Will you be planting a vegetable garden this year to save money? While there’s no arguing that freshly grown produce is healthier and tastier for you, not all vegetables are worth the time and the effort to grow in a home garden if you have limited space.
Low yield, low cost vegetables such as potatoes, winter squashes, pumpkins, and cabbages are just a few examples of vegetables that take up lots of room with very little output. The one year I grew Hubbard squash for our family (to use as an example), I ended up with about six decent sized squashes in a plot measuring 10 x 10 which could have been purchased at the grocery store for about $20. These days, I’m growing leeks and red onions in the same space for a savings of $350.
Here’s eight other garden vegetables that give me the most value for the money per square yard. Prices are based on average grocery store prices in my area — yours may differ.
Tomatoes. Our family enjoys Tex Mex and Italian food which is why we usually plant about 25 tomato plants every season. A single tomato plant takes up a 2.5 ft x 2.5 ft space and yields about 30-40 pounds of tomatoes. Even “in season,” tomatoes cost upwards of $2 a pound. Total savings per plant, $60-80
Peppers. I plant both Anaheims and Bell Peppers in our garden which yield about 12-25 peppers per plant. A 3 ft x 3 ft space filled with four Anaheim pepper plants will produce 60 peppers for a savings of $45-60.
Spinach. Instead of traditional salad greens, our family prefers leaf spinach for its versatility. Spinach can be planted in the spring in two week increments for a continual supply of tender greens through mid June. A 3 ft x 3 ft bed will yield at least 50 bundles of spinach for a savings of $100.
Pole Beans. Space saving pole beans grow up instead of out and will produce a steady supply of fresh green beans throughout the growing season. A 1 ft x 9 ft row produces yield 1.5 pounds of beans twice a week for six weeks at a savings of $18-27.
Summer squash. Anyone who has ever grown zucchini or crookneck squash knows how prolific these vegetables can be! A single plant takes up a 3 x 3 space, and will produce 1-2 squash every couple of days once temps rise above 80 degrees. Last year, we saw a savings of nearly $40 per plant.
Rhubarb. This old fashioned vegetable has some amazing health benefits which it why it’s been a staple in my vegetable garden for over 35 years. A single mature rhubarb plant takes up a 3 ft x 3 ft plot during the growing season (from April to early June) and will produce 20-25 edible stalks for a savings of $25.
Carrots are another family favorite that takes up little space in relation to the yield. A square yard of space will yield between 35-40 pounds of carrots which will cost you $40 or more at the supermarket.
Broccoli. Wrapping up the list of high yield high cost vegetables is broccoli which our family enjoys fresh or stir fried. Four plants yield 12 pounds of broccoli in a 3 ft x 3 ft space which saves our family around $24.
As more people turn to vegetable gardening, it’s worth remembering that planting high yield, high cost vegetables will save your family the most money in the long run. For a listing of the most profitable vegetables to plant in your vegetable garden, the Harvest to table.com planting guide is an excellent resource for gardeners of all skill levels.
More by this contributor:
How to warm the soil in your vegetable garden
How my backyard is saving me money
How much is a bushel and a peck?
Resources: http://harvesttotable.com/2009/04/vegetable_garden_quality_yield/
