Purdue Extension Service

Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Can Vegetable Gardens Help Us Through Tough Economic Times?

By Larry Caplan, Extension Horticulture Educator, Vanderburgh County, IN

For the Evansville Courier and Press, March 22, 2009

Many people are turning to vegetable gardening to help us get through these tough economic times. One of the great myths is that a vegetable garden will save you "big bucks" on your food bill. The truth is, there are many inputs needed for a successful garden. The frugal gardener can find ways to cut corners, yet still produce a healthy crop.

Buying high quality plants and seed can give your garden a tremendous head start. Buying cheap seeds and sickly plants can set you back, and you really wouldn't save the much money anyway.

Vegetable gardens pull a lot of nutrients out of the soil, and we need to replace them. Your garden doesn't need fancy gourmet fertilizer, and there's no point adding lime or other nutrients if you don't need them. A soil test (less than $10) will help you buy only what you need.

If you make your own compost, you can make a great soil amendment that, while very low in nutrients, will still increase plant growth and yield by improving soil structure. Rotted manure from local farms can be a cheap source of fertilizer. Do a little research to find out what level of nutrients are in the manure, and use it properly to avoid causing illness in your family.

Tools and machinery are going to be big line-item expenses. Try renting items like tillers, and coordinate tilling and other jobs with your neighbors. It costs the same amount per day whether you till one garden or three, and splitting the rental fee makes good sense. Buy good quality tools that you would use every day, like hoes, rakes, and shovels; tools that you only need once or twice a season can be borrowed from friends and family.

Our hot, dry summers give us no choice but to supply water to the garden. Avoid wasting water by making sure there's no leaks in your hose or sprinkler; water early in the morning to minimize evaporation; and water deeply once per week, rather than lightly several times per week. Mulching between the plants and rows with untreated grass clippings will cut down moisture loss and weeds.

Pest control costs can be kept down by following good gardening practices. Diseases spread when the foliage is wet, so keep the leaves dry by watering early or by using a soaker hose. Staking your plants up with scrap lumber or poles will keep them off the ground and reduce rot.

Planting a variety of flowers around the vegetables will attract beneficial wasps which will in turn parasitize many of our pests. Some insects can be removed by hand. Learn to accept a little bit of imperfection in the garden: a few holes in the leaves won't hurt anything, and you can peel or snip off any bug nibbles off your fruit.

Gardening can be expensive, but if you can get yourself out of the mindset of "buying your way" out of garden problems or chores, you may be surprised at how cheaply you can get by. For more information on gardening, contact the Purdue Extension Service at (812) 435-5287.