Garden Yield Calculator
Estimate how much food a garden will produce and what it is worth.
Last updated · View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Compare harvest scenarios using fixed per-plant planning assumptions, a succession count and a loss allowance. Yields vary widely by cultivar, climate, soil, spacing, pests and harvest timing. The value is a gross retail-price estimate, not profit or a harvest forecast.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Crop Tomatoes (10 lb per plant) · Number of plants 10 · Succession sowings 1 · Loss to pests and weather 20 % · Retail price per pound 3 $ Gross yield 100.0 lb · Realistic harvest 80.0 lb · Realistic harvest 36.3 kg · Value at retail price 240.00 $
General background references
Disclaimer
These are general gardening estimates. Planting windows, growth, water and nutrient needs vary by place and plant. Check local extension guidance and product labels before acting on an estimate.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
gross=y×n×s; net=gross×(1−l÷100); kg=net×0.45359237; value=net×price
- y
- fixed yield assumption per plant (lb)
- n
- plants
- s
- succession plantings
- l
- loss allowance (%)
- net
- modeled harvest (lb)
- price
- entered retail price ($/lb)
Per-plant values are fixed planning assumptions, not forecasts. Value is gross retail-price equivalent and does not subtract seed, labor, water or other costs.
Frequently asked questions
Why does one tomato plant yield far more than one lettuce?
The tool uses fixed per-plant yields by crop: tomato 10 lb, pepper 4, lettuce just 1 lb, carrot 0.3 and potato 1.5. So 10 tomato plants give 100 lb before losses, while 10 lettuce plants give only 10 lb. The loss field then trims this by a percentage for pests and weather, and the value output multiplies the realistic harvest by your retail price per pound, which varies widely by crop.
Are these harvest amounts guaranteed?
No. The per-plant figures are fixed planning assumptions, not yield forecasts. Variety, weather, soil, spacing, pests, harvest timing, and growing skill can change results substantially; use the estimate to compare scenarios, then track your own harvests.