Gardeners Swear By These 5 Plants for Cutting Grocery Costs

As grocery prices continue to rise, people are looking for ways to cut costs—and that includes growing their own fruits and vegetables. One Redditor recently posted a question to the r/gardening forum, asking: "What do you grow that helps you save on your grocery bill?"

Hundreds of fellow members chimed in, sharing their favorite fruits and vegetables to grow at home to save money. However, some noted that gardening can be an expensive endeavor, especially after factoring in the costs of soil, raised beds, equipment rentals, and fencing to grow certain crops. But despite the startup costs, many agreed that gardening does save money in the long run.

Here are some of the common plants Redditors grow in their gardens to cut food costs.

Berries

Many Redditors recommended growing berries to reduce grocery bills. "My raspberry bush single-handedly saved our August and September fruit bill over $100 for our 5-year-old," wrote one commenter. Another parent said that their strawberry plant and blueberry bush kept their two-year-old happy all summer.

One commenter added that strawberries were "far and away the breadwinner," noting that they keep producing for years and taste much better than store-bought. "We get strawberries from May to October...and end up with gallons of them," they wrote. 

Herbs

Many posters agreed that herbs such as basil, mint, rosemary, and bay are easy to grow at home and offer the most bang for your buck.

As one Redditor wrote, "one bay tree might be the biggest money saver per use. It grows well in tiny pots, transitions from outside to inside well if necessary for your climate, it's way more flavorful and fragrant than what you get dried in the store, and seemingly lasts forever with minimal work." They continued, adding, "I've had a bay tree for a decade now, and it's still going strong, not requiring much other than water and occasional fertilizer. Total winner of an edible plant."

As for basil, one commenter said that at "this time of year, I harvest a large amount and make and freeze pesto. I grow from seed. It literally costs me nothing. I currently have 4 quarts of dried basil and 12 jars of frozen pesto."

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Green Onions

Green onions are a delicious garnish for stir-fries, baked potato soup, and many other meals, making them a worthwhile addition to any kitchen garden. "Anyone who isn't growing green onions at the very least on their windowsill is just leaving money on the table," shared one commenter. Another said: "I've been re-growing the same grocery store green onions for years! I used to buy a bunch a week."

Lettuce and Kale

Many Redditors said that lettuce and kale are easy to grow, making them a good way to cut grocery costs. Plus, you can still enjoy your kale harvest in winter if you freeze it. "I was thinking of growing kale next year and freezing it to have 'fresh' greens over the winter," one Redditor wrote. Another shared that they "just washed it and put it in a salad spinner and froze it on cookie sheets. After that, I put it in ziplock bags."

Tomatoes

Of course, tomatoes were another popular plant and are especially cost-effective if you prep them ahead of time for the colder months. "If you grow enough in bulk over the summer, you can boil, freeze, and store away for a variety of meals. The price of canned, diced, and stewed tomatoes is rising pretty steadily," shared one Redditor.