![]() ![]() I would recommend devoting some garden space to the first three I wouldn't grow rutabaga unless you had customers that specifically ask for it. They also all have the potential to stretch the season. All the root crops require diligent weeding and thinning to produce good-sized roots. I do devote a little greenhouse space to an early crop of carrots and beets, here's why. In order of popularity (in my experience) the common root crops are carrots, turnips, beets, and rutabaga. The root crops are not especially profitable, but you may develop a 'following' for them. If you want to grow potatoes for your customers grow some specialty 'fingerling' types. Dealing with potato bugs organically on a large scale requires specialized equipment like vacuum systems or 'sweep and collect' jigs that run from a tractor.Īnd digging a few hundred (or thousand) feet of potatoes by hand may be more exercise than you want. The yield per square foot and price per pound are low. Unless you have a lot of land, and specialized equipment, stay away from potatoes as a main crop. They command a nice price, and cilantro and dill can be direct-seeded beginning quite early in the season. I would start with the annual herbs like cilantro, dill, and basil. Many herbs sell for more per square foot than actual food crops. They are popular, so grow some, but be aware of the cost. Picking a pound of tomatoes takes 5 seconds a pound of beans, 5 minutes. Some varieties of snap beans will keep producing over a long period (I like 'Provider'), and thus yield quite well.īut they are time consuming to harvest. The basic yellow storage onions are not profitable in a small market garden.Īs mentioned, some crops are reasonably high value per square foot, but expensive to pick and process. I do grow some slicing onions, of the large, sweet type (Walla Walla or Candy). Make an early-summer and a mid-summer planting (but at least 12 weeks before your fall frost date) to stretch the harvest.īunching onions pay more per square foot than slicing onions,and are ready earlier in the season. Try some unusual or specialty varieties like lemon cukes. If kept picked they will produce over an extended harvest period. The vining crops like cucumbers and summer squash are prolific and popular. You can grow a mix or red, orange, and yellow cherry tomatoes to make a colorful and profitable display.Īnd check out my recommendation for sweet peppers here. Grow indeterminate tomatoes and trellis or cage them for an extended harvest. Differentiate your garden by growing especially tasty or heirloom varieties. ![]() Tomatoes and peppers (sweet and hot) are all reasonably high value and high yield. Here's what I would grow in my high income market garden, with a rationale for each crop. The HIGHEST Income Market Gardens are CSA Gardens Popular crops in your area may not be on this list, so check out some local markets to see what's selling. Small market gardens can't afford 'middlemen'.įinally, be aware of local conditions and preferences. Read more about scheduling your market garden here Fourth, you are going to sell your garden wares direct to your end customers at a farmers market or by starting a CSA. Tomatoes are popular and profitable, but if that's all I grew I would have 8 or 10 weeks of income, perhaps less. Third, you need to stretch out your cashflow by growing crops that yield as early and as late in the season as possible. Small market gardens can't compete with the factory farms on price or volume you have to compete on quality. I will assume you aren't growing anything as a commodity. This means you are growing a complex polyculture using sustainable methods. Second, you are operating an organic high income market garden. Be aware of the labour cost of your crops - even if you are doing all the picking yourself. ![]() For example, green salad mix (mesclun) is a high-value crop on a per square foot basis, but the cost to pick and clean and dry it before packaging is also high. In other words net income is more important than gross income. Planning assumptions for the high income market gardenįirst, its not what you make, its what you keep. Here are some suggestions for the most profitable crops to grow in your market garden: It's possible to gross $40,000 or more from a one-acre garden, but achieving this revenue depends on careful crop selection, good marketing, and efficient work methods. Growing a high income market garden is within the reach of most growers. ![]()
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