When evaluating garden productivity, it’s important to consider more than just monetary profitability, as one agricultural expert discovered. During a conference, the professor highlighted that growing vegetables like carrots could be costly due to labor-intensive tasks such as watering, thinning, and weeding. Moreover, commercial competition—especially from large-scale California carrot farms—could make growing them less viable. He suggested turning to crops with higher profitability, such as fingerling potatoes.
However, as gardeners, we might feel differently about these “profitability models.” We often cherish homegrown produce for more than its monetary value, especially when it comes to flavor and the satisfaction of knowing exactly where your food comes from. The taste of a freshly pulled carrot or potato, or knowing it’s been cared for by hand, holds value that’s difficult to quantify but certainly meaningful. This brings us to a key question: How do we measure and appreciate garden yields beyond pure profitability?
Measuring Vegetable Yields
In 2012, horticulturists at the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station created a helpful reference guide that shows typical vegetable yields per square foot. For instance, bush snap beans yield about half a pound per square foot, and potatoes produce approximately 1.5 pounds per square foot. However, these figures only scratch the surface of the broader picture.
The timing of crops also plays a significant role. Some vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, require a long growing season and occupy their space for months, preventing the planting of anything else in that spot. On the other hand, crops like potatoes and carrots only need a portion of the growing season, so you can grow additional crops in the same area, a technique known as succession cropping or multi-cropping. For example, after harvesting early potatoes, you might plant fall greens or bush beans in the same space.
The Challenge of Weighing or Counting Produce
While weighing or counting crops seems like a straightforward way to assess garden yields, many gardeners, including myself, find it less practical. While I once kept track of the weight of my cabbages and other vegetables, I eventually realized that the true measure of my garden’s success was how much food made it to the table, rather than just how much I harvested.
Tracking Kitchen Usage for Maximum Value
For gardeners looking to understand the full value of their harvests, tracking kitchen usage can provide important insights. Keeping a food diary during the growing season reveals just how much money is saved by eating homegrown produce. For instance, when your garden is overflowing with fresh vegetables, you might skip buying ingredients for salads, casseroles, or side dishes. Fresh herbs, which are often expensive to buy but easy to grow and preserve, add additional value to your meals.
Additionally, homegrown vegetables that store well—like garlic, squash, and root vegetables—can offer both immediate and long-term benefits. These crops can be stored through the winter, helping reduce grocery bills and ensuring you have easy access to fresh produce even during off-seasons. The convenience of having a stockpile of homegrown food can also become particularly invaluable during times of uncertainty, such as during a pandemic.
Using Garden Tools to Improve Productivity
For gardeners who want to maximize productivity, tools like the Garden Planner and Journal can be incredibly helpful. These tools allow you to track your harvests by weight and quantity, providing valuable data year after year. You can also add personal notes and photos to better understand which crops perform best in your garden.
One key feature of the Garden Planner is its succession planting tool, which helps ensure your garden remains productive throughout the growing season. By setting planting dates for each crop, you can visualize the timing of your plants and plan to fill any gaps in your garden, ensuring that no space remains unused.
By adopting a holistic approach to measuring garden yields—one that includes timing, usage, and even the joy of homegrown food—gardening becomes more than just about raw numbers. It’s about appreciating the full range of benefits that come from growing your own vegetables.