Careful gardening can pay off but it's best to start small

H6

By Barbara Whitaker
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

The weather was bleak and the ground unworkable in March, when J.D. Roth and his wife began tracking whether their gardening efforts would result in savings on their food bills.

It wasn't looking good by the end of May. He had a handful of strawberries, $300 in bills and 21 hours invested in the garden. To make matters worse, it was still unclear whether the tomatoes that his wife, Kris Gates, had nurtured from seed would survive an April hailstorm.

But within weeks the balanced shifted. The strawberries were coming in by the basket and the snow peas were flourishing. Come July, the couple was harvesting a wide variety of berries, along with green beans, snow peas, zucchini and cucumbers.

According to Roth's calculations, they had spent 39 hours and $320 on the garden by the end of July, harvesting $175 worth of food, not counting the excess berries they traded with other gardeners for lettuce and carrots.

"We're sure to come out ahead financially," said Roth, who lives just outside Portland, Ore. "But it's not only about the money. Working in the garden is satisfying for both of us. We would do this even if it cost us money."

There is growing interest in gardening to put food on the table -- and it's not just about money.

"I think there's a real interest in people trying to grow their own food partly because its fun, partly because it tastes good and partly because it saves money," said Roth, who is tracking the results of his gardening on his blog at getrichslowly.org. But is it practical to think that a home gardener's efforts will really translate into a meaningful difference? Maybe.

Experts suggest that careful planning and thoughtful spending are key to making that happen.

Gardening can be expensive, particularly if you want to start and raise plants indoors. There are incandescent or fluorescent grow lights that range in price from under $10 to more than $50 while specialty lighting that takes plants from sprout to harvest or for use in hydroponics can cost a few hundred dollars.

Then there are timers to turn the lights on and off, power surge protectors and any number of miscellaneous items from seedling trays to extension cords to pots. Not to mention the impact on the electricity and water bills.

Whether growing inside or out, the cost of basics can also add up. While a packet of seeds will yield dozens of plants, buying mature seedlings can become costly quickly. Tools, containers, fertilizers and other related items can send costs into the hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

"You can spend a lot of money on gardening," said Becky Grube, sustainable horticulture specialist at the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. "But you don't have to make a big investment."

To cultivate success and avoid overspending, start small. Don't get swept into thinking that gardening requires a lot of fancy equipment.

All that's really needed to get started is some soil, seeds or seedlings, water and something to turn the soil. A pair of gloves is also nice. And, for those gardening in smaller spaces, pots may also be a requirement.

"See what works well for you," Grube said. "People often find out that their site doesn't work well for what they really wanted to grow."

Maintaining a few pots of herbs is convenient and particularly cost effective. A mature plant or pack of seedlings will cost about the same as one packaged container of herbs in the store and for those willing to work with seeds, repeat sowing will keep the supply going for months.

When it comes to growing vegetables, some plants make more sense than others, said Stephanie Turner, director of seed products with Park Seeds in Greenwood, S.C.

She noted that most vegetables require at least six hours of direct sunlight, plants like tomatoes and peppers -- among the most popular plants in vegetable gardens -- tend to be water-sensitive, requiring a little more attention. Grube suggests steering clear of vegetables like asparagus, celery and rhubarb because they are perennials that only start to produce after several years. But, she said, it makes sense in even the smallest spaces to have at least some herbs growing.

For those with patios, there are special types of tomatoes for pots and lettuce and peppers are particularly well-suited to container gardening.