[wbmkk]

2014 was my first year with an allotment, so it has been a bit of a learning experience.

previously I was only able to grow tomatoes, in the greenhouse at home, but this year I have tried stacks of different things.

Some did OK, some great and others not too good. I even grew several rows of potatoes, basically just to get the space filled. They were OK, but with spuds costing only £3 or £4 for a big bag, I don't think they are a very economical crop.

I realise it's not all about economics ... basic goodness, taste and the pleasure of being outdoors are also big factors as far as allotment growing is concerned.

But, just as a matter of interest, which crops are the most economical to grow. By that I mean which crop would produce the most value per square metres, if I had to buy everything fro my local supermarket. (I have a feeling mixed salad leaves would be near the top)

thank you ... and a Merry Christmas to all. 

[Kate and her Ducks]

Courgettes I think are one of mine. For the price of a couple of seeds (maybe £2) you can have courgettes for months over the summer.

Ooh and definitely things like raspberries. Bit of initial out lay but then years of crops with only a little maintenance.

[wbmkk]

Courgettes I think are one of mine. For the price of a couple of seeds (maybe £2) you can have courgettes for months over the summer.

Ooh and definitely things like raspberries. Bit of initial out lay but then years of crops with only a little maintenance.

I actually grew courgettes (yellow ones) and they seemed to do very well. I actually gave them all away, as I didn't really know how to cook them. the kids don't like trying things new, so that seemed the best option.

I put in Polka raspberries late in 2013, but all but 1 died. Luckily the supplier (Blackmoor) replaced them a few weeks ago. lets hope the new ones do better.

[Kevin67]

For me, it's fruits.

Fruit, jams and wine are all expensive. Plus fruit bushes and trees last a long time.

[DD.]

Runner beans are quite expensive in the shops and take up little ground space as they grow upwards!

[JayG]

Agree with DD about runner beans and Kate and her ducks re_ courgettes (you only need to view threads about gluts to find out why!)

'Salad stuff' is also quite easy to grow (slugs permitting) and never that cheap in the shops.

If you don't like any of the above then please ignore this post! 

[mumofstig]

snap peas or mangetout are easy to grow and expensive in the shops.

Runner beans are a must have, but French beans are good if you don't like runners and grow rhubarb. Have you seen how much the supermarkets charge for a few sticks of that? 

[wbmkk]

snap peas or mangetout are easy to grow and expensive in the shops.

Tried them this year .. didn't seem to do very well

Runner beans are a must have, but French beans are good if you don't like runners

Runners and French beans went in my allotment on the same day, late in May. Runners did very well, but French beans all failed to grow. Runner beans are quite tasteful, so will grow again next year

and grow rhubarb. Have you seen how much the supermarkets charge for a few sticks of that? 

Bought some last winter, but didn't pick any this year. Looking forward to rhubarb crumble next year ... with EVERY meal

[New shoot]

There are a few ways to look at it.

I grow quite a few things that I save the seed from, so they effectively cost me nothing but time - various tomatoes, Wizard beans (old fashioned broad beans), various types of beans for eating fresh as french beans, or using as dried beans.

If you want cheap seeds to cut costs, Wilkinsons and places like B&M and The Range do limited ranges but they cover all the basics.  if you have a Wyevale garden centre near you, it is worth watching out for the 50p seeds sales as well.

If you want to best return versus supermarket prices, I think your hunch about baby salad leaves is pretty spot on    I would second Kate's suggestion of raspberries as well.  All soft fruit costs a bomb and is easy to grow. 

Prolific veg like runner beans and courgettes will feed you for weeks, but if the kids don't like cougettes, try pumpkins or squashes instead.  Kids love growing them and the sweeter, denser flesh seems more attractive to them.  Its also very easy to incorporate into mashed potato and they will wolf them that way 

[GrannieAnnie]

Our locally grown spuds are really cheap too (free sometimes!) so my favourites are strawberries and blackcurrants.  Would like raspberries too, but not at this house!

Runner and french beans (I grow climbing french as well to save on space)  also Alderman climbing peas, Can't beat Home grown carrots, courgettes, leeks, aubergines (when I can get them to grow!) and lots of beetroot for the OH

Tomatoes and chillies and peppers in the greenhouse.  Oh and my butternut squash did quite well this year, but I did have a lot of spare space!   

[cadalot]

Beetroots and spring onions - I had a great year for both and the spring onions were so tasty and strong.

[pigguns]

Pumpkins.  Pumpkins.  did I mention Pumpkins?  £3 or £4 for a few pegs of a crown prince around here and I've got a fortune in the garage   
Herbs.  Spring Onions- you only need a couple at a time.
Rhubarb always (refuse to pay anything when it grows like weeds)
ditto broad beans, chard, Kale (£1 a bag for Nero Calvo in waitrose!).  PSB.  All saves me a bomb.  Strawberries. 

I agree about spuds- I only do a few early salad ones.

[3759allen]

i guess the answer to your question would depend mainly on what you like to eat. you could grow saffron (valued higher than gold, weight for weight) but if your not going to use it it's not worth anything to you.

agreed with runner beans and french for that matter, easy to grow as well.

rhubarb and raspberries are pretty easy to grow, don't take a massive amount of space, ridiculously expensive to buy in the shops. if your lucky you may be able to scrounge some crowns and canes.

also worth baring in mind the taste (especially tomatoes) difference, and the varieties that you can't get in the shops.

[sunshineband]

I can echo what others have already said, and add asparagus. Although the initial outlay seems a lot, they do crop then for around 20 years or so with not too much effort, and of course the spears are far from cheap to buy 

and of course beefsteak tomatoes 

[beesrus]

Per square metre, I would say raspberries are monetarily my best crop, followed by tomatoes, curly kale.  Sprouting broccoli is also right up there... organic psb at Riverford is 7 pounds a kilo.
Sweet corn take a little room, but I get 100 plus cobs a year. I would never buy that many at shop prices and so would miss out.