‘Easily saved $500’: Aussies grow vegetables, fruit up to keep costs down

New data reveals just how many Aussies are finding another home hack to save money. See the latest tips from Bunnings on how they are doing it.

The humble veggie patch is enjoying a suburban renaissance, as cash-strapped households adopt green thumbs to save money.

The cost of living crunch has spurred one in two Australians to start growing their own food and left a further third considering it, new data shows.

Of the 1036 people surveyed by YouGov, 56 per cent said they had installed fruit and veggies gardens — one third of them within the past six months.

Families with children aged under 18 were more likely to be growing edible foods (68 per cent) compared to those without kids (48 per cent).

Across the country, Queenslanders embraced the trend most actively (57 per cent), followed by South Australia (56 per cent), Western Australia (55 per cent), Victoria (53 per cent) and NSW (45 per cent).

“Whether you have a balcony, a backyard or even a couple of acres, the small investment to set up a successful, contained garden bed will see you and your family reap the significant health and financial benefits of growing your food,” Simon Holloway from DIY vegetable kit company Vegepod, which commissioned the study, said.

A separate report from homemaker business Bunnings found a surprising uptake in edible gardens among younger Aussies.

Eighty three per cent of 18 to 34 year olds had begun growing their own fruit and veggies.

Liam O’Toole and Eszter Rudolf, with their kids Lily and Livia, have joined families across the country in growing their own food to combat cost of living pressures. Picture: Steve Pohlner

It comes as the most recent Food Corp report found 56 per cent of households had begun only shopping for seasonal veggies because of financial pressures.

Respondents cited groceries as having the most noticeable price increase, ahead of rent, energy bills and mortgage repayments.

“Better quality and taste are the main reasons Australians have been developing their green thumbs, yet as the cost of living continues to rise, saving money is another key motivator,” Bunnings Gardening Category Manager Belinda Rakers said.

“With the weather warming up and plenty of spring produce to choose from, we’re seeing lots of customers stock up on gardening supplies including seedlings, seeds, raised garden beds and soil,” Bunnings General Manager of Home and Lifestyle Adrian Pearce added.

“We’ve also seen a rise in customers looking for planting tips and tricks.”

Liam O’Toole claims to have saved even more since starting growing his own leafy greens, herbs and tomatoes in February.

“The cost of produce throughout the pandemic and in particular the last few months was a really big thing for us, we wanted to be able to grow our own and save some money,” the father-of-two from Brisbane said.

“I think we would have easily saved $500, some plants can grow very quickly and with those leafy greens you can just pick as you go, it is like a never ending fruit and veggie shop.”

Mr O’Toole’s advice to people keen to start an edible garden is to stagger the planting to make harvests last longer and save more money long term.

TOP FIVE FOODS TO GROW RIGHT NOW

Tomatoes and lettuce good to plant in spring.

Bunnings said the best vegetables to plant in the spring season were tomatoes, lettuce, corn, strawberries and zucchini.

Tomatoes

One of the most productive veggie patch staples, plant a crop now in most climates to be ready to harvest over summer. Make the most of different varieties, try planting cherry, bi-coloured or even purple types.

Lettuce

Great for first time gardeners, simply plant and water in most climates for success. From red leaf varieties to cos lettuce heads, stagger planting every few weeks to have a continuous supply.

Sweet corn

Fast and incredibly easy to grow, the tall pants will produce multiple cobs each in most areas along the east coast. Plant now and remember to feed well for the crop to flower in summer.

Strawberries

A great introduction to edible plants for those starting out. Spring is the time to plant in cold or cool areas, and remember to plant multiple varieties to boost the harvest.

Zucchini

The perfect crop coming into summer for areas with hot dry weather, it is one of the most productive vines supplying edible flowers followed by fruit.

Originally published as ‘Easily saved $500’: Aussies grow vegetables, fruit up to keep costs down