Garden Yield Calculator
Estimate harvest yield in lbs or kg from plant type and count.
Covers tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and 20+ vegetables with yield per plant.
Vegetable garden yield estimation helps gardeners plan food production, calculate cost savings versus store-bought produce, and size their plots efficiently. Yields vary significantly by plant variety, soil quality, climate, spacing, and care — but standard benchmarks provide reliable planning targets.
Yield formula: Expected Yield = Growing Area (sq ft) × Yield per sq ft (lb)
Yield per square foot by crop (square-foot gardening method):
| Vegetable | Plants per sq ft | Yield per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes (indeterminate) | 1 per 4 sq ft | 5–15 lb/4 sq ft |
| Zucchini | 1 per 9 sq ft | 8–12 lb/9 sq ft |
| Bush beans | 9 per sq ft | 0.5–1 lb/sq ft |
| Lettuce | 4 per sq ft | 0.25–0.5 lb/sq ft |
| Carrots | 16 per sq ft | 0.5–1 lb/sq ft |
| Peppers | 1 per sq ft | 0.5–2 lb/sq ft |
| Cucumbers | 1 per 2 sq ft | 2–5 lb/2 sq ft |
| Kale | 1 per sq ft | 0.5–1.5 lb/sq ft |
| Strawberries | 4 per sq ft | 0.5–1 lb/sq ft |
Cost savings formula: Annual Savings = Expected Yield (lb) × Average Retail Price ($/lb) − Input Costs
Input costs include: seeds, seedlings, soil amendments, fertilizer, water, pest control.
Water usage estimate: Water per Week (gallons) = Growing Area (sq ft) × 0.623 (equivalent to 1 inch of rainfall per week)
Worked example: A 4×8 ft raised bed (32 sq ft) planted with: 4 tomato plants (32 sq ft of staking area), 1 zucchini plant (9 sq ft), and green beans filling remaining space.
Tomato yield = 4 plants × 10 lb avg = 40 lb Zucchini = 10 lb Beans = 23 sq ft × 0.75 lb/sq ft = 17 lb Total yield ≈ 67 lb
At average retail prices (~$2.50/lb blended): $167.50 value Input costs (soil, seeds, fertilizer): ~$45 Net savings ≈ $122.50 per season from a 32 sq ft bed — and yields improve each year as soil matures.