Growing the Biggest Bang for Your Buck
When you only have 15 feet x 15 feet or less to grow organic produce, maximizing space and saving your grocery dollars matters. Over the last three years, gardeners estimated on average that they saved up to $15 per week on their grocery bill by growing some of their own food, which is about $400 per year! 25% of gardeners save $20-$25 per week on groceries, and some gardeners reported saving $40 per week or more!
For those of you wondering, how do they do that? Part of it is growing high-value and high-yielding crops to increase the amount of value in your garden space.. Here are some of my favorites.
Pretty Penny Produce
These kinds of crops are the most expensive in the store or at the Farmers’ Market. Saving space in your garden plot for these crops, especially if you and your family really like to eat them, will make a big dent in your grocery bill.
Tomatoes
Eggplant
Peppers
Berries of any kind
Gourmet greens (mescluns, arugula, spinach…)
Broccoli & cauliflower
Winter squash (cheap per/lb but heavy so they add up fast!)
Lettuce
Herbs
Garlic
Debra, a gardener at Meadow Hill Community Garden, says she can save up to $75 per week on her grocery bill from mid-July through mid-September thanks to the abundant raspberry patches at her garden. Photo by Athena Photography.
Continuous Harvest
Some crops will offer continuous harvest for months, and overtime that can add a lot of value to your garden. These crops are typically staples on your grocery list like lettuce, salad mix, tomatoes, or even herbs for a special dish.
Zucchini
Greens! This includes everything from micro greens and salad mix to heads of lettuce.
Tomatoes
Beans
Peas
Carrots
Cucumbers
Herbs
Kale
Chard
Berries - make sure to find a variety that is “everbearing” or has at least two peak harvest windows
You may have noticed that some crops are on both lists - they cost a lot of money in the store AND they offer continuous harvest. And so, the big take-home-message of this blog is…
To save the most, grow:
Tomatoes
Baby greens
Lettuce
Herbs
Everbearing berries
Last Few Notes
Remember to be realistic with what you and/or your family actually like to eat. If someone doesn’t like to eat one of these vegetables listed, you won’t be saving any money, sweat, or time growing it.