FARGO — Over the last year, the price of one produce item has risen more than any other.
Luckily, it’s also one of the most popular garden vegetables and can be grown right at home.
Tomato prices are up 40% from last year, almost two times higher than other food increases. For example, coffee prices have increased 18.5%.
To save money, people can turn to growing their own tomatoes. Experts say it’s not too late to start, whether you have a garden or even if you live in an apartment.
Sunlight and space are important for healthy tomatoes.
If growing on a balcony, you’ll want to keep the plant in at least a 5-gallon pot or bucket.
The tomatoes will also need six to eight hours of direct sunshine to produce.
“So, a person can get a healthier tomato by removing the lowest leaves and planting that in soil right up to the tip of the plant. So, only the top is sticking out, and that will produce a much healthier root system,” said Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension horticulturist, and columnist for The Forum.
Kinzler says that even $10 to $15 could produce enough tomatoes for a family to eat and can.
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