Starting your own vegetable garden is a healthy and rewarding activity. It takes some time and patience to get started. However, gardening successfully can yield significant amounts of fresh vegetables and save you money. Learn more about how to beat rising food costs and start your own vegetable garden.
How much money can I save by gardening?
According to the National Gardening Association, a well-maintained garden should yield ½ pound of produce per square foot each growing season. That means that a 200-square-foot garden, enough to feed one person year-round, should produce 100 pounds of fresh produce worth about $200 a year.
However, there are starting costs involved in beginning your vegetable garden. The total bill will depend on what type of plants you want to grow, how many plants you purchase, and other gardening expenses like nutrient-rich soil, fences, cages, gardening tools, watering tools, and more.
If you are willing to pay these up-front costs, you can commit to making your money back over a few seasons of successful gardening. After enough time has passed, you will start to see yearly savings in your grocery budget!
Different Ways to Garden
There are a number of different ways that you can start your vegetable garden. If yard space is not an issue for you, one option is to start a plot or a raised bed in your backyard. However, if you live in a smaller space, you still have options.
You could consider starting a community garden. There are an estimated 10,000 community gardens in the United States, and they are most popular in urban areas. Community gardens take shape in neighborhoods or next to schools and are cared for by the entire community. It’s also a great place to get tips and instruction from other volunteers, building up your gardening skills.
You could also consider starting a container garden. Container gardening means starting your vegetable or herb garden in any container, like a pot, bucket, or wash bin. It gives you the flexibility to garden either indoors or outdoors, on a porch or balcony.
Starting Your Own Garden at Home
If you are ready to beat rising food costs and start your own vegetable garden at home, there are a few tips you should consider before getting started.
First, you need to consider the location of your garden. Making sure that it is visible and in an area where it will get the right amount of sunlight and water is key. You should also keep your garden near a water source so that it will be easier to water and care for your plants.
It also pays off to invest in soil that is rich in nutrients. If you are gardening in the ground, you can improve your soil by adding compost or by blending store-bought nutrient-rich soil with the existing soil in the ground. If you are gardening in a container or raised garden bed, choose the appropriate soil to help your plants grow best.
Gardens can be a significant amount of work, but the rewards are worth it. With just a few tips for starting your first home garden, you are sure to be successful.
Best Produce For Saving Money
What should you grow in your garden to save money? There are many factors you should consider. For example, you may want to focus your garden on vegetables that you know you will eat and could use in multiple different recipes. You should also think about what vegetables you spend the most money on in your monthly grocery budget, and consider trying to grow them in your garden.
Growing herbs is one way you can save money by gardening. Fresh herbs can be very expensive. Planting mint, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme is a great way to beat rising food costs and save more money with your garden.
Heirloom and organic vegetables are often more expensive than other types of plants. This is something else to consider when deciding which vegetables to plant so that you save money.
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