Green thumbs go 'crazy' for veggie plants as cost of living bites in south-west

It's a trend that started during the COVID-19 lockdowns but recent price hikes at the supermarket checkout has prompted a resurgence.

Pearson's Nursery in Allansford had sold out of a number of vegetable seedlings on Tuesday morning, but more supplies were coming later in the day for keen gardeners and novice green thumbs.

Manager Michaella Clements, who is also studying sustainability at university, said the trend going forward was homegrown gardens again.

"We've noticed so many customers coming in and they've never grown things before, they don't know how to grow but they can't afford to pay $12 for a lettuce," she said.

"It's crazy. I think honestly it's going to get worse before it gets better.

"My broccoli sales have doubled, my lettuce sales have doubled. Cabbages, cauliflowers, onions - they've all doubled.

"Even asparagus, they've been really popular over the past two weeks.

"Fruit trees have gone crazy."

Ms Clements said when COVID-19 first hit, people wanted to become self-sustainable but now they were turning to home gardening to escape the soaring prices of food.

"A lot of people don't have the time to grow things which is why a lot of people just get them from the supermarket but the cost of living - I went to the supermarket the other day and it was ridiculous," she said.

"It's an extra $20 to $30 every time you go there just for your everyday needs now, plus your fuel and everything as well."

Ms Clements said the nursery was still selling the normal numbers of plants for things like roses and box hedges, but anything edible had doubled.

She said while prices hadn't increased yet, some supplies were starting to go up.

"I have just had a 15 per cent rise on my plastic pots. That will come into effect after the first of July," she said.

"They physically can't make enough."

Warrnambool Community Garden's Julie Eagles said all the plots were being used at the moment, but it was always getting enquiries.

She said people were becoming more aware of the value of growing their own foods, but that used to be more about taste but now it was about cost and being able to save money.

"Grow a few lettuces in your garden and suddenly you've got $100. It's amazing really," she said.

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