If you’ve noticed your grocery bill creeping up lately, you’re not alone. Prices for everyday staples and items including lettuce, cucumbers, and fresh herbs are rising, and those little increases add up fast. There is an alternative that’s affordable, rewarding, and downright delicious: grow your own groceries.

It’s a simple idea with deep roots. Previous generations turned to Victory Gardens, small backyard plots filled with homegrown veggies, to keep fresh food on the table. Today, more and more people are embracing a similar variety of self-reliant gardening to save money and enjoy fresh produce straight from the yard to your plate (or straight to your mouth if you’re like us when we harvest sun gold cherry tomatoes).

Same Produce Staples, Grown at Home

Growing your own vegetables and herbs means fewer trips to the store and fresher flavors on your plate. Even better, fast-growing veggies like lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be ready to harvest in just a few weeks.

At Seeds 'n Such, we carry many of the same varieties you’d find in the grocery store. And this is just the beginning. We’ve got tons of vegetable and herb seeds to match your grocery list.

• Tomatoes – From cherry to goliath, perfect for sandwiches, sauces, and salads
  

• Cucumbers – Cool, crisp, and varieties great for pickling or fresh eating
  

• Lettuce – Quick-growing and keeps those salad cravings satisfied
  

• Peppers – Sweet or spicy, colorful, and packed with flavor
  

• Basil – A must for pasta night! Fresh pesto, anyone?

How to Make Your Veggies Thrive

Starting with good seeds is just the beginning. Here are a few additional tips to help your veggie plants thrive from sprout to harvest. 

Most vegetables are sun-lovers. Aim for at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Leafy greens can get by with a little less, but fruiting plants like tomatoes and peppers want all the sunshine they can get.

Shallow watering encourages shallow roots. Instead, water deeply 2–3 times per week. What does “water deeply” mean, you ask? Giving plants enough water so that it soaks down into the soil about 6–8 inches, where most vegetable roots live, rather than just wetting the top layer. Instead of a quick daily sprinkle, water less frequently but for longer periods, maybe 2–3 times per week, depending on weather. 

After watering, stick your finger or a trowel into the soil. If it’s moist several inches down, you’ve done it right. The goal is to encourage roots to grow down, not stay shallow and fragile near the surface. Deeper roots lead to stronger, more drought-resistant plants. You can also mulch around your plants after watering to help hold that moisture in and reduce how often you’ll need to water.

Healthy soil is the secret to healthy crops. Mix in compost or an organic slow-release fertilizer at planting time. As your plants grow, give them a mid-season boost with a water-soluble feed. This is especially tasty to heavy feeders like tomatoes, corn, or squash.

Check leaves (top and underside) a couple of times a week. Look for signs of chewing, yellowing, or tiny eggs. Hand-picking pests or using neem oil sprays early can save your harvest later.

Overcrowding leads to weak plants and disease. Follow spacing guidelines on your seed packets—and if in doubt, give them more room, not less. The idea is that your plants will be so healthy and happy they can’t wait to expand.

Happy Herbs, Happy Kitchen

Growing your own herbs is the gateway to garden-to-table living, and they’re surprisingly low-maintenance. Here’s how to help them flourish.

Frequent harvesting = more growth. Trim herbs like basil, mint, and oregano just above a leaf node to encourage bushy, full plants. Don’t be shy. It might feel mean but it makes them grow better!

Got a pretty pot obsession? You’re in luck. Herbs thrive in containers, especially when you give them well-draining soil and a sunny spot. Terra cotta pots are a great option because they naturally wick moisture away from roots.

Be careful, though, not all herbs like the same conditions.

• Basil and cilantro enjoy rich, moist soil.
  

• Rosemary, thyme, and sage prefer it a bit drier and more rugged environs.
  

• Mint is a spreader—keep it captive in its own pot unless you want a mint invasion.

Read the labels then plant and care accordingly. In general, most herbs want full sun, especially if you’re growing for flavor. Sun-stressed herbs often produce more aromatic oils, making them even tastier.

Ready to Grow Your Own?

Home gardening is a way to reconnect with your food, enjoy fresh flavors, and find a little joy in the everyday. Whether you’re growing on a windowsill or planting your first raised bed, every harvest brings you closer to your own modern Victory Garden that provides fresh produce, yard to table.