Think $25 can't do much for your garden? Think again.

In this episode I break down the exact numbers on why buying seedlings (not seeds) this year could save you well over $200 in grocery money — and I show you every calculation so you can do it yourself.

In This Episode

Why sometimes buying seedlings beats saving seeds (and that's okay!)
A farm update — walking without crutches after 10 months, garden prep, and Loki the buckling melting hearts
The exact 5 punnets I'm buying at Bunnings this year, and why
The real dollar-for-dollar maths on seedlings vs. supermarket prices
Why "don't buy crops you don't eat" is the golden rule of getting a good return
What you still need to budget for: water, soil health, and sunlight
This week's challenge: plan your own $25 garden

$25 Seedling Maths

Five punnets from Bunnings, total cost $24.08 — here's what came out of the ground:

Seedling Cost App. Yield S/market Return

Iceberg lettuce $4.85 ~6 lettuces $3.50 each = $21.00 ~4x

Cherry tomatoes $4.85~3kg p/plant x6 $29.50/kg = $531 ~110x

Spring onions $4.85 ~12 bunches $3.00/bunch = $36.00 ~7x

Baby spinach $4.85 ~200g $49.00/kg = $9.80 ~2x

Parsley $4.68 ~9 bunches $4.50/bunch = $40.50 ~9x

Total spent: $24.08 → Total value: $254.80

That's not a one-off harvest either — tomatoes, spinach, and parsley in particular keep producing for months, so this isn't a "pick it all at once" return. It's ongoing.

The Golden Rule

Don't buy seedlings for crops your family won't actually eat.

Grow what replaces your regular supermarket purchases — for us that's lettuce, tomatoes, spring onions, baby spinach, and parsley, because they're things we'd otherwise be buying (and often wasting) every week.

Don't Forget

Water — hand water if you're not getting regular rain
Soil health — dig in your compost now, ahead of planting
Sunlight — make sure your bed gets good light through the day
Frost protection — cover seedlings on cold nights, mulch around the base

This Weeks Challenge

Start planning your own five punnets now for September planting:

Pick five crops your family will actually eat
Check prices on the Bunnings website
Prep the garden bed (and any frames you'll need for climbers)
Track what it costs you vs. what you'd have spent at the supermarket over summer

Links

Take the free Ditch the Store Score quiz: www.ditchthestore.com/dtsscore

Enjoyed this episode? Share your "store swap" pick — lettuce, baby spinach, spring onions, or parsley — and tag me on social media.

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