What’s everyone planting this year to save on groceries?

We’re trying to stretch our lettuce and greens season with some cold frames for our raised beds. Also learning how to use our pressure canner for lots of sauce tomatoes. Eggplant, squash, and peppers have really helped cut down grocery trips as long as we keep rice or pasta stocked.

Tavi said:
Fruit!

Blackberries, raspberries, and espalier fruit trees. They won’t make a big difference this year, but once they get established, they’ll really cut down our grocery bill.

Even on a smaller lot, you can grow a ton of fruit once the plants are mature. I’m on about 0.4 acres with limited sun, and I get fresh fruit for eight months of the year. Working on storing enough to last the off-season.

Tavi said:
Fruit!

Blackberries, raspberries, and espalier fruit trees. They won’t make a big difference this year, but once they get established, they’ll really cut down our grocery bill.

We were lucky to inherit established fruit trees when we bought our house. We’re doing everything we can to keep them healthy!

Tavi said:
@Terry
So lucky! I hope the future owners of my house will appreciate the trees I’m planting now.

I planted 32 fruit trees at my old house, and the new owners cut half of them down. It was heartbreaking, so I stopped driving by.

@West
That’s so sad :cry:

@West
Stuff like that really shows what’s wrong with people sometimes.

Tavi said:
Fruit!

Blackberries, raspberries, and espalier fruit trees. They won’t make a big difference this year, but once they get established, they’ll really cut down our grocery bill.

Definitely fruit! It’s bare root season here, and I just picked up two nectarine trees for under $40. Adding them to my peaches, apples, plums, apricots, figs, cherries, and berries.

@Rowan
That’s awesome! Where do you usually buy your trees? Any advice for someone starting out with fruit trees?

Ainsley said:
@Rowan
That’s awesome! Where do you usually buy your trees? Any advice for someone starting out with fruit trees?

I found these at Costco, but local nurseries are great this time of year. Avoid places like Home Depot and Lowe’s—they overcharge for dormant trees in pots. A good nursery will sell bare root trees much cheaper. Look for plump buds and pliable stems for healthy trees. I even got fruit from some trees in their first year!

The infamous $64 tomatoes.

Adler said:
The infamous $64 tomatoes.

Right? Good tomatoes cost so much these days.

Raine said:

Adler said:
The infamous $64 tomatoes.

Right? Good tomatoes cost so much these days.

It doesn’t help that the main U.S. tomato-growing areas are California and Florida. Fires in California and supply chain issues from Mexico are driving prices even higher.

Adler said:
The infamous $64 tomatoes.

Why pay $30 for a tomato plant when you can grow one from seeds for free?

Dru said:

Adler said:
The infamous $64 tomatoes.

Why pay $30 for a tomato plant when you can grow one from seeds for free?

Depends on your zone and setup. If you don’t have indoor space to start seeds, buying plants might be your only option. But $30 is steep—I get mine for $2 to $4.

Dru said:

Adler said:
The infamous $64 tomatoes.

Why pay $30 for a tomato plant when you can grow one from seeds for free?

Starting from seed can be tricky if you don’t have a greenhouse or pets that won’t leave the plants alone. My cats treat seedlings like snacks!

Dru said:

Adler said:
The infamous $64 tomatoes.

Why pay $30 for a tomato plant when you can grow one from seeds for free?

True, but it’s convenient to have a ready-to-grow plant in the spring, even if it costs more. Happy gardening!

I’m getting chickens this year.

Nicol said:
I’m getting chickens this year.

Chickens are great! We call ours little dinosaurs—they turn scraps into eggs.

Potatoes. They’re easy to grow, store well, and with prices going up, it’s worth it.

Quin said:
Potatoes. They’re easy to grow, store well, and with prices going up, it’s worth it.

We grew fingerling potatoes last year, and the flavor was amazing. Do you have a favorite variety?