Cost-effective Vegetable Crops to Cultivate for Budget-Friendly Farming
Growing Frugal Veggies on a Budget:
Growing your own vegetables from seed is a smart move for those watching their wallets. Some crops, like maincrop potatoes and onions, may not save you a bundle at the supermarket, but others, such as runner beans, cherry tomatoes, and courgettes, are incredibly productive. These crops will provide generous harvests from only a small space. Salad leaf seeds are another stellar investment, as they germinate quickly and yield crops from even the tiniest patch or container.
For savvy gardeners, early and late crops are a smart choice. Fresh veggies and salads are at their priciest in the shops during these seasons, so growing your own will save you some green. 'Exotic' or unusual crops, like mangetout peas, celeriac, golden courgettes, or yellow tomatoes, are costly at the store but a breeze to grow from seed. Although crops like peppers, chillies, and aubergines thrive in a greenhouse, they'll also flourish in tubs on a sunny, sheltered patio.
Here are four money-saving vegetable crops worth growing:
Swiss Chard
This trendy vegetable is a reliable bet, as it's rarely found in shops. Chard leaves can be cooked like spinach, and the stalks pair wonderfully with cheese sauce. With seeds being inexpensive and the crop being a foolproof, productive option even in small spaces, it's an excellent choice for budget-minded gardeners. Sow seeds from spring through late summer for a continual harvest.
Celeriac
This delightful, versatile root veggie has a taste reminiscent of celery. Try it raw in salads, roasted, mashed, or incorporated into casseroles to discover its versatility. Celeriac seeds come in generous quantities in packets, and growing it requires only moderate care, even though it demands rich soil and regular watering. If you buy these tasty roots in the shop, they can cost up to a pound each!
Mixed Salad Leaves
Never be without the makings of a thrifty side salad, sandwich, or garnish by sowing seeds evenly in a trough or tub filled with compost in a cool, semi-shaded spot. This crop is also an excellent choice for windowsills during autumn to spring. Snip leaves like mustard and cress when they're big enough to enjoy.
Tuscan Black Kale
While it's fashionable, Tuscan black kale is a vegetable you rarely find in the shops. Use tender young leaves in salads, and cook full-sized leaves by steaming or in a stir-fry. Sow several times each season for a constant supply of this delicious and easy-to-grow crop during summer, autumn, and winter.
Saving Seeds the Savvy Way
- Collect traditional non-F1 hybrid varieties, but keep them at least 250 yards away from other varieties to prevent unwanted cross-pollination.
- Don't save F1 hybrids—the resulting plants will be too varied.
- Save part-used packets of seeds by rolling down the tops and storing any leftover at the end of the season in a glass jar with a sachet of silica gel in the salad drawer at the bottom of the fridge. Remember to not save parsnip seed, which needs to be purchased fresh each season.
- Sow seeds thinly and evenly to make a packet go further and minimize thinning for direct-sown seeds, and to make easier pricking-out for seeds sown in pots. Mix small seeds like carrots with sand to help achieve a more even distribution.
- Share seeds with friends or neighbors to benefit from each other's selections. Host a seed swap event at your local gardening club to raise funds for seeds.
With these tips and hardy, money-saving crops, you can enjoy tasty veggies all year round without breaking the bank!
- Swiss Chard, Celeriac, Mixed Salad Leaves, and Tuscan Black Kale are ideal for home-and-garden enthusiasts on a budget, as they offer generous harvests from small spaces and can be found at a premium price in stores.
- For the savvy gardener looking to save even more, consider growing Swiss Chard, which is a reliable, productive option even in limited spaces, and Celeriac, a versatile root veggie that can cost up to a pound each in shops if purchased.
