Efficieny of Vegetables

One factor to consider when planting and growing vegetables is the amount each plant will yield. Some plants, such as tomatoes and basil, yield a larger amount than others, while certain squash and melons yield a small amount per square foot. Of course, with melons and pumpkins producing larger fruit, this is somewhat proportional. Nevertheless, the National Garden Bureau rates all common crops on a scale of one to ten on efficiency, or the amount of fruit a plant yields per foot. When planning your garden, this will help you decide the amount of plants you’ll need and which plants would suit your needs. No plant is a perfect ten, but here are ratings for all basic vegetables:

• Tomatoes – 9
• Green onions – 8.2
• Leaf lettuce, turnips – 7.4
• Summer squash – 7.2
• Onions with bulbs, peas – 6.9
• Beans, grown on a pole – 6.8
• Beets – 6.6
• Carrots; beans, grown in a bush; cucumbers – 6.5
• Sweet peppers – 6.4
• Broccoli, Swiss chard, kohlrabi – 6.3
• Mustard greens, spinach – 6.2
• Lima beans, radishes – 6.1
• Cabbage – 6
• Leeks – 5.9
• Collards – 5.8
• Okra – 5.7
• Kale – 5.6
• Cauliflower, eggplant – 5.3
• English peas – 5.2
• Brussels sprouts, celery – 4.3
• Melons, winter squash – 3.8
• Pumpkins – 1.9