Growing ur own fruit and veg, worth it?

Melaniep101

I wouldn't say it's cheaper to grow your own, I've forked out a fortune over the last couple of years! I'm just starting though, so hopefully it'll be cheaper next year. My growing wasn't very sucessful this year, and I got a bit disheartened that everything was being munched by slugs/snails. Gonna have a long rethink, and plan next years growing over the winter.

Conrad

I always make a start on growing fruit n veg but somehow life is too busy for me right now - I have 2 young children which I always make time with for at weekends, plus I excercise each day which takes a bit of time and then there's the constant list of household jobs.

As such apart from pruning, mowing, strimming, clearing, patio washing, forking the lawn, sweeping, fence / furniture treating, bank clearing, weeding, staking, tieing, adding inches of compost to all soil + c30 bags of sand to my herb / lavender beds, and the same to both lawns, o/s window cleaning, sharpening, oiling, gutter clearing and the other thousand outside jobs, there' aint a lot of time left for food growing.

Perhaps I'll find time when the kids are grown up?

Don't you'all find pruning take hours each month? I seem to spend my life pruning.

Greenqueen_2

We have been growing our own things for years--or trying to -with mixed success. This year we got our biggest carrot ever- a whole 5 inches! Managed that by growing them in a deep bucket that we put up higher than the pesky root flies can reach.

mansars

I think the answer, as said previously, to the original question is NO.


However, like others I feel that the cost of food will rise in the near future and will bring the cost of growing your own into comparison.

I myself have only just started growing stuff this year, as we only moved into a new house last year (and SWMBO) required that the inside must be done first....whic is fair enough. Being Scottish and not wanting to let those who have spent many many years byuilding up our reputation as tight fisted so and sos down, I have been doing it as cheaply as possible. I am not afraid to say that I have made a few mistakes but I have worked out that I can keep my Veg loving wife fed for about 6 to 8 months of the year....and myslef in Cider/flavoured spirits for about the same.

I am in the situation that due to someones biological clock ticking ever louder and having a four legged "friend" I cannot just turn my garden over to small holding. Therefore I have had to be smart about my use of space, time and money. I have been fortunate that I got all f my trees and most of my fruit bushes through groupon deals (I built up money by always recomending my wife deals that we were going to buy anyway...£6 each time), I got a load of potatos from poundland

After a bit of research I have found a number of things that should help me get the ost for the least.

1. grow fruit trees in codrons or espallier
2. buy stuff in the sales
3. plan your garden and year for maximum effect
4. compost everything
5. dont be afraid to forage for things like compost ie seaweed, leaves or comfrey

I had started a blog about my trials and tribulations but have tekne it down for revamp (and spell check) watch this space

I think the final things is that I enjoy it, its something totally different from my work and is very tangiable, which means alot to me.

meg72

I have to say that my hobby of growing fruit and veg has definetly saved me a load of money.

I dont have a big area, but took up the back lawn and use that area for growing .

I have rhubarb crowns taken from a disused allotment some years ago.
Gooseberries, started with a poundshop one, and took cuttings
Raspberrys taken from the same disused allotement, had over 10lbs this year.
Strawberrys, given six plants from a friend some years ago. now have over thirty plants and give a lot away each year.

But the best and most welcome are my runner beans, seeds given to me by my Dad 15 years ago, seeds have been saved every year. I give away
carrier bags full every year, but because my Dad is no longer here, its a wonderful memory of him.

meg72

Conrad wrote: »

I always make a start on growing fruit n veg but somehow life is too busy for me right now - I have 2 young children which I always make time with for at weekends, plus I excercise each day which takes a bit of time and then there's the constant list of household jobs.

As such apart from pruning, mowing, strimming, clearing, patio washing, forking the lawn, sweeping, fence / furniture treating, bank clearing, weeding, staking, tieing, adding inches of compost to all soil + c30 bags of sand to my herb / lavender beds, and the same to both lawns, o/s window cleaning, sharpening, oiling, gutter clearing and the other thousand outside jobs, there' aint a lot of time left for food growing.

Perhaps I'll find time when the kids are grown up?

Don't you'all find pruning take hours each month? I seem to spend my life pruning.

Have you thought about using the time you excercise to do more in the garden, it is very good excercise and also its outside, benefit of fresh air.

floss2

I have an allotment, 150sqm for £26. On there I have grown enough sweetcorn, courgettes, tomatoes, Swiss chard, mange-tout, French beans, new and main crop potatoes, beetroot, parsnips, strawberries, raspberries, cucumbers, peppers, chillies, leeks, onions and herbs for 2 adults all summer, and our freezer is full too!

It may not be financially worthwhile initially, but the taste and satisfaction of putting your own food on your plates is second to none. And being on the plot is very relaxing and a fab way to get out in the fresh air after a day in the office.

OP, I would look for some raspberries, both summer and autumn varieties, as they are pricey in the shops and taste fab fresh from the canes!

Conrad

meg72 wrote: »

Have you thought about using the time you excercise to do more in the garden, it is very good excercise and also its outside, benefit of fresh air.

I use gardening as excercise, but I lurev food and ale so I have to do some intense excercise to allow me to eat like I do! Plus I am keen on raising my heart beat very high for 15 - 30 mins and strengthening all those harder to reach core muscles and ligaments. My Dad was thew opposite, forever looking after 'things' such as the car but neglected his body and now his health isn't great. The cars and things are long forgoton rotting on a tip somewhere.

houseiseverything

I have been growing my own for 6 years now, and nothing beats the satisfaction of a trug full of home grown vegetables. If you want to save money, as others have said, go for the 'expensive in the shops' stuff. Purple sprouting broccoli is my favourite money saving crop, broad beans are easy to grow and can be used in lots of ways. I echo what people have said about tomatoes. From 16 seeds I have had pounds and pounds, the freezer is full of tomato sauce! We also made 22 litres of delicious cider from the apples on 1 tree last year. This year, we only had 2 apples!

Money_maker

katholicos wrote: »

It isn't just about saving money to me, i find it rewarding and satisfying as a hobby.

Exactly this^^^^^^^^^

Nothing better than picking a few veg (maybe some fruit) then taking them to the kitchen and cooking them straight away.

Ok, it was a poor year for many fruits and veg this year but there's always next year and now is a good time to plan and prepare. As someone else said, clear a patch and pop in some overwintering onion sets to start you off.