MINNEAPOLIS, March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- If you've ever asked yourself which vegetables make the most sense to grow in your garden, a study from the founder of Square Foot Gardening has the answer. And the results may surprise.
Mel Bartholomew, whose Square Foot Gardening books have sold 2.5 million copies, turned his calculator toward the food we grow in our gardens to see what gives the biggest bang for your buck.
"There are real costs involved in growing," Bartholomew says. "If you're going to make an investment in edibles, treat your garden the same way you treat your 401K. It all comes down to ROI."
Bartholomew, a former engineer, developed a mathematical formula for objectively calculating return on investment. Using data from the US Department of Agriculture and price surveys of produce costs in stores throughout the country, he was able to determine which garden crops offer the biggest payback. He analyzed the 59 most popular vegetables among home gardeners and, when the study was complete, some definite winners and losers emerged. The results of the study are detailed in, Square Foot Gardening High Value Veggies: Homegrown Produce Ranked by Value.
"Every gardener has favorites," Bartholomew noted, "so I was a little worried my list would offend some people. But the numbers are the numbers. In the end, of course, you should grow whatever you want for whatever reason you choose."
According to Bartholomew, the veggie with the highest return on investment is: Herbs, including favorites as cilantro, oregano and thyme, which finished at the top of the study offering a return of nearly $70 worth of produce for every square foot planted. The runner-up and highest-ranked true "vegetable" is the parsnip at $35 per square foot. At the other end of the scale are some popular crops, including bell peppers (you'll lose about $2 for every square foot planted). At the bottom of the Veggie Value list are potatoes, with a return of negative $6 per square foot, compared to the cost of buying them at market.
Top Five High Value:
Bottom Five High Value:
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SOURCE Quarto Publishing Group
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