I see this argument often, but I don’t spend much and usually grow over 100 lbs of tomatoes. I’m pretty sure I save a lot.
That’s nonsense. Here in Australia, a single cherry tomato is $0.55. I saved seeds last year, and I’ll grow hundreds of tomatoes for free.
It’s not about the cost; it’s about flavors you can’t get at the store.
This summer, I ate fresh cherry tomatoes every morning for months, and the taste was unreal. Sure, I spent over $2,000 setting up raised beds and lights, but the costs will be minimal going forward. Totally worth it.
I’m planning 20 heirloom tomato varieties next spring. I’ll sell extras locally—not for money, but to feel some freedom from big agriculture.
Here’s the math: I spend about £17.12 on seeds, compost, and feed for 14 plants, yielding 112 lbs of tomatoes. At £1.08 per pound, I save over £100 each season. Definitely worth it!
Sure, you can get cheap tomatoes, but it’s like comparing a $12 microwave steak to a $65 steakhouse meal. I’ll take the better quality every time.
Gardening takes up about 3 months of your year. That’s 1/4 of your life—think about it!