Julian and I have had running discussions on the cost-effectiveness of our little upper-deck garden. He’s dubious that the cost layout for the seeds, plants, soil, fertilizer, and water is worth it. My response is yes.
- A small sprig or two of basil costs $2 or more at the grocery store. Even during high season, a large bunch of basil (enough for pesto) costs over $5. For $5, I can get enough basil seeds and soil to have several batches of pesto over the summer.
- I can harvest just what I need without waste. We’ve had numerous half-bunches of cilantro turn into compost in the fridge.
- There’s the option of cut and come again. The plants regrow and produce more leaves until frost or a particularly rainy fall.
- The garden lets me grow items that I can’t find at a reasonable price or nearby. Chief example: Padron peppers. Two more examples: Red shiso and rau ram (Vietnamese coriander).
The one exception to the cost-effectiveness equation is tomatoes. I tried to have tomato plants on the upper deck three years ago and earlier at our old house (see this post), and got minimal return on investment. I’m not alone in this assessment. Other friends have reported the same frustration with attempting to grow tomatoes in the Seattle area. As long as we have the fruit stand around the corner, I’m cool with buying my own tomatoes.
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