In the spring, a neighbor set up a wooden garden box in their backyard and planted cherry tomatoes and basil. They bragged all summer about how they had to go to the grocery store less often.

However, I had never actually calculated whether a vegetable garden really reduces grocery costs. So, I looked for some actual research data.

It was interesting to see why more people are becoming interested in home gardening these days. Among those who responded that they plan to expand their gardens, nearly two-thirds cited rising prices as a reason, and about 35 percent of American households are already growing vegetables or fruits at home.

According to a survey by the National Gardening Association, a well-maintained vegetable garden can produce an average of about $600 worth of produce in a single season. That amount from just one garden is surprisingly significant.

The problem is that this $600 is not pure profit. You have to deduct the costs of seeds, soil, fertilizer, garden materials, and water to see the real benefit.

Even just looking at the initial costs, the difference is substantial. A simple garden planted directly in the ground can start at around $30 to $60, but if you build a wooden garden box and fill it with soil, it can easily exceed $250 to $500.

To break it down specifically, it costs about $25 for seeds and seedlings, $40 for soil and compost, $15 for fertilizer, $60 for garden materials and tools, and about $20 for water and miscellaneous expenses. This means a typical garden costs around $160.

The former can recoup its costs in the first growing season, but the latter takes about 2 to 3 growing seasons to break even. I didn't bother to mention this to that neighbor who started with the garden box.

Instead, I pointed out that if you have the garden and tools set up in the first year, things change from the second year onward. Each year, you only need to buy seeds and replenish soil, and research shows that from this point, a family of four can save between $500 and $1,000 annually on groceries.

There's even more sobering data. A study from the University of Missouri found that the average value per square foot of garden space is about $0.74.

However, when another study included the value of personal labor time in the calculations, the story changed dramatically. The net value, including labor costs, came out to a negative $0.11 per square foot.

In simple terms, once you factor in the time spent working with the soil on weekends, gardening can turn from a money-saving venture into an expensive hobby. I felt a bit betrayed at this point.

That said, it doesn't mean that gardening is entirely a loss. The savings can vary greatly depending on the crop.

A bunch of basil costs about $4 in seeds, but to buy fresh basil at the store would cost around $50 to $60. Cherry tomatoes and leafy greens also have a relatively high harvest value compared to their seed costs.

On the other hand, crops like potatoes and onions, which are often sold cheaply on sale at the grocery store, don't provide much benefit when grown at home. They take up a lot of space and don't really help your wallet.

So, if you're wondering what to do, the answer is surprisingly simple. Instead of building an expensive garden box, it's better to start small with herbs, leafy greens, and cherry tomatoes that are sold at high prices in stores.

Therefore, there's no need to be overly ambitious from the start with wooden garden boxes or automatic watering systems. Starting with a few pots and a shovel will yield similar results.

However, it's important to note that this calculation is based on single-family homes with yards. Households living in apartments or rentals may not have such options available to them.

Personally, I would recommend starting with a few herb pots for fun rather than expecting a vegetable garden to be a major way to cut grocery costs. That way, even if it fails, the loss isn't significant, and if it succeeds, you can save a little each time you go to the store.