locations.
Growing your vegetables requires some thought. The following vital factors determine whether you get excellent or poor yields:
- The kind of vegetable
- The number of plants
- Seeds or transplants
- Your regional climate
- Presence of pests and disease
Growing your own vegetables is cheaper than buying them, and the right purchases can lead to fantastic results.
Is Growing Your Own Vegetables Cheaper?
Research by Axiom Marketing reported that 86% of homeowners continued gardening in 2021, a year after the COVID-19 breakout. Growing your vegetables is cheaper since you can generate plenty of crops with proper farming techniques.
Even though growing the vegetables is cheaper, you need some investment to start. You want to set aside a small outlay of funds to purchase tools, fertilizer, and seeds.
If you intend to buy a garden, you also need to keep aside some money. It takes patience and time before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, although it is worth your while.
How Much Money Can You Save by Having Your Own Vegetable Garden?
The amount of money you can save by having your vegetable garden depends on the crops you grow. Another aspect determining your savings is the number of crops your garden yields.
- A pound of tomatoes on average cost about $2.56 at most stores.
- In contrast, you can get a tomato plant for roughly $4 or less, with each plant producing at least 8 pounds of tomatoes.
- Buying 8 pounds of tomatoes can cost you $20.48, whereas growing the plant saves you $16.
- Leaf lettuce can save you up to $16.25.
- You can get seeds for less than $3, with a packet yielding considerable volume.
It can produce enough to make a salad daily for over a week. You can get the same supply by purchasing seven hearts of romaine at the store for $2.75 per pound. A plant can give a new harvest every two weeks.
Average Cost of a Vegetable Garden
The average cost of a vegetable garden is approximately $200. Starting from scratch requires several accessories and tools you need to consider. Fence pickets cost around $35.52, decking screws cost $12.98 and peat moss goes for $34.37.
- Large cardboard boxes come at $11.84,
- Organic compost bags at $37.40
- Plastic mesh netting at $43.98.
- You can also add some 1x2x8s for $19.58 and 2x4x8s for $7.36.
- These components total $203.03.
The cost can slightly increase if you need to buy a drill, drill bits, staples, staple gun, and homemade compost.
Vegetables to Grow At Home
You can get various vegetables to grow at home to help you save costs while nourishing your family. It is proper to pick varieties that do well in your region, with microclimates that do not hinder growth.
Regardless of your crop choice, verifying your area’s climate is essential.
Some vegetables you can grow in your home garden include kale, tomatoes, and artichokes. Mint, zucchini, and Brussel sprouts are also excellent options you can add to your garden and menu.
Easiest Vegetables to Grow
You can find several easy vegetables to grow in a home garden. The variety available enables you to choose to grow the crops from seeds or as transplants. Whichever method you prefer, it is proper to identify some of the easiest vegetables you can choose. They include:
- Spinach
Spinach is cold weather-friendly, and compatible with most climates, allowing you to grow it throughout the year. You can grow it in well-drained soil with compost. Besides, you can plant it in light shade or full sun. You want to thin the areas you plant the spinach seeds, removing any clusters.
- Yellow Summer Squash
The yellow summer squash grows best when you plant it in well-drained compost soil. It is best to grow summer squash in direct sunlight or a spot with plenty of sunlight throughout the day. You can also enjoy a quicker harvest by purchasing squash seedlings.
- Lettuce
You can start your lettuce indoors for transplanting or directly sow them in a garden bed. It can grow year-round in different climates. You can shade it when dealing with hot weather. The shade slows its growth and makes it slower to go to seed, letting you harvest for longer.
- Green Beans
Beans feature several varieties that offer different advantages. The pole varieties deliver a prolonged harvest, while the bush types do not require trellising. In hot areas, you can grow southern peas, lima beans, and asparagus beans. If you live in a cooler region, snap beans are ideal.
- Cucumbers
Cucumbers are among the most popular vegetables grown at home. You can conveniently plant them in a container or your garden. Planting in a garden requires you to grow them indoors for three weeks before transplanting.
It is better to plant them after the final spring frost since they are warm-weather vegetables. Alternatively, you can also purchase cucumber seedlings to save time.
Apart from these options, you can find other vegetables easier to grow. Squash, including pumpkins, are suitable vegetables to grow in the winter. Radishes, peas, turnips, sunflowers, and sweet potatoes are other crops you can comfortably grow from seed.
The most difficult vegetables to grow are cauliflower, celery, asparagus, and artichokes. Growing head lettuce is challenging since it requires colder temperatures and a longer growing period.
Foods Cheaper to Grow Than Buy
One of the most considerable advantages of growing your vegetables is cost-effectiveness. Buying from the stores may be convenient, but the high price tags limit your menu options. The following are some foods more affordable to grow than to purchase:
- Potatoes
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
- Curly Kale
- Tomatoes
Cheapest Place to Buy Vegetable Plants
You can buy vegetable plants from online stores for the most affordable rates. Local stores and supermarket chains are otherwise options where people can purchase products for a reasonable price.
Cost of Veg FAQ
Here are frequently asked questions about growing your own vegetables.
Is it cheaper to grow your own food?
Yes, it is cheaper to grow your food. It may take some time and funds to invest in a garden, accessories, and seeds. Still, the yields generally involve several pounds, reducing your spending at the store.
How much can you save growing your own vegetables?
You can save a lot of money by growing your vegetables depending on the crop type and yield you receive. Typically, each plant you grow produces multiple pounds per harvest, saving extra expenses at the store.
Is it cheaper to grow your own potatoes?
It is cheaper to grow your potatoes since a single plant can produce around three to six regular-sized potatoes. Stores provide the potatoes in limited packages, costing you more to get your daily or weekly potato needs.
What is the cheapest vegetable to grow?
The cucumber is among the cheapest vegetables to grow. Tomatoes are another excellent affordable option to plant without denting your wallet.
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