How much money can you save by growing vegetables at home?

Your savings depend on the crop and growing space. For example, growing 2 square metres of broccoli in subtropical autumn yields about 4 kg, worth roughly $23.20 at current supermarket prices, against seed costs of around $4.50u2014netting $18.70 over 90 days. High-yield crops like tomatoes (5u20138 kg/sqm) and leafy greens offer better returns. However, actual yields vary with weather, pests, and your experience. To estimate your specific ROI, calculate your typical yield per square metre, multiply by today's shop price per kilogram, then subtract seed costs.

When are vegetables cheapest at Australian supermarkets?

Most vegetables follow predictable seasonal patterns. Tomatoes peak in price Juneu2013August (winter) when supply is scarce, but drop Januaryu2013March. Broccoli reverses thisu2014it's cheapest in winter when commercial supply peaks, expensive in summer. Capsicum and other crops spike in winter as regional growing seasons end. Check the 12-month price history for each vegetable to spot your local patterns. This timing helps you decide whether to buy or growu2014growing makes sense when market prices are high.

Where can I buy vegetable seeds in Australia?

Australia has several excellent seed suppliers. The Diggers Club specialises in heirloom varieties (subscription-based); Green Harvest is Queensland-based for subtropical gardeners; Eden Seeds offers organic and biodynamic varieties; Mr Fothergills at Bunnings provides mainstream varieties with wide availability; and Yates seeds are stocked in supermarkets nationwide. Most suppliers carry common crops like broccoli and lettuce. For less common vegetables, availability narrows to 1u20133 suppliers, so check online first or ask your local nursery.

What pests damage vegetable gardens and how do I control them?

Different vegetables attract different pests depending on your location and season. Rather than listing every pest, monitor your plants regularly and check crop-specific pest guides for your climate zone. Early action prevents major infestations; control methods range from organic sprays to physical removal depending on your preference and local regulations. Each vegetable's growing guide links to detailed pest treatment and prevention strategies tailored to your zone, so you can act before damage occurs.

Why do vegetable prices jump suddenly at the supermarket?

Vegetable prices spike when supply is disruptedu2014usually from weather events or crop damage. In February 2026, heat damage to Victorian broccoli crops pushed prices to $14/kg for three weeks. Queensland floods in December 2024 drove lettuce prices near $12/kg. These spikes are temporary and reflect real supply shortages. Viewing the 12-month price history helps you tell the difference between seasonal patterns (predictable price swings) and unusual disruptions (temporary weather-driven spikes).

Reading a per-veggie page

Features and tools6 min read

Click any crop name on /prices/ and you land on the per-veggie detail page — 12-month price history, per-retailer breakdown, a grow-vs-buy ROI estimate for home gardeners, pest warnings, and seed sources.

7Sections per page

12 monthsPrice history

LiveChart.js rendering

On this page

What’s on the page
The chart — what to look at
Grow-vs-buy estimate

What’s on the page

Click any crop name on /prices/ and you land on the per-veggie detail page. Example: /prices/broccoli/.

Seven sections stacked top to bottom:

1. Today’s price summary

Cheapest retailer + today’s four-retailer average $/kg in big numbers. The snapshot answer to “what does this cost today?”

2. Per-retailer breakdown

Woolies, Coles, Aldi, IGA with today’s price for each. If a retailer has no data, “—” appears.

3. 12-month price chart

Line graph showing the full year. Hover for daily values. Annotations mark any single-day moves over 10%. Chart.js rendered, interactive on desktop and mobile.

4. Grow vs buy estimate

Estimated ROI of growing this crop at home in your zone. Uses typical yield per square metre for the crop, today’s shop price, and typical seed cost.

5. Planting guide link

Direct link to /veggie-guide/{your-zone}/{crop}/ for month-by-month planting advice specific to your zone.

6. Pest section

Pests to watch for in the current season. Links to treatment guidance.

7. Seed sources

Common Australian places to buy seed for this crop — The Diggers Club, Green Harvest, Eden Seeds, Mr Fothergills, local nurseries — with typical prices.

The chart — what to look at

Spikes

Price jumps over 30% in a short window. Usually a supply disruption. Examples:

Broccoli Feb 2026 spiked to $14/kg for 3 weeks — heat damage to Victorian commercial crops
Lettuce Dec 2024 peaked near $12/kg — floods in the Lockyer Valley
Capsicum perennially spikes in winter — ends of growing regions out of season

Worth knowing for context.

Seasonality

Most crops have an annual rhythm. Tomatoes peak (expensive) June–August (Australian winter), trough (cheap) January–March. Broccoli is opposite — cheap in winter when supply peaks, expensive in summer.

The seasonality pattern tells you when to buy vs grow.

Long drifts

Slow up or down movement over months usually reflects commodity-level changes (fuel, transport, labour costs) rather than local events. Less actionable but useful context.

Grow-vs-buy estimate

The ROI number on each veggie page uses:

Typical yield per sqm at home — varies by crop (broccoli ~2 kg/sqm, kale ~3 kg/sqm, tomatoes 5–8 kg/sqm)
Today’s shop $/kg average
Typical seed packet cost

Worked example

“Growing 2 sqm of broccoli in subtropical autumn: expected yield ~4 kg, value at current prices $23.20, seed cost $4.50 — net saving $18.70 across a 90-day crop.”

These are estimates, not promises. Your actual yield depends on weather, pests, and how diligent you are. Compare with our demo garden’s real numbers for a reality check.

Seed sources section

At the bottom of each per-veggie page, a list of Australian suppliers typically stocking that crop. Updated when we learn of new sources; email us if you know of one we don’t list.

Five suppliers covered on most crops:

The Diggers Club — heirloom, subscription-based, highest quality for most crops
Green Harvest — Queensland-based, subtropical specialist
Eden Seeds — biodynamic and organic, very large catalogue
Mr Fothergills (Bunnings) — wide availability, mainstream varieties
Yates — supermarket shelves, common varieties only

For less common crops, only 1–3 suppliers may be listed.

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