growing

Dustyevsky

As people have covered the health, wellbeing and (possible?) money saving aspects, I'll just add that a house with a well-tended garden may well save you money when the time comes to sell it.

Probably about half the houses I see on Rightmove have gardens lacking in charm, or any character at all. Couple that with the typical tidy, modern, but unmemorable interior, and you have something bland that may not get a second look. Of course, there are other important considerations, like good schools and proximity to public transport or shopping, but the property with the well-kept, interesting garden will always have the edge. In today's market that could be important.

Farway

Most have been covered, but it does depend on what you like / eat.

For biggest savings I'd add rhubarb, silly prices for something so easy to grow

Depends where you are, no point if hedgerows are full of them, but a cultivated blackberry, silly prices in SM

Somethings are priceless, you will just not be able to buy them, fresh loganberries and fresh figs for example.

StewedApple

One thing which hasn't been mentioned in this thread is the knowledge gained about fruit and vegetables, their seasons - how they're grown, when they're grown, what good looks like, recognising problems with shop-bought stuff.

silverwhistle

Various people have mentioned aspects which don't get reflected in a purely accountancy based calculation, where the cost benefits I'd say are minimal with the space most of us have available.

But a different relationship with your food will definitely benefit you, even if it's just picking a chillie off a plant at your back door, or some herbs to liven up a recipe. Watch out for fresh chillies though, they may be a lot hotter than the ones you buy!

Gardeners tend to be a friendly lot so ask around at the start of the season as spare seedlings or seeds may be available, and as you'll see from any allotment site there's an awful lot or recycling and repurposing goes on. You don't have to make a massive investment to start but can build up gradually. As an allotment holder as well every year is a learning experience too, from observation and chats with other plot holders.

FreeBear

Really can't be bothered to grow staple crops here. For the quantities I eat, much would rot on the plants.

I concentrate on more unusual crops such as purple potatoes, and this year, black tomatoes. Both are unlikely to be found in the supermarkets.

Also have a few fruit trees - Cherry plum which I use for snacking on, but most of the fruit gets left for the birds. An apple tree which again gets left for the birds. Recently planted, is a pair of plumcots (one of which turned out to be apricot). Another one that is not likely to be found in the supermarket. Will be interesting to see what the fruit tastes like. However, being early to flower (February/March), frosts can kill off the fruit before they have time to get going.

A fig tree has been reasonably successful over the years, producing two crops each year. Sometimes found on supermarket shelves with a rather leathery skin. Really fresh figs have a nice soft skin, and taste so much better.

silverwhistle

Cherry plum which I use for snacking on, but most of the fruit gets left for the birds.

You really don't need to leave anything for the birds.

I find they get there before you quite happily without assistance..

FreeBear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82095234#Comment_82095234

It's quite a big tree, and I can't reach the top. So I just get the low hanging fruits, and the birds get the rest. There is also evidence that mice have been chewing on the stones to get to the kernels.

The tree will be coming out in a year or so - Way too close to the fence line, and it casts a huge shadow.

Honeysucklelou2

The most financial benefit comes from growing crops that either aren’t readily available in the supermarkets or are expensive. Eg I try to grow as much soft fruit as possible because to buy enough for my larger than average family would be ridiculously expensive.

Another advantage of growing your own is that you can grow varieties of crops, again that maybe aren’t available. Eg beef tomatoes. Or cape gooseberries / cucamelons are all easy to grow but harder to get hold of in the shops.

Rob5342

It works much better as a hobby or activity than it does as a money saving exercise in my experience. My wife got quite excited about the idea and spent quite a lot on a vegetable planter and dirt to fill it up with etc, but then she could never be bothered to water or tend to it and we just got two small carrots out of it. If your hearts in it and you enjoy doing it then you might save a little bit, but when you can buy a packet of carrots for 40p it's not worth the effort if you look at it purely as a money saving exercise.

twopenny

Depends what you want to grow Sunlight.

I've just been making jam while cool and relaxed listening to a play or music. If your own fruit £1 or less with more fruit and less sugar than supermarket at £3 a pot with additives. The flavours amazing on a winters morning toast reminding you of sunny days.

Same applies to chutney of different flavours. I do a red tomato and chilli for burgers and most use apple, onions and tomatoes. And an apple one for cheese.

Freezing fruit then it's free and flavourful when it's £4 in the supermarket and been sprayed.

Veg you just go outside to pick at dinner time.

It's more relaxing than going to a supermarket.