Growing your way to grocery store savings

There’s something exciting and rewarding about growing and picking fresh produce from your own garden.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans spend on average about 11% of their overall income on groceries and dining out. A typical family of four spends on average $1,000 a month on groceries.

Besides coupons and planning your menu around seasonal sales, consider how you could make a dent in that monthly tab by growing your own herbs and produce.

For those of us who don’t necessarily have a green thumb, here are a few can’t miss vegetables and herbs that are easy to maintain.

Eggplant: Have you looked at how much one eggplant costs? Imagine the savings of having your own supply. Keep it simple and buy a plant rather than trying to grow your own from seeds. It may also be easier to grow them in pots and/or a container garden.

Kale: It’s not just a superfood but also super easy to grow. It doesn’t hurt that kale will add a bit of flair to your landscaping.

Cilantro: Hello salsa, chimichurri sauce and more! These are the plants that keep giving, as the dried up flowers that turn brown are coriander and can be ground up for use in curries and stews.

Mint: It looks pretty, smells wonderful and is another hardy plant. Buy the plant, put it in a pot, water and just watch it grow. It is one of the easiest plants to maintain so start looking for some mint recipes.

Bell peppers: A bell pepper at a grocery store can cost anywhere from $3 to $4 each. Grow your own by buying a few plants for your container garden. Just be sure to find a spot that gets direct sunlight.

Radishes: This grows well from seeds and is very hardy. You may get more than you can eat so prepare to share with neighbors and family.

Tomatoes: One of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow in a sunny spot. Buy a few to jumpstart your container garden.