2024 - the Garden Balance Sheet

A lot of his costs sound like startup costs, one offs. Making his own compost and saving seeds could cut his future years outlay.

I agree about the soft fruit which I regularly add to porridge. Last year I harvested 22.7kg of raspberries/red/black currants/gooseberries. Looking at the retail price for frozen fruit at Iceland they would have cost me about £130. For this I have 12' row raspberries (5.2kg. but could have picked lots more), 2 redcurrant bushes (7.7kg), 3 black currant (3.3kg) and 4 gooseberries (6.6kg). The currant bushes I bought just after getting married so about 45 years. The current plants are probably from cuttings taken about 10 years ago.

But even things like potatoes can make money - if you have saved your own seed. Last year I got 90kg total and at 80p a kilo that is  £72.

Also tomatoes are relatively easy to grow. Last year's total was 94kg @ say £2 a kilo(and any shop tomatoes costing that would likely not be particularly tasty) is £188. Again seed saved from previous years.

So just those 3 would be £390 or £7.50 a week.

Then there is beetroots, parsnips, onions, garlic. leek, peppers... even onions are £1 a kg. now at Tescos.