Is it really cheaper to grow your own ?

Dellers

Farway wrote: »

Cost of GYO V bought depends to large extent on what you grow, the basics like spuds, onions, carrots even are mostly cheaper in shops, however if you grow things like rhubarb [never cheap for some reason], currants, raspberries, in fact nearly all soft fruit then GYO will be cheaper

Beans are another thing, for some reason runner beans in shops are often horrid & expensive, but one of the easiest & tastiest to grow

PS, plus of course herbs, many are easy to grow, like thyme, chives or mint, but never cheap in shops compared to ease of growing

Spuds are always at the top of our shopping list, Lettuce, cucumber and tomato's are always bought. In the summer the same but strawberries and blackberries also. I would love to grow rhubarb

Dellers

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Compare like for like. Do you buy and eat top notch organic fresh veg now?

Some things are cheaper as GYO, most mentioned above, I would grow what you really like to eat and if you save money it's a bonus. But you also have to enjoy it, otherwise the time involved hugely outweighs the savings.

I have never thought about the organic side of things but it is a added bonus. When I have helped other people. I have enjoyed it and I love putting out my handing baskets each summer. ( Although I think the neighbours one is fake ,Its two perfect each year :rotfl: )

Dellers

cootambear wrote: »

I need to add some things take time to grow but pay off greatly in the long term. I bought two pear trees from LIDL. I`m guessing it will take 3 or 4 years for them to produce a good crop, but theyll be there for 20 years I think. All for £5.

off to LIDL . I shall go thank you .

cootambear

Dellers wrote: »

off to LIDL . I shall go thank you .

Sorry, you missed it by 3 weeks They had different fruit trees too, apple, cherry etc, and blueberry bushes at 3 for a fiver.

I have 6 blueberry bushes in my garden now lol. I have an empathic understanding with my neighbours ferocious cat. I dont mind him sunning himself in my garden as long as he keeps on scaring the birds away.

I trust I will get to eat most of my berries.

It is worth subscribing to the LIDL newsletter because they have many plant offers from spring onwards. Their food is good too. Try the spag bol lasagne.

cootambear

Dellers wrote: »

I am a stay at home mother. My daughter is a little gem helping me so I hope she would enjoy it . My husband is strawberry crazy and he spends so much each summer in Asda buying them. So I hope to cut the cost by growing them. I have been looking at the strawberry barrels.

Its very easy to make your own

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/38320734#Comment_38320734

cootambear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjY3C81zSZM

zarazara

Grow what you like to eat and what is easy to grow. new potatoes, maincrop are cheap in the shops so i dont grow them, strawberries,raspberries,rhubarb,gooseberries are all really easy and expensive in the shops.
herbs like sage parsley etc ditto.
then try a few other thigs, i like growing sprouts,lettuce,courgettes,kale.
Just enjoy .