Now that spring is in full swing and summer is at our doorstep, more and more people will be heading out to their backyards, patios, and fire escapes to plant flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Figuring out what you want to plant is sometimes the hardest part of the whole gardening process. There’s a lot to consider — what do you like to eat, how much space do you have available, what kind of patience do you have and how much time are you willing to commit to your garden? Then there’s always the money factor — which vegetables are going to save you the most money?
The Cheap Vegetable Gardener has taken out the guesswork for us by compiling a list determining the profitability of growing various vegetables. When creating the list, author Shawn Verrall, considered three factors — the vegetable’s cost at a typical supermarket, the space required to grow the vegetable, and the average yield of the vegetable. Here’s the top ten most profitable items to grow in your garden:
| Vegetable | USD Value/SF |
| Cilantro | $ 21.20 |
| Arugula-Roquette | $ 20.92 |
| Green Salad Mix | $ 17.55 |
| Chives | $ 16.40 |
| Dill | $ 16.40 |
| Lettuce | $ 16.20 |
| Tomato, Cherry, small & medium | $ 15.57 |
| Turnip | $ 9.90 |
| Tomato, large | $ 9.50 |
| Squash, Winter | $ 8.40 |
As you can see, herbs and leafy greens topped the list (along with tomatoes), while at the very bottom of the list were cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, and cabbage — all tasty items, but not necessarily the most economical to grow if space is an issue. That means if you have limited space or a limited budget, you might be better off getting the least cost-effective crops at a farmers’ market or green gocer. You can see the rest of the list here.
Image via Gigabiting
