How much do you save?

[supersprout]

I'll have 70 artichoke plants this year - ithe cheapest artichokes in oil cost £1.50/100g - the more expensive the veg, the higher the saving. Agree with all said about fresh air, exercise, 'green' stuff - also when I go to the supermarket, I seem to buy loads of things that weren't on the list. We visit the supermarket once a month now and we're saving <£100/month on two years ago

[Snadger]

Total spending on our plot so far

Rent £42 a year
Seeds - probably about £30 including potatoes
Weed Control Fabric £25 plus some off freecycle
Greenhouse Free, but fixings and glass about £45
Tools - we already had plenty, so only 1 Hoe £15
Netting £10
Hosepipe 50m + fixings £13
Wheelbarrow £20
All other fruits and plants are coming from pre-existing plants in our plot or from our home garden.

Total spend so far £200 approx

Expected Crops

I've been very conservative in my estimations, and have used basic £ from the supermarkets as a comparison, not the organic prices, so if organic prices were factored in then I recon it would add up to 20% to the estimated crop values overall.

Soft Fruits

84 Raspberry canes in permanent bed (already there) approx 30-45lb fruit = £30 to £90 value
234 Strawberrys in permanent bed (already there) approx 30 to 90lb fruit = £30 to £130 value
4 gooseberry bushes in permanent bed approx 6 to 10lb fruit = £10 value
2 loganberry in permanent bed approx 3 to 6lb fruit = £5 to £10 value
4 brambles in permanent bed (already there) approx 5 to 8lb fruit = £10 to £16 value
7 rhubarbs in permanent bed (already there) approx £10 to £20 value

Soft Fruit crops estimated value £ 100 MINIMUM (probable a lot more, but being very conservative with my estimates here!)

HERBS - 2' BY 12' (permanent bed, covered with weed control fabric and planted through)

Bay Tree transplanted from our front garden 3' tall bay leaves approx £2 a year value
Mint (in pot) transplanted from our front garden approx £2 a year value
Sage (English) approx £4 a year value
Chives approx £2 a year value
Parsley (Plain English) approx £5 a year value
Basil approx £5 a year value
Borage approx £2 a year value
Taragon approx £3 a year value

Herbs expected value £25 MINIMUM (very conservative estimate, based on how much it costs me to buy these herbs for a year as dried from a wholesalers!)

LEGUMES

Pea (Rondo) 2 rows of 100 plants = 200 plants = £15
Broad Bean (Express) 2 rows of 25 plant = 50 plants = £15

Total Legume value £30

BRASSICAS

Cabbage (MinicoleF1) 2 rows of 17 plants = 34 cabbages = £15 value
Cauliflower (F1 Trevi) 1 row of 13 plants = 13 cauli's = £10 value
Brussel sprouts (Bedford) 1 row of 15 plants= 15 plant = £25 value
Broccolli (Autumn Sprouting) 1 row of 19 plants = 19 plants = £20 value
Broccolli (Purple Sprouting) 1 row of 13 plants = 13 plants = £15 value
Broccolli (Romaine) 1 row of 13 plants = 13 plants = £15 value

Total Brassica crop value £100 approx

ROOTS - 2 BEDS 4' BY 30'

Carrot (Paramix) 8 rows of 24 plants = 192 carrots = £15 value
Carrot (Amsterdam Forcing) 8 rows of 24 plants = 192 carrots = £15 value
Leek (Musselburgh Improved) 8 rows of 8 plants = 64 leeks = £20 value
Parsnip (Tender and True) 6 rows of 8 = 48 parsnips = £15 value
Turnip (Snowball) 4 rows of 24 plants = 144 baby & full grown turnips (eat baby until last sowing, let rest mature) = £15 value
Swede (Ruby) 4 rows of 6 = 24 swedes = £15 value
Swede (Brora) 4 rows of 6 = 24 swede = £15 value
Beetroot (Boltardy) 4 rows of 24, planted 1 row at a time every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 168 beetroot = £30 value
Radish (French Breakfast3) 3 rows of 48, planted a row at a time every 3 weeks for 10 plantings = 480 radish! = £15 value
Radish (Pontiville) 4 rows of 24, planted a row at a time, every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 168 radish! = £15 value

Total root crop value £150

OTHERS

Asparagus - 1 bed 12' by 9' (already there, at least 6 plants that we've seen!) approx £8 value??

ONION - 2 BEDS 4' BY 18'

Ailsa Craig 33 rows of 8 plants = 264 onions - should see us thru the year if they store well enough! = £26 value
Paris Silver Skin 16 rows of 8 = 128 pickles = £10 value
Onion Sets (Electic) 5 rows of 10 = 50 planted = £6 value
Onion Set (Radar) 5 rows of 10 = 50 planted = £6 value
Garlic () 70 planted = £23 value

Onions crop value £71

SALAD - 1 BED 5' BY 36'

Lettuce (Iceberg Set) 6 rows of 5, planted 2 rows at a time every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 70 lettuces = £30 value
Lettuce (Red Salad Bowl) 7 rows of 6, planted 2 rows at a time every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 84 lettuces = £30 value
Spring Onions (White Lisbon) 5 rows of 10, planted 2 rows a time every 3 weeks for 9 plantings = 180 spring onions (scallions I believe Snadger calls them) = £15 value
Celery (Lathom Blanching) 4 rows of 7, planted 1/1/2r every 3 weeks = 28 stalks celery = £20 value
Spinach (Spinnaker F1) 3 rows of 18 planted 1 row at a time every 3 weeks for 10 plantings = 180 plants = £20 value
Cucumber (Marketmore) 2 rows of 3 plants, planted 2 at a time every 3 weeks = 6 plants = 36+ cucumbers = £30 value
Courgette (Zucchini F1) 3 plants = £15 value
Tomato (Sub Arctic) 12 plants = yield at 5lb plant = 60lb = £30 value

Total salad crop estimated value = £190

SQUASHES - 2 BEDS 5' BY 18'

Pumpkin (Ghost Rider) 1 row of 5 plants in single planting = 5 plants
Pumpkin (Saved seeds) 2 rows of 5 plants in single planting = 10 plants

15 pumpkins as yield at £2 to £4 each = £30 value

Squash (Ponca) 5 rows of 3 plants in a single planting = 15 plants
Squash (Butternut saved seeds) 4 rows of 3 plants in a single planting = 12 plants

27 squash yield (minimum) at £2 each = £54 value

Total squash crop value estimate = £84 to £168

SWEETCORN - 2 BEDS 5' BY 9'

Sweetcorn (Ovation) 6 rows of 5 planted in 2 sowings = 30 plants = 2 corn per plant = £2 per plant = £30 value
Sweetcorn (Lark) 6 rows of 5 planted in 2 sowings = 30 plants = 2 corn per plant = £2 per plant = £30 value

Total sweetcorn value = £60 approx

GREENHOUSE - 8' BY 10'

Melon (Gallia) 3 plants = approx 6+ melons = £6+ value
Pepper (Gourmet) 4 plants = approx value £2 per plant = £8+ value
Aubergine (Calliope F1) 3 plants = approx value £3 per plant = £9+ value
Chilli (DeCayenne) 3 plants + approx £5 value per plant = £15+ value
Tomato(Black Prince) 3 plants yield @ 5lb a plant = 15lb = £8 approx value
Tomato(Lilliput) 4 plants yield @ 5lb a plant = 20lb = £12 approx value
Tomato(Tamina) 5 plants yield @ 5lb a plant = 25lb = £16 approx value
Tomato(Sweet Million) 4 plants yield @ 5lb a plant = 20lb = £12 approx value

Total greenhouse crop value £84

POTATOES

1kg of Charlottes
1kg of Pentland Javelins
1kg of Desiree
1kg of not sure yet, another maincrop variety tho!

Approx 60lb spuds @ £1 for 5lb = £30

Total Tattie crop value estimate £30

Summary of estimated crop yield prices (if had to buy equivalent veg from supermarkets)

Soft Fruit crops estimated value £ 100 MINIMUM
Herbs expected value £25 MINIMUM
Total Legume value £30
Total Brassica crop value £100 approx
Total root crop value £150
Asparagus approx £8 value??
Onions crop value £71
Total salad crop estimated value = £190
Total squash crop value estimate = £84
Total sweetcorn value = £60 approx
Total greenhouse crop value £84
Total Tattie crop value estimate £30

Total estimated crop value (if purchased from a supermarket) £932

So, if we take away the spending of £200 so far, then that gives us a nett profit of £732

Anyone care to voice their opinions on my figures? Please?

Ok, I havent factored in any labour, but as thats a personal choice and we enjoy it, then I dont feel it should be included!

Plus the saved gym membership, the free exercise and fresh air, the socialization and all the environmental benefits to boot!

Mrs D you've missed your vocation!!!!!!! You should have been an accountant!

With Brussel Sprouts at 4p per pound in Tesco's just now and mine at there peak, I think I could do with a bit of constructive bookkeeping as I seem to be running at a loss!!
Could you put an optimistic slant on wind battered kale, leeks that are going to seed, hollow turnips and some 'fly' eaten carrots then?

[nick the grief]

but theres a reason the Brussels are 4p/lb ...... they're sh*te !!

[jools]

I'm definitely way in debit. Just bought a new greenhouse and staging and had to have the garden redesigned to fit it in so had to pay a couple of blokes a small fortune to do the things I couldn't do such as paving (DH is next to useless at DIY!). Need to pay for electricity to be installed and I am getting a bit carried away with the seed catalogues! Probably take me about 20 years to break even even if I can persuade my kids to eat what I grow. Ho hummmm!
Jools

[Sue]

Hi
It's been fascinating reading through the posts on this topic, Mrs Dobby, hats off!
I also think that there are other cost benefits, Having been through one season now could see that as well as "saving" on bought produce there were savings on not eating alternatives. I'm thinking of potatoes, might be cheap in the shops, but apart from better taste etc, because you've grown them eat them in preference to other carbohydrates such as rice and pasta making this a saving too. Things like courgettes too, had so many that virtually every mean was courgette based for a long while, again creating a saving in a roundabout way.
It also means we have more opportunity to explore the veg and fruit that growns in this country in season, cutting down on imports and airmiles. A further saving is on holidays (more airmiles) since I've had an allotment, have no time to go on holiday.
And others mention there's exercise, stress relief and, living in a tiny flat with no garden the joy of actually being outside in the elements with a purpose.
I'm late to allotments, but it's become the love of my life, savings are great, but the other benefits mean just as much.
Sue

[pigletwillie]

You picked up a valid pint regarding airmiles Sue but I am thinking more food airmiles here.

By growing my own I eat more seasonally and buy in very little, by doing this all of the food miles and allied costs with its growing, transport, packaging are saved so inadvertantly reducing my carbon footprint in a big way.

[JennieAtkinson]

When your veg plot is in your back garden its more like food inches than food miles (read that in a magazine lately - not my own words!)

[Mrs Dobby]

Mrs D you've missed your vocation!!!!!!! You should have been an accountant!

Only one way to reply to that Snadger

My 'vocation' was to be a pilot in the RAF, but I messed that one up, so ended up playing with bikes (a hobby my Dad got me into) for Halfords for 16 years before they realised that perhaps I had something more about me and promoted me into management!

[JennieAtkinson]

Can you do a "loop the loop" on your bike Mrs D?

Actually joking aside I think we did that a few times on the tandem

[madderbat]

Can't match other people's savings, but we've probably eaten more veg this year that we ever did before. Savings have been on not buying meat - eating veg meals and whats grown locally.

Despite it being our first year and our own crops not brill, neighbours on the lottie have been very kind and given us butternut squash, beans, marrow, courgettes, parsnips, plums, apples, raspberries, cabbage, ... probably more which I've forgotten. In return we'e shared spinach and blackberries. Not really a fair swap, but we hope to improve next year.

[Snadger]

but theres a reason the Brussels are 4p/lb ...... they're sh*te !!

That's what I keep telling OH.....................

[Snadger]

I must admit, with me it's a little bit of everything ! In order of importance to me:-

*At one with the land (love pottering!)
*Seeing seeds or bulbs germinate and grow
*Achievement of growing my own
*Being able to eat raw or cooked stuff within a few minutes of being picked
*Attempting to be as self sufficient as possible
*Being out of doors
*The 'crack' with other allotmenteers
*Trying new veg or methods of growing
*Trying to get as many veg/flowers as I can from a given area of land
*Thriftyness (finding bargain seeds/plants and ways of doing things, not because I need to, just because of the challenge!))
*Believing the fresh air and excercise will do me good
* Cost is unimportant really as my yearly outgoings would hardly pay for a good night out and if I save money on veg or flowers, so be it!

Strange though, I nearly always get something tangible back from my three main hobbies, Gardening, Fishing and Metal Detecting! (Well usually, anyway!)

[Dobby]

I wunder if we invited Snadger down to metal detect on our plot, and then tipt some metal fillings on the undug beds if he wud dig them over for us??

[madderbat]

I wunder if we invited Snadger down to metal detect on our plot, and then tipt some metal fillings on the undug beds if he wud dig them over for us??

What a lovely thought Dobby. Perhaps you could advertise in metal detecting magazines and get a working party going?

[Snadger]

I wunder if we invited Snadger down to metal detect on our plot, and then tipt some metal fillings on the undug beds if he wud dig them over for us??

If there's a hoard there can I keep the proceeds?

The answer to your question would be no because I can discriminate out ferrous metal (got sick of digging up horse shoes!) and set it only to find silver and gold! if need be If you buried £1 coins (chubbies) or gold rings I would home in on them like a shot!