The cost of food is skyrocketing, and every time we go to the grocery store, we see prices rise, but we aren't getting more for our money. As the cost of things increase, the state of the economy gets worse, and the jobless rate climbs. A vegetable garden can offer people a great way to get fresh organic produce, to get it in abundance and to be able to have extra to use throughout the winter.
We need to debunk the myth that it is impossible to grow vegetables in small spaces. There are countless ways by which to grow vegetables in small spaces, whether it be by using raised beds, square foot gardening, lasagna gardening or container gardening. Each will offer a prospective gardener an opportunity and the space with which to grow whatever they want.
The choice of what to plant can be difficult. There are so many great vegetables to eat, but not all are easy for home gardeners to grow. Cauliflower is very difficult to grow. Corn requires enormous amounts of space, and because it can be purchased cheaply, it makes no sense to plant it. Potatoes are also reasonably priced, so it doesn't make sense to grow them either.
Tomatoes -
Tomatoes are a must have. Determinate varieties of tomatoes produce a big harvest at one time. They are ideal for people who want to can their tomatoes because the big one time harvest will provide enough tomatoes for canning. There are many different varieties of tomatoes to choose from, but starting them from seed will afford you with the greatest choice. The seeds need to be planted a good ten weeks before the plants are to be planted in the ground.
A package of tomato seeds will cost anywhere from $2 to $4 or $5, depending on the variety. Rare heirloom varieties are much more expensive. When buying seeds for more common varieties, there will be a lot of seeds in the package, and you may be able to get 20 or 30 plants, if not more from a package. Rarer varieties will contain far fewer seeds. As long as the seeds are fresh, the germination rate should be pretty high.
Even if you only get ten pounds of tomatoes off a plant (which is likely a big understatement,) ten plants would yield 100 pounds tomatoes. At $2 a pound, those ten pounds of tomatoes would cost you $20. The package of seeds cost far less than what you would have had to pay for the amount of tomatoes you are getting, so the savings is enormous.
SPINACH -
Spinach is a very healthy vegetable, and it is a cool weather crop. It can be planted early in the spring and again in late summer, so you can get two harvests. A package of spinach seeds may cost $2 or $3. Spinach can be packed closely together, so you will get a lot of spinach in a small space. Spinach can also be frozen, so any excess will be available for use all winter long.
LETTUCE -
Lettuce is a wonderful crop to grow. Again, the seeds are inexpensive and the amount of seeds per package is far too many to count. There are usually enough seeds in a single package to get at least two plantings. When you stagger the plantings, you prolong the harvest and don't get so much that you won't be able to use most of it. Lettuce is one of those crops that has to be eaten right away. But it is possible to plant a second planting late in the summer for a fall harvest.
PEPPERS -
Planting red, yellow and orange peppers is a great idea. They are always extremely expensive in the grocery store, and a package of seeds will yield a very substantial harvest. Peppers can be grilled or roasted. They can be preserved in jars, or they can be frozen. A bumper crop of colorful peppers won't go to waste.
BROCCOLI - Home grown broccoli tastes so much superior to that which one buys in the store. The stems are tender and fresh tasting. Regardless of whether you start seeds in advance or opt to purchase plants, a single broccoli plant will probably cost about what you'd pay for a pound of broccoli in a store, ($1.29 - $1.79,) but the harvest will easily be five times that amount. Broccoli is great for freezing.
ASPARAGUS -
Asparagus is always expensive in grocery stores. The best option for growing asparagus is to buy crowns. Although the plants won't produce any crop for a good two years, the wait will be well worth it. Even on sale, asparagus is not much cheaper than about $3 a pound. The amount of money you save by growing your own is huge.
STRAWBERRIES -
Strawberries are great for home gardeners, especially if you've got a lot of room. They spread out, so little by little, you will have a larger patch and a bigger harvest. As is the case with asparagus, one cannot expect to harvest anything for a couple of years. Strawberries, depending on the variety can produce a huge crop, and some varieties can provide more than one harvest.
BLUEBERRIES - -
Another costly fruit to buy in the grocery store, blueberries aren't that difficult to grow. They can be grown in containers on patios, and some can be grown in hanging baskets. They too can produce a heavy crop that will mean that the cost of your plants will be minimal compared to what you eventually harvest.
Some vegetables can be really expensive to purchase. Leeks, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and shallots are just a few examples of vegetables that are consistently expensive. Growing your own isn't that difficult, and for what you pay for a package of snow pea or sugar snap pea seeds, you could harvest a good 10 or more pounds. Even if you are to buy leeks that are already in plant form, since leeks are generally $2.99 or more per pound, you will save substantially there as well.
The cost of seeds and plants may cost $150 to $200 for a small space. Even if you have to purchase a canner and canning jars, your ultimate harvest will easily be worth $1500 as a low estimate. You may save as much as $2500 by growing it yourself. Canning and freezing vegetables will allow you to enjoy the benefits of your vegetable garden over the winter.
The next time you buy produce, add up the cost of everything you bought. Then figure out how much you'd be spending if you spent about the same amount of money every week. Organic produce costs much more, so by growing your own and practicing organic gardening methods, you will be saving whatever you would normally spend on produce, while getting a lot more than what you pay for when you are buying retail.