12 High-ROI Crops Worth Growing in 2025
Gardening can yield a variety of fruits, herbs, and vegetables, but which plants will yeild the best high-roi crop? Cultivating your own food is not only a rewarding hobby; it’s also a smart financial decision. With the right selection of crops, your garden can pay for itself and even provide extra savings. From juicy tomatoes to flavorful herbs, these high-return-on-investment (ROI) plants can save you money while bringing exceptional freshness to your kitchen.
Below, you’ll find 12 vegetables, fruits, and herbs that deliver the best bang for your buck. We’ve included cost comparisons, recommended varieties, and preservation tips to help you stretch your savings and enjoy your harvest all year long.
Vegetables That Pay for Themselves
1. Tomatoes: The Garden MVP
- Why They’re Worth It: Tomatoes are a staple in most kitchens, and their versatility makes them a high-ROI crop. Organic and heirloom varieties can cost $2–5 per pound in stores, but growing your own slashes that cost dramatically. We grow 72 tomato plants a year, and I never buy tomato sauce, salsa, tomato soup etc – and we give away bushels to friends, family, and neighbors.
- Cost Analysis: A $3–5 seed packet can last 2–3 seasons and produce up to 20 pounds of tomatoes per plant—bringing your cost down to just $0.50/lb.
- Best Varieties:
- Roma: Great for sauces and canning
- San Marzano: Rich flavor for pastes
- Cherry Tomatoes: Perfect for snacking and continuous harvests
- Preservation Tips:
- Can whole tomatoes or turn them into sauces and pastes.
- Dehydrate slices for homemade sun-dried tomatoes.
2. Zucchini: The Overachiever
- Why They’re Worth It: Zucchini plants are incredibly productive, yielding dozens of squash from just one plant.
- Cost Analysis: A $3–5 seed packet can produce 10–20 zucchini per plant, reducing costs to $0.20–0.50/lb compared to $1.50–$3.00/lb in stores. In our region, organic zucchini was priced at $4.99 a pound – I kid you not.
- Best Varieties:
- Black Beauty: A classic, reliable variety
- Costata Romanesco: Sweet flavor and great texture
- Preservation Tips:
- Shred and freeze zucchini for breads and soups.
- Pickle slices or dehydrate for chips.
3. Winter Squash: Long-Lasting Value
- Why They’re Worth It: Winter squash (like butternut, acorn, or spaghetti) is versatile, hearty, and stores well for months.
- Cost Analysis: A $3–5 seed packet can yield 10–30 squash over 2–3 years, costing just $0.50–$1.00 per squash compared to $1.50–$3.00/lb in stores.
- Best Varieties:
- Waltham Butternut: Sweet, productive, and perfect for soups. Last year our waltham butternut vines over-produced and we ended up with over 80 lbs of squash, and the seeds were free! By far one of our best high-ROI crop results.
- Table Queen Acorn: Compact plants with flavorful squash
- Preservation Tips:
- Cure squash for long-term storage (6+ months).
- Freeze pureed squash for soups and casseroles.
4. Green Beans: Fast and Foolproof
- Why They’re Worth It: Green beans are easy to grow,versatile in cooking, and are high-ROI crops worth growing, especially if you and your family like green beans.
- Cost Analysis: A $3 seed packet can produce over 10 pounds of beans per season, reducing your cost to $0.30–$0.50/lb compared to $3–$5/lb in stores.
- Best Varieties:
- Blue Lake: A classic snap bean
- Kentucky Wonder: A climbing heirloom with excellent flavor
- Preservation Tips:
- Freeze or can beans for long-term storage.
5. Leafy Greens: Fast and Abundant
- Why They’re Worth It: Spinach, kale, and Swiss chard grow quickly, can be harvested continuously, and are far cheaper to grow than buy.
- Cost Analysis: A $3–$5 seed packet can produce dozens of harvests, costing less than $0.20 per bunch compared to $2–$4 for organic greens. And, where we are in Nova Scotia, I have seen a $7.00 head of lettuce that wasn’t organic. Leafy greens, especially if you are a salad-lover, can save you a considerable amount of money over the season as the plants can be grown in spring, summer, and fall (and winter if you use a bit of cover!).
- Best Varieties:
- Kale: Lacinato (dinosaur kale) or Dwarf Curly
- Spinach: Bloomsdale Long Standing
- Preservation Tips:
- Blanch and freeze for soups, stews, or smoothies.
6. Peppers: Sweet and Spicy Savings
- Why They’re Worth It: Bell and hot peppers are easy to grow and expensive to buy organic, making them great high-ROI crops.
- Cost Analysis: A $3–$5 seed packet can yield 10–20 pounds of peppers, costing $0.50–$1.00/lb versus $3–$7/lb in stores.
- Best Varieties:
- Bell: California Wonder, King of the North
- Hot: Jalapeño, Hungarian Wax
- Preservation Tips:
- Freeze, pickle, or dehydrate peppers.
- Ferment hot peppers for homemade hot sauce.
Fruits That Pay Off Big
7. Strawberries: Sweet and Profitable
- Why They’re Worth It: Strawberries are a perennial crop that produces abundantly, and store-bought organic berries are pricey.
- Cost Analysis: A $10 starter pack of plants can yield up to 20 pounds annually for 3+ years, costing $0.50/lb versus $4–6/lb in stores.
- Best Varieties:
- Albion: Everbearing, great for continuous harvest
- Earliglow: Early season, sweet flavor
- Preservation Tips:
- Freeze whole or slice for jams, sauces, and smoothies.
8. Raspberries: Long-Term Rewards
- Why They’re Worth It: Raspberries are low-maintenance, high-value crops that produce for over a decade.
- Cost Analysis: A $15 starter plant produces 2–4 pounds annually for 10+ years, reducing your cost to $0.50–$1.00/lb versus $4–6/lb in stores.
- Best Varieties:
- Heritage: Red, everbearing variety
- Anne: Unique yellow variety
- Preservation Tips:
- Freeze whole or turn into jam.
9. Blueberries: Berry Good Value
- Why They’re Worth It: Blueberry bushes are long-lived and produce reliable harvests after the first few years.
- Cost Analysis: A $15–$20 bush can produce 5–10 pounds annually, bringing costs to $1–$2/lb compared to $4–$6/lb in stores.
- Best Varieties:
- Duke: Early season variety
- Jersey: Late-season variety
- Preservation Tips:
- Freeze or dry blueberries for year-round enjoyment.
10. Apples: A Family Favorite
- Why They’re Worth It: Apple trees are a long-term investment, producing abundant fruit year after year.
- Cost Analysis: A $30 dwarf apple tree can yield 50–100 pounds annually after 3–5 years, lowering costs to $0.50–$1.00/lb.
- Best Varieties:
- Honeycrisp: Sweet, crisp, and perfect for snacking
- Granny Smith: Tart and ideal for baking
- Preservation Tips:
- Store apples in a cool, dry place for months.
- Make applesauce, cider, or dried apple slices.
Learn More: See our guide to dwarf fruit trees to learn which ones can provide your family with harvest year after year.
Herbs That Keep Giving
11. Basil: The Pesto Powerhouse
- Why It’s Worth It: Fresh basil is expensive, but a few plants can produce $20+ of herbs in one season.
- Preservation Tips:
- Make pesto and freeze it in small batches.
- Dry leaves for use in cooking year-round.
12. Parsley: A Garden Workhorse
- Why It’s Worth It: Parsley grows quickly, regrows after cutting, and lasts multiple seasons.
- Preservation Tips:
- Freeze chopped parsley or dry it for storage.
How We Calculated ROI (and Why It May Vary by Region)
The prices and savings listed in this post are based on current national averages for seeds, plants, and produce costs in the United States. For example, organic tomatoes typically cost $2–$5 per pound at grocery stores, while a $3–$5 seed packet can yield 10–20 pounds of tomatoes at home. However, the actual return on investment (ROI) for your garden may vary significantly depending on where you live.
Here are a few factors that can impact your costs and savings:
Regional Produce Prices
- Some fruits and vegetables are naturally less expensive in areas where they’re commonly grown. For example:
- Florida: Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are often affordable since they thrive in the warm climate.
- Nova Scotia: Apples may be cheaper due to the cooler climate and local orchards.
- California: Avocados, berries, and peppers tend to be more affordable because of the region’s ideal growing conditions.
- Growing these crops in your region might offer less dramatic savings if they’re already inexpensive to purchase locally. On the other hand, growing out-of-region produce (like citrus in colder states) could save you a lot more.
Climate and Native Plants
- Your garden’s productivity depends heavily on your local climate. Native or climate-adapted plants often perform better, require less maintenance, and yield higher harvests, leading to better ROI crops. For instance:
- Growing apples in warm, humid Florida would be much less cost-effective than in cooler northern regions.
- Peppers and tomatoes, which thrive in hot climates, may yield higher returns in southern states compared to colder northern climates.
Local Seed and Plant Costs To Take Into Consideration
- Seed and plant prices can vary greatly depending on your location. Some areas also offer seed vaults at libraries or community gardening programs that can help offset some of the startup costs.
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Conclusion: Grow More, Save More
Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding ways to save money and eat better. You can stretch your grocery budget with thoughtful planning while enjoying fresher, healthier, and tastier food. Which crops are your go-to for savings? Share your gardening tips and stories in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!
For more ideas, check out our guides on Garden Planning, Preservation Techniques, and Best Vegetable Varieties for Beginners. Happy gardening!
Author: Laura Kennedy
Writer & Owner of Little Yellow Wheelbarrow
Laura is a highly skilled gardener and fervent flower enthusiast. Despite her playful battle with plant spacing guidelines, Laura’s work inspires gardeners to create thriving, beautiful spaces that reflect both creativity and sustainability.