County extension offices are also the meeting centers for Master Gardeners – many of whom have the knowledge and experience to keep your garden growing successfully. With proper planning, it’s possible to grow two or three crops in a given area during the growing season. Preserving vegetables is a great way to enjoy the “extra” produce later in the year. To save money, grow more expensive items, like tomatoes and melons, or large quantities of vegetables that you purchase regularly. First – you have to know a couple of basics of growing vegetables. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. PM 534, Planting and Harvesting Times for Garden Vegetables RG 201, Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardens & Landscapes Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. Even if it’s just some herbs in a window box, growing your own produce can save serious money, especially if you cook a lot. It’s profitable — Being a gardener means you can sell your vegetables commercially. Consider vegetables like beans, beets, onions, spinach, broccoli, peppers, carrots, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peas, and Swiss chard. But, once you've purchased all of the supplies, and tried various things, you might be able to figure out what grows really well and does save you money over the long term. Finally, have fun growing your own vegetables. We have a small, fenced-in backyard (we live in the middle of town), so last year we decided to dig out a 10 ft. x 7 ft. section of our lawn and plant some seeds. pepperassorted.jpg [360K], Copyright © 1995-var d = new Date(); var n = d.getFullYear(); document.write(n); Warm season vegetables (tomatoes, pepper, eggplant, squash, etc.) Establish a network of family members, neighbors, or friends that can help you answer your questions. Potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, and winter squash can be stored for several months when stored at the appropriate temperature. Here’s how to make the most of your garden to save money on groceries and cut your bill at checkout. And all that gardening is good for you. Select vegetables that can be easily stored or preserved. Add compost and well-rotted manure to the garden to improve the soil and reduce the use of fertilizers. Collect rainwater for irrigation. And we don’t mean selling your crops, which results in instant profit. The humorous book, The $64 Tomato by William Alexander, discusses one man’s quest for the perfect garden and how it ended up costing him $64 per tomato (among other things). The weather is favorable for growing vegetables throughout the year and some veggies, like tomatoes, are always in high demand. are planted after the danger of frost has passed and harvested by early fall. PM 1889, Onions This information is for educational purposes only. Every year I stick something in the garden because it’s “easy to grow” or “we have room” or “it looked cool” and it ends up being just one more thing I have to work around and we never even eat it. But with a few tips, it can save you some money on a grocery bill or two. Truth is, the only way a garden saves money is if you only plant what you’re actually going to use. Practice the principles of Integrated Pest Management to control insects and diseases, reducing your reliance on pesticides. Where I come from, growing vegetables not only saves money but is a huge source of income. It is a great form of physical exercise, and I haven’t met a nutritionist yet who didn’t think that fresh produce was healthy. In truth, it’s looking kind of expensive. Below are several other important factors to consider when growing a vegetable garden to save you money. Decide what you want to grow and determine what will be necessary to be successful. With today’s tight economy, everyone is looking for ways to cut expenses. Nearly all vegetables need full-sun and a well-drained soil. There are a wide variety of vegetables that can be successfully grown in Iowa. Growing your own fruit and veg. Limit yourself to just a few types of vegetables the first year. This was published 6 years ago. Visit Gardening in Michigan to learn more how to grow fruits and vegetables and Michigan Fresh to find fact sheets on how to can and freeze a variety of fruits and vegetables (look in the upper left corner of the page for the links). Policies These vegetables provide the biggest returns on … PM 823, Watering the Home Garden – Use of Trickle Irrigation Many of us want to consumer more natural and organic products; and last year a study by Imperial College London declared that eating 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day – rather than the 5 portions previously recommended – may give us longer lives. Zahina-Ramos began tracking the cost benefits of people growing their own food in a study he started in 2009. Roth Contributor. It’s possible to spend a small fortune on a garden. These costs can add up quickly, even for a small vegetable garden. Encourage your neighbors to grow a few vegetables as well. Do some research and start with a plan. broccoli.jpg [400 Kb] Iowa State University Extension publications on growing vegetables in home gardens area available from county ISU Extension offices or online at https://store.extension.iastate.edu . Selecting vegetables that have a long storage life or that can easily be canned or frozen is a great way to stretch your grocery dollar. Gardening and fresh air can be a good hangover cure! Plants will require regular watering, maintenance and harvesting. Find ways to reuse containers, flats, stakes, ties, etc. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. With proper planning, it’s possible to grow two or three crops in a given area during the growing season. PM 1896, Cole Crops These costs can add up quickly, even for a small vegetable garden. On the patio of my condo. It’s possible to spend a small fortune on a garden. Iowa State University of Science and Technology. As I walk through the produce section of my grocery store, there are only a few things I see that are difficult to grow in Iowa. Research and consider ways to reduce your inputs. Your Vegetable garden can make you money. July 15, 2013. Finally, have fun growing your own vegetables. When you become more confident in your abilities and resources, you can increase the size of your vegetable garden and grow a wider variety of crops. Cool season vegetables (carrots, beets, lettuce, cauliflower, etc.) Plants will require regular watering, maintenance and harvesting. Gardens are a potential means to increase our confidence in food safety and security. Tomatoes and pilipili hoho (capsicum) perform well and mature fast. These vegetables provide the biggest returns on your investment of space and time in the garden. But with a few tips, it can save you some money on a grocery bill or two. Grow A Square Foot Garden. A trial of ‘Gourmet Veg’ in 2010 showed that you could save pounds by growing Jerusalem artichokes, kale, Florence fennel, tenderstem broccoli, pattypan squash, banana shallots, watercress and spinach. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. Everyone has their own list of favourite things they like to eat, and any list of the best money saving vegetables needs to be adapted to what you will enjoy eating. Here are twelve ways to save money vegetable … PM 870B, Container Vegetable Gardening When you become more confident in your abilities and resources, you can increase the size of your vegetable garden and grow a wider variety of crops. Gardens are a potential means to increase our confidence in food safety and security. Select vegetables that are expensive to buy in the grocery store. PM 1888, Peppers Start small. MoneyBuilder. We usually buy one huge tub or organic lettuce a week for $6, and then kale and spinach. This astonishing figure is the result of all of the input costs (tools and equipment, fertilizers, pesticides, water, etc.) So don’t waste your time or money planting them in the garden. Ready to get dirty and plant that backyard garden? Preserving vegetables is a great way to enjoy the “extra” produce later in the year. It is a great form of physical exercise, and I haven’t met a nutritionist yet who didn’t think that fresh produce was “good for you” too! are planted in early spring and harvested by mid-summer. PM 1266, Tomato Diseases and Disorders Encourage your neighbors to grow a few vegetables as well. However, with experience, a gardener can save money by growing their own fruit and vegetables. PM 607, Suggested Vegetable Varieties for the Home Garden Some vegetables are simply cheaper to buy at the grocery store, and no amount of gardening savvy will result in a cost-saving benefit. Plan the garden on paper first. Potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, and winter squash can be stored for several months when stored at the appropriate temperature. We save over $2,400 every year by growing our garden, you will never believe what saves us the most money … and the least So I don’t know if you know this by now but I really really love my garden you guys. The trick is keeping your capital costs down. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Select vegetables that can be easily stored or preserved.Selecting vegetables that have a long storage life or that can easily be canned or frozen is a great way to stretch your grocery dollar. Growing from seed takes a little extra time for plants to get established and I have not added a value to this time. PM 1895, Tomatillos  In 2011 we grew tons of tomatoes and zucchini and a little bit of lettuce, but most everything else flopped. But this “potential” depends on the costs involved in growing the crops, types and amounts of vegetables grown, yields that are derived from the garden, and other factors. Do some research and start with a plan. Growing all—or even a portion—of your own vegetables and herbs at home pays you back in freshness and convenience. Select vegetables that you like. Nearly all vegetables need full-sun and a well-drained soil. Below are several other important factors to consider when growing a vegetable garden to save you money. These days there is an increasing emphasis on healthy eating. This cycle becomes clearer over time as you refine your process and expand your set up. Remember that saving money with vegetables usually means keeping the costs as low as possible while still growing productive plants. PM 874, Starting Garden Transplants at Home For example, you could grow 1kg of baby carrots for around 25p, but you'd pay about £3.30 … The average American household forks out $6,759 a year on food, or 12.6 percent of total spending, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Find ways to reuse containers, flats, stakes, ties, etc. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). Kendra Wills, Michigan State University Extension - For example, for us this has been lettuce/greens. We know where the food is coming from and all the history of plants grown in our own gardens. It turns out, says the NGA, one of the top reasons to grow your own food in a vegetable garden is to save money on grocery bills. Save money growing vegetables at home to self-sufficiency. lettuce.jpg [400 Kb] We know where the food is coming from. IME, it will not save money at first. Of that, $756 is spent on fruits and vegetables, and $2,787 on the high cost of eating out. Planting a vegetable garden is a fantastic way to save money on groceries — as long as you make sure to plant the most cost-effective veggies. Remember that saving money with vegetables usually means keeping the costs as low as possible while still growing productive plants. Practical tips and resources to get your garden started. Warm season vegetables (tomatoes, pepper, eggplant, squash, etc.) To save money, grow more expensive items, like tomatoes and melons, or large quantities of vegetables that you purchase regularly. Growing a garden has the potential to reduce the amount of money spent on groceries. The more efficiently you use garden space and resources the larger the potential savings. This astonishing figure is the result of all of the input costs (tools and equipment, fertilizers, pesticides, water, etc.) Plant What You Eat “Grow stuff you eat!” exclaims Cape Cod, Massachusetts, backyard gardener Brittany Haskell. PM 994, Asparagus in the Home Garden And you earn some good karma as well. associated with gardening. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. 5. Start small. By Cindy Haynes The trick to saving money with a vegetable garden is limiting the costs while maximizing yield. The vegetable garden also should be located near a source of water. iStockphoto/ Thinkstock The bottom line of vegetable garden economics is that a little planning can pay big dividends. Vegetable gardening does save money if you are growing valuable and expensive produce that you will actually eat. The location of the vegetable garden is crucial. But I figure a few tomato and pepper plants will at least save me a little money. Decide what you want to grow and determine what will be necessary to be successful. are planted in early spring and harvested by mid-summer. Consider vegetables like beans, beets, onions, spinach, broccoli, peppers, carrots, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peas, and Swiss chard. Visit each other’s gardens and trade “extra produce” regularly. By growing his own fruits and vegetables, Zahina-Ramos estimates that he saves between $2,000 and $2,200 per year compared to conventional agriculture prices and about $3,000 to $3,200 per year compared to organic produce. But if you plan strategically, you can maximize the dollar potential of your vegetable garden. Garden experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have named courgettes, aubergines and Brussels sprouts as the most cost-effective vegetables to grow in gardens and allotments, with just one packet of seeds able to save you around £149 on average.. Self-sufficiency doesn’t happen overnight. This is a sampling of peppers that can be grown in the home garden. In addition, gardening is good for you. While saving money may be one of the benefits to growing a vegetable garden – let’s not forget that there are others as well. First – you have to know a couple of basics of growing vegetables. associated with gardening. are planted after the danger of frost has passed and harvested by early fall. The vegetable garden also should be located near a source of water. While saving money may be one of the benefits to growing a vegetable garden – let’s not forget that there are others as well. Consider vegetables like beans, beets, onions, spinach, broccoli, peppers, carrots, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peas, and Swiss chard. 2150 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA 50011-2031 (800) 262-3804, Iowa State University | In addition, you make a small contribution to overall energy savings in reduced fuel consumption and transportation costs of market items. Inspired, I decided to start my own vegetable garden. On this page, is my selection of vegetables to grow with money saving in mind. Growing your own vegetables is bound to save you money during those all-too-frequent grocery shopping trips. The gardening resources from Michigan State University Extension are vast. There is a wide variety of vegetables that can be successfully grown in Michigan. PM 731, Harvesting and Storing Vegetables 8. You’ll spend pennies on the dollar compared to buying at your local grocer or farmers market. Does growing your own vegetables really save you money? This is simple – you are not likely to take care of - or eat - vegetables that you don’t like. So, growing your own vegetables can be rewarding, regardless of the potential savings. Like many things, gardening takes practice. So, growing a vegetable garden can save you money, if done wisely. This is simple – you’re not likely to take care of …or eat things you don’t like. Growing food in square foot gardens make sure that you harvest just what you need, work in a small space, and take better care of your selected plants.You save your energy with less work, you save money with your yields, and conserve water with a small space. We know what chemicals were used, and we essentially eliminated the whole transportation chain to get the food to the plate. It worked pretty well. If you need personal assistance, MSU Extension offers a toll free hotline at 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). Before you know it, the costs of maintaining a vegetable garden can be higher than if you just bought the produce from a market. RG 801, Growing and Using Basil But that’s ok. You know why? It’s surprising how something as simple as a vegetable garden can impact your life...and hopefully your pocketbook as well! Add compost and well-rotted manure to the garden to improve the soil and reduce the use of fertilizers. Other vegetables, like beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets and sweet corn, can be preserved by canning or freezing. So, growing your own vegetables can be rewarding, regardless of the potential savings. Select vegetables that are expensive to buy in the grocery store. Other techniques, such as interplanting and companion planting, are other ways to make efficient use of garden space. Cool season vegetables (carrots, beets, lettuce, cauliflower, etc.) Iowa State University of Science and Technology. You need to learn what a plant produces, how you can use it in your garden kitchen, and then plant what you need. These vegetables provide the biggest returns on your investment of space and time in the garden. So don’t waste your time or money planting them in the garden. Because we didn’t spend countless hours out there and we could always head to the grocery store if we needed s… To save money, grow more expensive items, like tomatoes and melons, or large quantities of vegetables that you purchase regularly. Michigan’s climate allows production of both cool and warm season vegetables. Clearly, I won’t be reaping the advantages of scale. PM 1890, Potatoes PM 1893,  Cilantro The humorous book, "The $64 Tomato" by William Alexander, discusses one man’s quest for the perfect garden and how it ended up costing him $64 per tomato (among other things). All rights reserved. PM 814, Where to Put Your Vegetable Garden, Contacts: Iowa’s climate allows production of both cool and warm season vegetables. They can also be ordered or downloaded online at https://store.extension.iastate.edu. The following list includes identification number, the title of the publication, number of pages and cost: So, the answer to the above question is “yes” – if done correctly. So to answer the question, “Is gardening to save money possible?” more fully, I’d say “Yes it is, when you plan, grow what you can use and will eat, and concentrate on the plants that will give you the biggest return on your investment.” Cindy Haynes, Horticulture, (515) 294-4006, chaynes@iastate.edu, Three high-resolution photos are available for use with this column: This year’s summer plants have all been raised from seed so the cost per plant is cents. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. Over the years we have experimented with many vegetable crops, and while saving money is not the prime reason we grow vegetables, it is a … Start with high quality seeds – most are relatively inexpensive, and most can be stored for at least one or two years. Research and consider ways to reduce your inputs. It is a gorgeous day. Jackie French: Growing vegetables to save money Grow what you love to eat and improve your budget, writes Jackie French. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We know what chemicals were used, we know what pests were problems and we essentially eliminated the whole resource-gobbling transportation chain to get the food to your plate. It’s surprising how something as simple as a vegetable garden can impact your life...and hopefully your pocketbook as well! What do you think, does growing vegetables save you money?It can, but not necessarily. PM 608, Tomatoes Each of these can be picked up at your county extension office. All rights reserved. Growing many different vegetables in a large garden can be overwhelming for new gardeners and can ultimately lead to failure. PM 1894, Garlic Plan the garden on paper first. Growing many different vegetables in a large garden can be overwhelming for new gardeners and can ultimately lead to failure. Collect rainwater for irrigation, especially if you pay for water. Remote Learning and Resources for Those at Home During COVID-19 Pandemic. You’ll save money by eating what you grow and making fewer trips to the grocery store. The location of the vegetable garden is crucial. J.D. So, growing a vegetable garden can save you money, if done wisely. Using the same space for two or more crops is called succession planting. There are more than 20 vegetable gardening publications from Iowa State University Extension that can help you (see table below). As a result, you could cut into some hefty grocery bills. Select vegetables that you like. If you're gardening to save money, some things -- like carrots -- might not be worth your while because they're so difficult to grow (and inexpensive in markets). Growing a garden has the potential to reduce the amount of money spent on groceries, but this depends on the costs involved in growing the crops, types and amounts of vegetables grown, yields that are derived from the garden, and other factors. As I walk through the produce section of my grocery store, there are only a few things I see that are difficult to grow. The following fruits and veggies and … PM 819, Planting a Home Vegetable Garden Of course its possible to overspend and try to grow inappropriate plants that fail. Extension Horticulturist With an average-sized garden, it’s pretty likely that you could save $200 on grocery bills during the growing season, even after the expenses. Cost to grow: I did not do an analysis of the cost to produce the vegetables we are growing. Other vegetables, like beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets and sweet corn, can be preserved by canning or freezing. Start with high quality seeds – most are relatively inexpensive, and most can be stored for at least one or two years. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. By planting a vegetable garden, you can slash your food bill while eating healthier. Other techniques, such as interplanting and companion planting, are other ways to make efficient use of garden space. Steve points out that the real savings come from growing veg that’s expensive in the shops. The trick to saving money with a vegetable garden is limiting the costs while maximizing yield. Select vegetables that are expensive to buy in the grocery store. Using the same space for two or more crops is called succession planting. According to a survey released in March by the think tank The Australia Institute, 52 per cent of Australian households grow their own food and 91 per cent of these agree it saves them money. Like many things, gardening takes practice. At Shoesbring Cottage we are always growing our own fruit and veg to save money – … If you spread that over the five months you are working in the garden, it’s $40 a month. 9. PM 1891, Sweet Corn In the meantime, the materials help aerate your soil and provide a … Limit yourself to just a few types of vegetables the first year. Iowa State University. I read a very negative article a while ago (and lucky for you I can’t find it again, so you don’t have to suffer through it too), it was written by a Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. Don’t forget about your local county extension office. Here’s the price breakout. It’s possible to spend a small fortune on a garden. We had a few jobs in the garden that needed to be done as we are off on holiday in a few days. State & National Extension Partners. The more efficiently you use garden space and resources the larger the potential savings. For those that are venturing into growing vegetables for the first time, the start-up costs can get out of hand in a hurry. Practice the principles of Integrated Pest Management to control insects and diseases, reducing your reliance on pesticides. It never fails. Visit each other’s gardens and trade “extra produce” regularly. Here’s how to plant a garden that lets you make the most of your time and effort by helping you decrease your food budget. PM 870A, Small Plot Vegetable Gardens You save your money when you don’t waste the vegetables you grow. The humorous book, The $64 Tomato by William Alexander, discusses one man’s quest for the perfect garden and how it ended up costing him $64 per tomato (among other things). This method not only saves you money, but over time, the natural material breaks down and returns nutrients to your soil, allowing your plants to thrive year after year — just like amending your soil with compost. How to Save Money By Growing Your Own Food. T mean selling your crops, which results in instant profit USC 707 the gardening resources from Michigan University... However, with experience, a gardener means you can slash your food bill while healthier... Grow stuff you eat! ” exclaims Cape Cod, Massachusetts, backyard gardener Brittany Haskell and..., are always growing our own fruit and veg to save you money had a few vegetables as well it..., if done wisely Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA 50011-2031 ( 800 ) 262-3804, Iowa State Extension! Process and expand your set up, etc. pay big dividends truth is the. Interplanting and companion planting, are other ways to reuse containers, flats, stakes, ties,.. A hurry s tight economy, everyone is looking for ways to make efficient use of space... Get your garden started and all the history of plants grown in Michigan time, start-up... Be picked up at your county Extension office as well in early spring harvested. 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