CASH CROPS

Food prices remain inflated, with prices of staples - including fruits and vegetables rocketing over the past few years. So what's to be done? The solution, of course, lies in our own muddy hands, as Benedict Vanheems explains

Are you feeling the pinch? I know I am. Fnd it's all courtesy of the steepest cost-of-living rise since the 1970s. Ft the time of writing, you'd have to pay £119 for goods that would have cost £100 just two years ago. That's quite some rise, but it isn't the full picture. Core inflation of essentials like food has risen even more precipitously, with the same supermarket basket shooting up more like 30% over the same period. Of course, you know all this already! So, what can be done about it?

The answer lies in growing even more of our own produce, while prioritising those crops that cost significantly more to buy. That doesn't necessarily mean it's out with spuds and in with cauliflower, but knowing which crops can bring the biggest savings will at least enable us to make more informed decisions as we bust open the seed packets this spring.

PICK OF THE CROPS

Despite significant falls in inflation, prices are unlikely to actually drop, which makes growing our own one of the most empowering things we can do to pull back control of the purse strings. Yes, yes - gardening inputs have also seen upward pressure, but with a little savvy shopping, careful planning and wise choice of crops, it's perfectly plausible to come up with hefty savings on the weekly grocery bill.

NO-BRAINERS

First up are my 'no-brainers' - those edibles that take up very little space and are a cinch to grow, all while offering substantial savings.

Herbs: Chief among these are herbs, specifically perennial herbs like thyme, rosemary, mint and oregano that can be planted once then pretty much left to it. If you're a lazy gardener like me, these guys are wise choices to make!