Are vegetable gardens cost-effective?

The consumer media has jumped on the idea of vegetable gardens as a way to save money on grocery bills. But does this concept really pan out? The Wall Street Journal’s blog, The Juggle, tackled this question. One reader asked, “where, exactly, in my juggle am I expected to find time to turn the garden, plant, fertilize, weed, water, etc?” What’s your take on this? Do you think consumers will stay on the home-grown bandwagon once they get a taste of the work involved? Leave your comments below.

-- Sarah

Comments

[trey]

Cost effective, No! Don't forget it's not just the cost of the materials used but the time spent.

Great taste, local grown, exercise, sunshine, the feeling of self-sufficiency are price less.

The self-sufficiency angle is important for a lot of people. They want to know they can do this.

Long lasting trend? Perhaps.

[Peyam]

Turn the garden? weed, fertilize? How about setting up a re-circulating hydroponic system outside in containers? You will use less water, less fertilizers AND no weeding. Raising vegetables can be a lot more efficient and less stressful with modern techniques.

[Ruth Lee]

If something is really important to someone isn't the added work worth it? Plus the added benefit of the great taste of homegrown. Guess it depends how much someone really wants it.

[Greg Trabka]

Let’s face it growing vegetables in small home gardens will never be as cost effective as commercial production. We as an industry should be avoiding such a shallow approach and promote full range of benefits of our products.
In case of vegetables it’s very easy:
• They are easy to grow plants which can provide gardeners with fresh food.
• They are safe to eat.
• Better tasting more nutritional then food shipped and store for extensive period.
• Look cool.
• Grown locally (no need for extensive shipping), in many cases organically and sustainable.
• Great exercise, connection with nature and topic of party or dinner conversation.

I am sure there is many more reason to grow your on vegetables and saving little money should be one of the reason not main focuses of conversation.

gt

[Juliet]

Yes, it's cost effective, especially if your homegrown is organic and offering more vitamins (and less pesticides) per bite. My tightwad ex-husband used to complain about time spent in the veggie garden. In 1998 I weighed all my produce and priced it based on local market prices. I had four raised beds, 16' x 4' used bio-intensive and square foot methods. No weeding, lots of mulch. I wasn't trying to mass produce just have fun gardening and provide fresh food for our family of 4. I grew over $800 worth of food from April to September. And really, it was more as it was all organic and alot of the prices in the stores were for non-organic - organic wasn't even available with some kinds of veggies. Plus prices are much higher now! I have extended the season with hoops and plastic, we have early spinach in March and carrots and salad in November. Use the dump far less too as I recycle and compost which also cuts costs... Let's see; no price of a gym membership for exercise, no environmental fuel/shipping tolls, superior nutrition, better flavor, no chemical pollution from conventional farming, no soil erosion, waste is used on-site, I say it's definitely worth it!

[Jeannine]

I have a number of non-industry friends that tend to specialize in produce that they absolutely love. The majority of them grow only tomatoes and culinary herbs. Both of these are easy to grow and does not take up too much of their free-time.

Most of them have raised beds/planter boxes or utlize large containers to grow their veggies in, rather than the traditional large high maintenance vegetable gardens of years past.

The rest of my friends look forward to reaping the benefits of those who do grow vegetables. They are always ready to take the extra produce off our hands!

As an industry, let's not forget to promote the Plant a Row for the Hungry program as an outlet for those with bountiful gardens.

[gardenz]

As primarily a perennial grower who also maintains a modest veggie garden of six raised beds, I'd hate to see people sacrifice their flower and ornamental gardens for vegetable-growing space. There's always a way to still incorporate ornamentals in an edible garden. First because they attract beneficials which can help pollinate and/or fight off "the bad bugs"; secondly, they can create a habitat for birds (many of whom never met a tomato hornworm they didn't like); and thirdly, because we all still need food for the soul, too.

[Jemmy Delva]

I grow tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, radishes and carrots using the square foot method filled with lasagna style mulch and peat, no weeding, very easy sometimes I just go out and stare at my veggies because there's nothing else for me to do. Maybe it's too easy.

[Lisa]

I think some will get a taste of the work involved, and quit, but a few that didn't even know they liked to garden, or could garden will get the bug! What a great way to get new customers!

[Fred Dabney]

In the northeast with limited available space in many areas I am surprised not to have seen more marketing on container vegetable and herb plantings. Tomatoes especially the cherry and grape sizes are easy to grow in containers as well as Basil and most herbs. Peppers, Eggplant, and even cool weather crops do well. Don't think we'll see melons and squash but in the right place who knows.