Wondering whether your vegetable garden actually pays off? Enter your bed size, crop, and local market price to see your potential revenue, return on investment, and how quickly your garden pays for itself.
The calculator will pre-fill a realistic market price and yield estimate for your chosen crop. You can adjust both below.
Grocery store: $4/kg (~$1.80/lb) · Farmers market: $6–10/kg
Lettuce & spinach can do 2–3 seasons; tomatoes typically 1
Skip this if you just want a rough revenue estimate. Add costs to calculate true ROI and break-even.
Typical seed packet: $3–6 · Transplants: $4–10 per pack
2–3 bags of compost per bed per year: ~$20–40
DIY raised bed: $50–120 · kit bed: $100–300 · tools: $40–100
Tap water for a small bed: $5–15/year. Rain barrel = $0.
| Year | Revenue | Total costs | Net profit | Cumulative |
|---|
| Crop | Yield / m² | Typical price | Value / m² | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Herbs (mixed) | 0.6 kg | $15–25/kg | ~$9–15 | Highest value per sq ft |
| 🥬 Lettuce / Salad | 3 kg | $6–12/kg | ~$18–36 | Cut-and-come-again, fast return |
| 🍅 Tomato | 6 kg | $4–8/kg | ~$24–48 | Best for serious growers |
| 🌿 Spinach | 2 kg | $7–10/kg | ~$14–20 | Multiple crops per year |
| 🫛 Pea (shelled) | 0.7 kg | $7–10/kg | ~$5–7 | Home-grown flavor premium |
| 🥒 Zucchini | 8 kg | $2.50–4/kg | ~$20–32 | High volume, easy to grow |
| 🫘 Green Beans | 4 kg | $3.50–5/kg | ~$14–20 | Excellent value crop |
| 🥦 Broccoli | 1.5 kg | $3–5/kg | ~$5–8 | Premium if sold at market |
| 🥕 Carrot | 4.5 kg | $2–3.50/kg | ~$9–16 | High yield, low cost |
| 🥔 Potato | 4.5 kg | $1.50–3/kg | ~$7–14 | Best as food saving, not sale |
| 🧅 Onion | 4 kg | $1.50–3/kg | ~$6–12 | Stores well — year-round value |
| 🌽 Sweetcorn | 2 kg | $3–5/kg | ~$6–10 | Freshness premium is huge |
* Value estimates based on average US grocery store and farmers market prices. Prices vary by region, season, and variety. Specialty and heirloom varieties typically command a significant premium.
The short answer: yes — especially for high-value crops like herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, and zucchini. The economics of home growing are compelling once you account for the fact that the primary cost is your time, not cash. Seeds and compost are cheap; the labor you invest has a real monetary return.
The National Gardening Association estimates that a typical home vegetable garden yields $600 or more in produce value per season — and that's at grocery store prices. If you grow premium varieties or sell at a farmers market, the numbers are significantly better.
Fresh herbs represent extraordinary value per square foot. A small bunch of basil costs $3–$5 at the grocery store; the same amount of growing space can produce ten times that value over a season. Chives, parsley, mint, and cilantro all generate exceptional returns.
Cut-and-come-again salad leaves are another outstanding choice for financial return. A single sowing yields leaves for weeks, and the premium for mixed salad greens at farmers markets ($6–$12 per bag) is remarkable compared to the cost of a seed packet.
Cherry tomatoes and heritage varieties carry a significant retail premium. Varieties you cannot find in supermarkets — Black Krim, Sungold, Green Zebra — command high prices at markets and make your crop genuinely unique.
The least financially efficient crops are those that are cheap to buy but take a lot of space: maincrop potatoes and onions. They still save money and are rewarding to grow, but the financial return per square metre is lower than herbs or salad.
There is an important distinction between saving money on your food bill (replacing shop-bought produce) and making a profit by selling what you grow. Both are valid goals, but the strategies differ.
For maximum savings: grow the vegetables you buy most frequently. If you eat lettuce three times a week, a dedicated salad bed will save more than growing an exotic crop you rarely cook.
For maximum revenue: grow what sells at the highest price premium — heritage tomatoes, mixed herb bunches, edible flowers, and baby vegetables. Focus on quality, variety, and presentation if selling at markets.
Is it legal to sell vegetables I grow at home?
In the US, selling home-grown produce at a farmers market or roadside stand typically requires a vendor permit from your local government or farmers market association. Rules vary by state and county. Small amounts sold to neighbors are generally unrestricted. Always check your local regulations before selling commercially.
How do I calculate return on investment for a raised bed?
ROI = (annual value of produce − annual costs) / total invested × 100. The tricky part is the setup cost: a raised bed can last 10–15 years, so spreading the cost over that period is fair. This calculator does that automatically — choose a 7 or 10 year spread for long-lasting timber or metal beds.
Does organic growing change the financial equation?
Certified organic produce commands a 20–50% price premium at retail. If you grow without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers — which most home gardeners do — your produce could command organic prices at a market stall. Check what certification, if any, is required in your area for using the term "organic".
What is the payback period for a typical raised bed setup?
A well-planted 1.2 × 2.4 m raised bed growing tomatoes, lettuce and herbs typically achieves full payback on setup costs within 1–2 growing seasons. Beds with higher setup costs (expensive materials, irrigation) may take 2–3 years to break even. The calculator above will show your specific payback timeline.
How much time does it actually take?
A well-established raised bed growing a mix of vegetables requires around 30–60 minutes per week during the main growing season — less in winter. The biggest time investment is setup in year one. By year two or three, as soil improves and routines are established, maintenance time typically drops significantly.
Log every harvest, compare seasons, and see exactly which beds and crops generate the most value for your time and money.
Harvest value tracking
Log harvests with weight and assign a value — see your garden's total financial output over time
Best-performing bed insights
See which beds and crops generate the most value year over year (Pro)
Export to CSV
Download your full harvest log for your own records or accounting (Pro)
