Top Fruits And Vegetables To Grow To Save You Money On Groceries

With grocery prices constantly rising and showing no signs of decreasing in the foreseeable future, it’s time for consumers to get more savvy. You might not be able to lower the prices where you shop, but there are still ways you can reduce your grocery bill. One great method to decrease your grocery spending is to grow more fruits and vegetables at home. When growing produce, the big question is, which plants should you grow to save the most money on your grocery bill?

To grow plants that will save you tons of money on your food bill, consider easy-to-grow plants like cherry tomatoes, asparagus, and various berries. Several salad greens, including arugula and spinach, grow for months and save you a lot of money over time. Herbs like basil, chives, parsley, and oregano, will save you money. Zucchini, melons, summer squash, various citrus and tropical fruit trees are also great options.

It’s more important than ever to save money however you can. Everyone has to eat, but you don’t need to pay a fortune every time you go to the grocery store. There are many types of produce you can plant in your yard, but some will save you more money on groceries than others. Below is a complete list of the top fruits and vegetables to grow to save you from spending a lot on groceries.

15 Fruits And Veggies You Can Grow To Save Big On Groceries

1. Tomatoes

If you only grow one plant to help save you money on groceries, then it should be tomatoes. Tomatoes can cost anywhere from $2 to $6 per pound at the store. You can buy a starter plant for less than $3, or seeds for a fraction of that price.

There are many tomato varieties, with some yielding more than others. If your main goal for growing tomatoes is to save money, opt for a variety that will give you a lot of tomatoes, and for several months. Cherry tomatoes are a great option, as they produce many tomatoes and are an easy type of tomato to grow. 

2. Asparagus

Asparagus is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that is worth planting to help save on food costs. This stick-like vegetable is unique in that it’s a perennial. Where most vegetables must be planted each year, you can harvest the same asparagus plant for 15 to 20 years. 

This means you get a return on your investment for more than a decade, which will translate to significant savings. Asparagus also freezes well and is a great vegetable for pickling, allowing you to enjoy it throughout the year.

3. Peppers

Peppers are another vegetable garden staple, and with good reason. They are very easy to grow, thanks to their upright growing posture and resilience in various conditions. Sweet bell peppers and spicy peppers, including jalapenos, produce large yields.

Colorful bell peppers, including red, yellow, and orange varieties, are high in vitamin C and other nutrients. Peppers are a great plant if you are new to gardening and want to start growing some of your food.

4. Berries

If you’ve bought berries recently, then you know how expensive they are in grocery stores. Many berries are loaded with antioxidants and nutrients, and they also taste great. To ensure you keep berries in your fridge, even on a tight budget, grow your own.

Strawberries and blueberries, in particular, are great to grow, especially in cooler climates. Both strawberries and blueberries grow back each year. Blueberries even provide lovely foliage in the fall, providing attractive autumn colors each year.

5. Herbs

An herb garden is an asset for anyone who cooks at home. If you find yourself buying herbs at the store, try growing them at home instead. Some herbs are used frequently, including basil, rosemary, chives, and oregano. Parsley, thyme, cilantro, green onions, and lavender are also great herbs to grow at home to save money.

Several types of mint grow like weeds. They also come back year after year, even if you live somewhere with cold winters.

6. Salad Greens

If you like having a salad with your dinner, then start growing some of your greens to help save money while enjoying the freshest salad possible. Some greens are better than others, especially if saving money on your produce shopping is the goal.

Leaf lettuce, arugula, spinach, and kale are all great choices. All these lettuce varieties produce for months, which means you can harvest them continuously as long as the weather isn’t too hot. This allows you to enjoy fresh salad from your garden for a long time.

7. Cucumbers

Cucumbers provide a refreshing crunch to salads and any other dish you add them to. They are also perfect for pickling. In the store, one cucumber can cost several dollars. One plant costs the same price, and can easily yield a dozen or more cucumbers.

Cucumbers are known for their high yields, which is ideal for those looking to save big bucks on groceries.

8. String Beans

String beans are a summer side dish staple. They have a refreshing crunch that goes great with just about any main course. The problem is that these green beans are often pricey in the supermarket. Luckily, you can grow your own beans and save a lot of money.

String beans are famous for their high yields. Some plants can yield upwards of one pound of beans per plant. Consider staggering your bean plants, so you can harvest them continuously for longer.

9. Zucchini And Summer Squash

Zucchini and yellow summer squash are two plants that are often grown next to each other and are found in many home gardens. One reason these squash varieties are popular, is that they are easy to grow in many climates, and they produce a lot. Once this plant is established, it's quite resilient and easy to maintain.

If yield matters most to you, you can allow your zucchini and summer squash to grow much larger than the ones you find in grocery stores, which means each squash can feed more people.

10. Snow Peas

Snow peas are another high-yield plant that can help reduce your need to buy vegetables at the grocery store. Snow peas yield a lot, and very quickly. They are often one of the first items you can harvest in your early spring vegetable garden. This is a great way to start harvesting and saving money sooner rather than later.

11. Melons

Melons are delicious, sweet, and also very expensive at the grocery store. Instead of forking out more than $5 for one melon, try growing your favorite type of melon in your garden. Some melons can require several months to grow, so ensure you choose an easy-to-grow variety that will thrive in your climate.

12. Papaya

If you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, then you should grow a few papaya trees. These trees are thin, fast-growing, and take up minimal space in your yard. Once they mature, they can produce fruit for many years. One papaya can easily cost more than $5, so growing this tropical fruit tree can save you a lot on your fruit purchases over time.

13. Citrus

Another great fruit tree to grow in sub-tropical climates is one or more types of citrus trees. A citrus tree can produce more than one hundred fruits each year. Consider planting several citrus trees that you can harvest at different times of year. Grapefruit, orange, lemon, and lime trees can all help cut down on your grocery bill. You can also freeze the juice to help keep it fresh for months. 

14. Avocado

If you love guacamole, Mexican food, and start your day with avocado toast, then consider an avocado tree. As long as you live in a mild to warm climate with no frost, you can harvest this often-expensive green fruit in your backyard. Keep in mind that an avocado tree is an investment in time, because it can take several years before your avocado tree produces fruit.

15. Mango

One last amazing fruit tree worth growing in warmer climates is the mango tree. Not only do these trees give great shade, but they also produce hundreds of sweet, creamy, orange fruit. One mango will cost anywhere from $1 to $5 at a store, so this tree can save you a lot of money, especially if you love its unique sweet flavor.

Summing Up Which Fruits And Veggies To Grow To Save Money

Starting a vegetable garden is a fun and rewarding process, and it can also save you a lot of money at the grocery store. If you want your produce garden to save you money at the supermarket, then plant high-yielding fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, string beans, snow peas, zucchini, and summer squash. 

Consider perennial plants that will return each year, including asparagus, blueberries, and strawberries. If you live in a warmer climate, then fruit trees like avocado, citrus, papaya, and mango trees can translate to big savings on your grocery bill.

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