I’m going to guide you through four different styles of gardening that are not only beginner-friendly but also cost-effective. I’ll provide details on what to buy for each gardening style, along with the expected return on investment. Let’s dive in!
Assumptions and Approach:
I made a few assumptions to simplify the process. First, I focused on easily accessible products from major retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and Amazon. Second, the emphasis was on affordability, so I opted for non-organic solutions, like synthetic fertilizer and traditional seeds. Lastly, I used conservative estimates for harvests to account for potential challenges faced by beginners and the unique gardening conditions in Florida.
1. Individual Container Gardening:
Individual container gardening is versatile, especially for beginners. It’s cost-effective and suitable for various plants. For this style, I recommend using grow bags. Here’s the breakdown of costs:
- 6 Grow bags (10 gallons each): $20.99
- Soil (6 bags, 1.5 cubic feet each): $9.97 per bag
- Fertilizer (Miracle-Gro, 4.25 pounds): $11.97
- Seeds (for lettuce, kale, peas, peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers): $1.69 to $1.99 per pack
- Tomato Cage: $4.98
- Cypress Mulch: $2.97
Plants: Lettuce (8 plants), Kale (1 plant), Peas (12 plants), Peppers (2 plants), Cherry Tomatoes (1 plant), Cucumbers (2 plants). Estimated total ROI: $93.52. Return on investment in approximately 4 months.
2. Raised Bed Gardening:
Raised bed gardening is efficient and suitable for various crops. Here’s the cost breakdown for a single raised bed:
- Raised Bed: $54.99 to $60 (depending on source)
- Soil (18 bags, 1.5 cubic feet each): $9.97 per bag
- Fertilizer (Miracle-Gro, 4.25 pounds): $11.97
- Seeds (same as individual container gardening): $1.69 to $1.99 per pack
- Tomato Cages (4): $4.98 each
- Cypress Mulch (2 bags): $2.97 each
Plants: Lettuce (28 plants), Kale (5 plants), Peas (40 plants), Peppers (5 plants), Cherry Tomatoes (5 plants), Cucumbers (10 plants). Estimated total ROI: $555.30. Return on investment in approximately 1.5 months.
3. Vertical Greenstalk Gardening:
Vertical gardening with Greenstalk planters is space-efficient. Here’s the cost breakdown for this style:
- Green Stock Vertical Garden: $149
- Support (for Vining plants): $24
- Soil (5 bags, 1.5 cubic feet each): $9.97 per bag
- Fertilizer (Miracle-Gro, 4.25 pounds): $11.97
- Seeds (same as individual container gardening): $1.69 to $1.99 per pack
- Cypress Mulch: $2.97
Plants: Lettuce (18 plants), Kale (6 plants), Peas (40 plants), Peppers (6 plants), Cherry Tomatoes (5 plants). Estimated total ROI: $364.22. Return on investment in approximately 2 months.
4. In-Ground Gardening:
In-ground gardening is the simplest and most cost-effective method. Here’s the breakdown for an 8×6 foot in-ground garden bed:
- Soil Amendment (using Black Cow): $51.76
- Fertilizer (Miracle-Gro, 4.25 pounds): $11.97
- Tomato Cages (4): $4.98 each
- Seeds (same as individual container gardening): $1.69 to $1.99 per pack
- Cypress Mulch (6 bags): $2.97 each
Plants: Lettuce (16 plants), Kale (2 plants), Peas (32 plants), Peppers (2 plants), Cherry Tomatoes (2 plants), Cucumbers (4 plants). Estimated total ROI: $297.05. Return on investment in approximately 1.5 months.
This gardening experiment reveals that you can achieve a quick return on investment with various gardening styles. The cheapest options are individual containers and in-ground gardening, with a 4-month and 1.5-month return, respectively. Raised bed gardening shows the highest ROI, with a return in about 1.5 months. Remember, the initial investment decreases over time as you recycle materials and build a healthier ecosystem in your garden. Happy gardening!
