These 5 Vegetables Are Set to Spike in Price This Year – Grow Them Now to Save on Groceries

Think you had a tricky time in the garden last year with the volatile weather? US farmers struggled with the extreme heat and drought, heavy rainfall and unexpected freezes too – and this year is set to be a similar rollercoaster ride of growing conditions. Forecasts indicate that weather patterns in 2026 will impact heavily on five vegetable crops in particular, driving their retail prices up by as much as 11%.

The good news? All these crops can be grown at home and there’s still plenty of time to start a vegetable garden.

There’s a good reason why these veggies became part of our staple diet: they’re all straightforward and inexpensive to grow, and give a generous harvest. And while erratic weather patterns are impacting large-scale production, it's much simpler to make the necessary adjustments for a healthy harvest when you’re growing on a small scale in your backyard. And we do mean small – plenty of these veg can be grown in containers if your plot is on the petite side.

Here’s what to grow yourself if you want to escape those high prices.

1. Tomatoes

Unseasonably cold weather in Florida and heavy rain in Mexico are likely to tighten supplies of tomatoes on both coasts in 2026. Growing your own supply is quick and easy, and you’ll be amazed how flavorful homegrown toms are.

Tomatoes are straightforward to grow, just be sure to give them a spot with at least six hours of sunshine a day and keep them well-watered. They should be planted outside after all danger of frost has passed. This means April to May for most zones but you can start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. Check your USDA zone, and get cracking!

2. Potatoes

We’re getting used to elevated potato prices, as adverse weather has led to reduced crop yields, while rising fuel costs have made it more expensive to transport this heavy vegetable from farm to store. With demand outstripping supply, we can safely expect those prices to skyrocket some more.

It’s safe to plant seed potatoes 2–4 weeks before your last expected spring frost, which is right about now if you’re in a southern zone. Many potato varieties are extremely quick to crop, in as little as 75 days, and why not choose a tasty heirloom potato that you simply can’t buy in the shops? They’re easy to grow, and can even be raised in a patio container.

3. Broccoli

The price of broccoli is already high because erratic weather including high heat and heavy rain has caused quality issues. And those retail prices aren't going to be falling anytime soon, with forecasts predicting another year of extreme weather.

Broccoli is best sown in early spring, 4–6 weeks before the last frost, for a summer harvest. Start seeds indoors from February in zones 5–9, ready to transplant outside in March to April, or from March in zones 3–4 to move outdoors in April–May. It's best grown in the ground or a raised bed such as this Galvanized Bed from Amazon and choose a tenderstem variety for a steady supply.

4. Lettuce

Much of our lettuce is grown in the ‘salad bowl’ regions of California and Arizona, so any adverse local weather conditions quickly lead to sharp price increases.

Salad leaves are a speedy crop and you can start seeds as soon as the soil can be worked, which in zones 7 and 8 can be as early as February. There are five types of lettuce to choose from: a cut-and-come-again buffet of mixed salad leaves is the quickest and easiest to raise, while cut-once lettuce heads take a little longer.

5. Onions

Poor crop yields in key growing regions like Texas and Mexico, combined with increasing demand, means the retail price of onions is at a 10-year high, and set to rise further.

Plant onions in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, around 2–4 weeks before your last expected frost. Growing onions from seed takes patience but you can skip straight to the best bit with sets or transplants. It's worth checking out which onion type is best suited to your zone: short-day onions are better for southern regions; long day grow well in the north; day-neutral sit in the middle and can be grown in all zones.