With the increased cost of living, any methods to save money should be tried and tested. The more money we can save in our budget, the more we can concentrate on building the lives of our dreams.
Building a green space around you has surprising benefits for mental and physical health. And with autumn officially here, it’s time to plant for winter and grow your own veggies for soups and hearty stews.
Why Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables?
- Savings on grocery bills
By growing your own fruit and vegetables, you can save a significant amount of money on your grocery bills. Fresh produce can be expensive, especially if you are buying organic or specialty items. When you grow your own, you cut out all the costs we don’t think about such as the cost of transportation, packaging, and marketing, which can add up quickly.
- Long-term Investment
Growing your own food is a long-term investment that can pay off in the future. Once you have established your garden, you can continue to reap the benefits for years to come. By saving money on your grocery bills and reducing your dependence on store-bought produce, you can put those savings towards other financial goals, such as building up your emergency fund.
- Health benefits
Having your own greengrocer in the backyard can also have significant health benefits, which can ultimately save you money on healthcare costs. By growing your own produce, you have access to fresh, nutritious food that is free from harmful chemicals and pesticides, which can improve your overall health and wellbeing.
Are you an avid gardener? We would love to hear which fruit and veggies are easier to grow. Share your tips in the comments with other South Africans starting out on their self-sufficient journey.
3 Cheap and Easy Fruits and Vegetables for Autumn
- Butternut Squash
- Butternut squash is a nutritious vegetable that is easy to grow.
- Plant butternut squash seeds in a spot with plenty of sun and good drainage.
- Water the plants regularly, and make sure the soil stays moist.
- Butternut takes around 15 weeks to mature from seed.
- Harvest the squash when the skin is hardened, and the stem is brown.
- Butternut squash can be used in soups, stews, and even roasted as a side dish.
Watch this video for more tips.
- Potatoes
- Potatoes are easy to grow and used in so many dishes.
- Grow your potatoes from old shop bought potatoes.
- You can use a bag, a pot or plant them in your garden.
- Potatoes take around three months to grow to a medium size.
- Once your potato plant has sprouted flowers you are ready to harvest
- Potatoes can be used for mash, poor man’s pie, roasts and so much more.
Watch this video for more tips.
- Carrots
- Carrots are a nutritious easy vegetable to grow.
- You can purchase seeds or grow carrot seeds from cuttings and then grow carrots.
- Carrots can be grown in a pot, or in your garden.
- Carrots take around 80 days to grow big enough to harvest.
- Remember to water your carrot plants at least once a day.
- Carrots can be juiced, used in salads or eaten just like that.
Watch this video for more tips.