Overall I'm still going to come out WAY ahead if I were to buy my produce from the store rather than raise it in the garden. I have 24 tomato plants, 12 pepper plants, 2 zucchinni plants, 2 cucumber plants and 8 broccoli plants. I spent $60 on the lot and figure between bartering with the family and trading for a beer or two here and there I should come out way ahead.
I finally broke down and bought seeds after I planted all the above. For example I paid $2 for 1 zuchinni plant at the nursery, where I ended up with 20 seeds (20 plants) of zuchinni for $1.50. Same with the cukes, peppers and broccolli. Sure I'll have to plan them earlier, but I can also rotate and still plant cukes and zuchinni the rest of the year rather than have one plant now and done in a month. I should have a TON. I couldn't find tomato seeds at the store but imagine I can find them online (big, better boy, roma, early girl, etc...)?
Next year I plan to use rain buckets and no nursery for the plants and start them from seed like I would corn or beans. I figure I could have the same garden I have now that cost me $60 for less than $10 dollars and also have extra seeds so I can keep planting through our growing season.
Don't know how everyone on here gets their plants but just a heads up for now and the future that the seeds that come in the tiny packets are as good as the stuff that is sprouted and marked up 100% at your local garden store/nursery.
Should have a few pics in a few days.
Good luck!!!!!