Spring season is officially among us! This time of year we welcome longer days, warmer temperatures, and an overall lightness in the atmosphere.
While we prepare for warmer days, it’s hard to ignore the fact the temperature isn’t the only thing that’s rising. Grocery costs have risen significantly over the last four years, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture.
WCCB digital producer Dee Michel teamed up with Chief Meteorologist Nicole Madden to provide a breakdown of the benefits of growing your own food.
We want to see those green thumbs prevail! Click here to keep us up-to-date on your gardening journey by emailing your garden related photos to [email protected]
Quick overview of the details in this guide to getting a green thumb:
- Cost benefits of home gardening versus grocery shopping
- Optimal planting times
- Building blocks needed for home gardening (even tips for apartment or condo gardens)
Here’s a break down of what you need to know:
Food Is Expensive!
We’ve all been talking to our friends and family about the increased costs of groceries. It’s even making impacts on our social life as restaurants are being forced to increase costs due to the trickle down effect.
Brace yourself, it’s only going to get worse, according to a study released in February 2025 by the USDA.
The study shows an 18 month food price outlook and provides data on food prices and forecasts annual food price changes.
Below is important information from the study. I will warn you now, it’s a lot like reading one of those $1,000 books you “had to have” in college. You know, the one with the $20 resell value that is still on your bookshelf because you refuse to throw it away! To save you the time, I will provide this quick summary: grocery prices will only increase in 2025!!
The Consumer Price index for food showed the following (information listed below is written as it appears in the study):
Consumer Price Index for Food (not seasonally adjusted)
The all-items Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of economy-wide inflation, increased 0.7 percent from December 2024 to January 2025 and was up 3.0 percent from January 2024. The CPI for all food increased 0.6 percent from December 2024 to January 2025, and food prices were 2.5 percent higher than in January 2024.
The level of food price inflation varies depending on whether the food was purchased for consumption at home or away from home:
- The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.8 percent from December 2024 to January 2025 and was 1.9 percent higher than January 2024; and
- The food-away-from-home (restaurant purchases) CPI increased 0.2 percent in January 2025 and was 3.4 percent higher than January 2024.
In 2025, overall food prices are anticipated to rise slightly faster than the historical average rate of growth. In 2025, prices for all food are predicted to increase 3.4 percent, with a prediction interval of 1.1 to 5.9 percent. Food-at-home prices are predicted to increase 3.3 percent, with a prediction interval of -0.2 to 7.0 percent. Food-away-from-home prices are predicted to increase 3.4 percent, with a prediction interval of 2.1 to 4.7 percent.
To read full summary click here.
Are you ready to learn more about gardening now that you have seen data confirming we will still experience increases at the grocery store??
The Last Frost
We’ve learned above why gardening is cost effective. Now, it’s time to discuss optimal planting times. This is where I teamed up with WCCB’s Chief Meteorologist Nicole Madden.
Planting seeds in the beginning of spring can be tricky due to frost. I learned my lesson about getting too excited for warm weather, and my poor veggies and fruits were collateral damage in the process. RIP 🪦.
In Case You Don’t Know: When temperatures drop below freezing and the temperature reaches the dew or frost point, the ice on the ground is termed frost or frozen dew. Frost can damage your plants by freezing the water inside the plant cells, which can burst and die. You can read more about this here.
Nicole’s first rule to becoming a green thumb is to first know your frost dates! “Cool season vegetables can be planted now, but warm season vegetables do not tolerate frost well and should not be planted until the last front (around mid-April)”
Review Nicole’s frost dates and yearly averages below:
The 30 year average (1991-2020) for Charlotte’s last freeze is March 28, while the 30 year average for Charlotte’s last frost is April 12. Temperatures are projected to be warmer than average through the end of March, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a cold night and another freeze by the middle of April. More than likely, the Charlotte area will have at least one or two more frosts, so it’s best to wait until mid April to plant any sensitive plants.
The planting calendar on almanac.com tells you when to plant specific crops in the spring and fall, based on where you live. Click here to view the planting calendar for Charlotte, N.C. or here if you live outside the Charlotte-metro region.
Growing Methods Fit For Your Space
There are many ways to garden, but its important to know which one is right for your space. Row planting, raised beds, and container gardens are three types of methods to consider.
Your growing space can also help determine what produce you’d like grow. My little patio has provided ample amounts of fruits and veggies over the last 10 years! Trust me when I say a home garden is attainable from the tiniest terrace to acres of land!
Check out the pros and cons of the three types of growing methods below:
Flat Rows: Row planting is the most traditional garden type which consists of an in-ground garden bed on a plot of land in which the soil has been tilled or plowed as well as all debris and weeds removed.
-An advantage of row planting is the cost. Row planting is typically cheaper than other methods as it requires no extra building material. Yay!
– A disadvantage of this method is that row planting requires more maintenance due to the exposure of weeds and pests at ground level (we’ll dig deeper into pest control in just a bit).
Produce options for flat rows include:
- Potatoes
- Peppers
- Squash
- Cucumber
- Melons
Raised Beds: This planting method is my personal favorite and it’s become quite popular over the years. A raised garden bed is a container that sits on the top of the ground, typically made from wooden frames.
– One advantage of using a raised bed is that it’s great for smaller spaces. This method also reduces weeds and pests. It also has health benefits as it minimizes tension and pain in your back and knees. Now, my tip would be to throw in a miniature stool and you’re set for the season!
-Disadvantages of the raised bed planting method include the start up costs and construction time. A raised bed requires that you purchase or make the container and the compost needed for the soil. The starting costs can be a bit pricey, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Produce options for raised beds include:
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Dwarf Apple Tree
- Blackberries
Container Gardens: A lack of yard space is no reason to give up on a garden! Apartment living has become more popular, carrying the container method’s popularity along with it. Growing plants in hanging baskets, and traditional pots make terrace and patio gardening easy.
-One advantage of container gardening includes having control over growing conditions, including the amount of sun light and water needed for your produce.
-A disadvantage of a container garden is the maintenance as the soil in these containers can dry out quickly causing a loss of nutrients. Watering and fertilizing research will help keep the soil healthy.
Produce options for container gardens include:
- Tomatoes
- Herbs
- Strawberries
- Dwarf Fig
I’m speaking from experience when I say a mixture of small raised beds and traditional pots brings a quaint patio garden to life.
SN – If you’re new to the gardening world, planting herbs is a good place to start. As I pruned my garden this season, my parsley plant resisted, standing firmly in the soil. It somehow braved the cold of the winter, and has since grown faster than I can harvest it. Safe to say it is the everlasting gobstopper of herbs.
Parsley not your thing? No worries, the Old Farmers Almanac provides a growing guide for many other herbs, vegetables, and fruits along with expert information about how to plant, grow, care for, and harvest crops!
Pest Control
The not so fun part of gardening–especially if you’re terrified of bugs like me.
It is inevitable that a garden gets affected by pests. Garden pests can range from fungi and weeds, to bugs and animals. The pests that may effect your garden are dependent upon the environment surrounding your gardens. Heavy exposure to moisture and ground soil can increase your chances of seeing fungus build up and the presence of insects.
If your garden is open to woods or nature preserves, it can be at risk of being invaded by visitors like Bambi and Thumper. Meaning, deer and rabbits love to snack on your garden food. Natural pest control is a popular option to prevent unwanted guests! Neem oil and Bobbex Deer Repellent are great sprays to protect your garden. Other methods of protection include the following:
- Pruning away visible damage on the plants
- Inviting the pest’s natural predators into the garden
- Using mesh fabric to cover produce
Check out these guides to identify which pests are eating your garden and more ways on how to keep them out.
Following these methods will reduce stress during harvesting time, leaving you with a healthy batch of veggies and fruits!
Food Preservation
The investment into creating and caring for a garden goes a long way. Harvest time not only means you can eat fresh, organic produce but it also opens the door for several storage methods that extend the shelf life of your food! Jarring, dehydrating, and freezing are popular methods to preserving produce. These methods contribute greatly to environmental sustainability and cost savings!
You can learn more about food preservation methods by clicking here.
The journey to getting a green thumb is one of patience and trial and error, that can be hard in a world full of perfectionism and instant gratification. I’ve recently conquered my addiction with Instagram so this green thumb is scrolling less these days. Spending time in your garden will not only relax your mind after screen time, but also allows your brain to reset, making challenges in achieving long terms goals more attainable – I’ve got my list ready!
The anticipation of taking food from the seed to the table can be difficult, but I can assure you it’s all very exciting and rewarding in the end. So get your green thumb ready and take advantage of the spring season by getting outside and into the soil. Let the zen of gardening not only silence your mind but also save your money!
I want to see those green thumbs prevail! Keep me up-to-date on your journey by emailing your garden photos to [email protected]
Author: Dee Michel
