Think $25 can't do much for your garden? Think again.
In this episode I break down the exact numbers on why buying seedlings (not seeds) this year could save you well over $200 in grocery money — and I show you every calculation so you can do it yourself.
In This Episode
- Why sometimes buying seedlings beats saving seeds (and that's okay!)
- A farm update — walking without crutches after 10 months, garden prep, and Loki the buckling melting hearts
- The exact 5 punnets I'm buying at Bunnings this year, and why
- The real dollar-for-dollar maths on seedlings vs. supermarket prices
- Why "don't buy crops you don't eat" is the golden rule of getting a good return
- What you still need to budget for: water, soil health, and sunlight
- This week's challenge: plan your own $25 garden
$25 Seedling Maths
Five punnets from Bunnings, total cost $24.08 — here's what came out of the ground:
Seedling Cost App. Yield S/market Return
Iceberg lettuce $4.85 ~6 lettuces $3.50 each = $21.00 ~4x
Cherry tomatoes $4.85~3kg p/plant x6 $29.50/kg = $531 ~110x
Spring onions $4.85 ~12 bunches $3.00/bunch = $36.00 ~7x
Baby spinach $4.85 ~200g $49.00/kg = $9.80 ~2x
Parsley $4.68 ~9 bunches $4.50/bunch = $40.50 ~9x
Total spent: $24.08 → Total value: $254.80
That's not a one-off harvest either — tomatoes, spinach, and parsley in particular keep producing for months, so this isn't a "pick it all at once" return. It's ongoing.
The Golden Rule
Don't buy seedlings for crops your family won't actually eat.
Grow what replaces your regular supermarket purchases — for us that's lettuce, tomatoes, spring onions, baby spinach, and parsley, because they're things we'd otherwise be buying (and often wasting) every week.
Don't Forget
- Water — hand water if you're not getting regular rain
- Soil health — dig in your compost now, ahead of planting
- Sunlight — make sure your bed gets good light through the day
- Frost protection — cover seedlings on cold nights, mulch around the base
This Weeks Challenge
Start planning your own five punnets now for September planting:
- Pick five crops your family will actually eat
- Check prices on the Bunnings website
- Prep the garden bed (and any frames you'll need for climbers)
- Track what it costs you vs. what you'd have spent at the supermarket over summer
Links
Take the free Ditch the Store Score quiz: www.ditchthestore.com/dtsscore
Enjoyed this episode? Share your "store swap" pick — lettuce, baby spinach, spring onions, or parsley — and tag me on social media.
