I live in an apartment so I’m starting my recession garden small: a single planter box of mint, sage, and rosemary (from top to bottom).
My three plants cost me $7.77 at OSH, which has a very lenient plant return policy. I kicked myself after I bought them because I remembered I still have $50 on a Home Depot gift card. Drat!
Buying herbs at the grocery store costs $1 to $1.50, which means I need to harvest five to eight batches of herbs to break even. I already had the dirt and the planter, so I am not taking into account those costs. I hope the mint does especially well because I love to make mojitos.
How is your recession garden growing? Email me a picture of yours with a comment about the plants and I will post the best on the blog!
More recession garden resources:
Growing food instead of grass: recession gardening
How a garden can save you $500
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Congrats! Fresh herbs are the best, especially rosemary since it’s so easy to grow. When I work in my veggie/herb garden, I try not to think about the cost vs yield. While my entertainment/fun budget is a lot smaller now, I consider the rewards and relaxation of gardening an added benefit and much better than spending money on a bad movie!
One thing to consider with the mint – I think it is super strong and may take over your whole planter. Most places recommend planting it separate so the other herbs can grow.
Maureen, I’ve heard some people consider mint a weed! But I plan to harvest the leaves frequently enough so that ferocious growth will be welcomed!
Maureen is correct. Mint, which I love, can take over your planter. One small plant can easily fill a normal sized window planter box in just a few weeks.
My mint grows through concrete, I have to haul it out frequently. Rosemary grows into a huge bush with no watering or attention at all. Cilantro and Dill go to seed; oregano, marjoram, the parsleys, basil, sage, thyme and chives are very manageable. Love to harvest herbs when I want to. Much less waste than buying a bunch at the market and throwing a lot of it away.