I'm always bewildered that zucchinis cost so much in the store, seeing as they grow like weeds and we manage to grow tired of them every year, even after giving away loads of them.

Let's attempt a comparison without the highly location dependent exact prices. At our local store last week, 1.5kg of zucchini would cost the same as a whole pack of seeds.

Said pack of seeds gave us six healthy plants which we expect to each produce about 10-15kg before the frost comes. So 1.5kg vs 60-90kg depending on the first frost. And then there is the potential for saving your own seeds.

And before anyone mentions inputs, we sow directly in the ground, have watered the zucchini plants once this year, and use no fertilizer or anything of that nature. The only input would be compost from our own bin, which was last added two summers ago.

To be clear, I am not saying the shop price is necessarily too much. Even ignoring the inflation trickery many products have suffered, there are (notoriously underpaid) labour plus packaging and shipping costs to consider. But I am saying that anyone who argues having your own garden doesn't actually save you any money just doesn't know how to garden and/or cook.

A bit of a rant, but I can feel my eye twitch every time I hear the "my 50$ tomato from the garden" jokes and it's that time of year again.

#growyourown #zucchini #rant