With rising grocery prices, many people wonder if growing their own food is a cost-effective alternative. While it may seem like a money-saving option, the reality is that time and resources spent on gardening can lead to uncertainty about whether the effort will yield a return. If a gardener invests time and money without producing a harvest, it could ultimately be more economical to shop at the grocery store.
As planting season arrives, customers at Banotai Greenhouse in Belleville are eager to start their vegetable gardens. Jason Pinter, the director of retail at the greenhouse, notes the excitement among customers.
“It’s very early, but everyone is excited about vegetables. They are ready to go. They want to plant their own food,” Pinter said.
The greenhouse offers a wide variety of produce options, including peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs. For beginners, Pinter recommends starting with just three or four types of plants to ensure success.
“Oh, for sure, because one tomato plant will give you multiple tomatoes all season long, all the way until October,” he explained.
Pinter adds that the cost of one tomato plant is relatively low, typically around $2 to $2.50. “If you see how much value that is for a gardener, it makes total sense in this day and age,” he said.
For those considering planting multiple tomato plants, Pinter offers some essential tips. “The biggest thing is space. With upright items like tomatoes and peppers, give them about two feet of spacing,” he advised. “For vining plants like pumpkins or cucumbers, we want to give those three feet because they will keep traveling.”
Lettuce is another easy crop to grow, especially in cooler weather. Pinter suggests harvesting the top of the lettuce every three days for fresh greens. “If you’re getting lettuce at the grocery store every couple of days, that can cost you around $5 each time,” he noted.
When it comes to growing peppers, Pinter warns that they can be temperamental, especially for first-time gardeners. Additionally, there are other costs associated with gardening that should be considered when evaluating whether to grow your own food or buy it from the store.
To compare costs, we looked at the expenses for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, specifically cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and banana peppers. At Home Depot, the total cost for these plants was $20.
In addition to the plants, gardeners need to purchase soil, plant food, and other items like tomato cages, which can add another $70 to the total. Without factoring in the increase in the water bill, it could cost around $90 to produce up to 150 pieces of fruit and vegetables from the purchased plants—if done correctly. This breaks down to roughly $1.64 per piece of produce, excluding water costs.
Next, we compared this to the cost of purchasing the same amount of produce at a national grocery chain. The prices indicated that it would cost approximately $1.79 for the equivalent amount of fruits and vegetables. This is 15 cents more than growing them at home, but it does not account for the additional water expenses.
In terms of savings, starting from scratch may not yield immediate results, but over time, it could lead to significant savings and fewer trips to the grocery store, which also saves on gas money.
