Sierra Foothill Garden

Sowing smart!

What vegetables can you grow this year to save the most money at the grocery store? Yields per square foot and dollar value and of that (organic) produce at harvest in the supermarket were considered to form this list.

Here are the ones to grow that will save you the most. Of course, only grow those that you’ll really eat!

Cilantro
You either love it or hate it but if you pay for it,..you may want to consider growing it. At over $20 per square foot in your garden, you’ll save quite a bit for all your summer salsas and soft chicken tacos.  Grow cilantro in and around other taller vegetables to shade it in the warmer weather.

Arugula-Roquette
Arugula or Roquette,  Eruca sativa, is a member of the mustard family. The spicy bite compliments the sweeter lettuces and dressings in your summer salads. The entire plant may be harvested, or individual outside leaves may be cut from the plant. Grow like cilantro, in between taller plants to shade it as summer progresses.

Green Salad Mix
Lettuces or mesclun is a standard salad ingredient.  Once you get used to eating the really green lettuces, you may save iceberg lettuce for baloney sandwiches only.  (Everyone knows these must also be made with the forbidden white bread.) Mesclun salad with Gorgonzola, a hint of garlic, walnuts and Kalamata olives is a flavor combo that shouldn’t be missed.

Chives
Chives in cottage cheese, on a baked potato or chopped into scrambled eggs? You must have this in your garden. Easy to grow in a container or in the ground,…many don’t know that chives can over winter easily in the Sierra Foothills.  Deer don’t touch it.

Dill
Over $16 dollars per square foot in your garden is what you’ll save. Use dill in quick breads, salads and with fish. Cajun seasoning and dill is a favorite seasoning for baked salmon. Try tuna pasta shell salad, with dill, green pepper and a bit of chopped garlic.

Lettuce
Any lettuce, from salad bowl to Romaine can save you over $16 dollars per square foot in your garden.  Many varieties can be grown from seed and far into the summer if you grow it where it gets afternoon shade.

Cherry Tomato, small & medium
Try Red Cherry, Sweet 100 or Sweet Million.  Sweet Million is prolific with thousands of tender, really sweet tomatoes that can be washed and popped into salads with no slicing.  The skin is thin and yummy.  You’ll save over $15.00 per square foot.

The next ten veggies to save money growing?:

• Turnip
• Tomato, large
• Squash, Winter
• Tomatillo
• Cucumber
• Basil
• Radish, Red
• Pumpkin
• Chard, Swiss
• Celery

You’ll save between $6 and $10 dollars for each square foot.  That’s something to get excited about!