Crop Yield Calculator

UK crop yields vary by crop type, soil quality, region, weather and farming practices. Average yields in recent years: winter wheat 8.0–8.5 t/ha, winter barley 6.5–7.0 t/ha, spring barley 5.5–6.0 t/ha, oilseed rape 3.0–3.5 t/ha and potatoes 40–45 t/ha. These figures come from Defra's annual harvest reports.

This calculator estimates total yield and gross output value based on your field area, crop type and expected yield per hectare. You can adjust the yield figure to reflect your farm's historical performance or local conditions. It also shows the gross margin when you enter your variable costs per hectare.

Yield is affected by many factors including seed variety, sowing date, soil type, rainfall, fertiliser regime and pest/disease pressure. The calculator uses national averages as a baseline, which you can adjust upward or downward based on your own situation.

UK home garden vegetable yields. Per m² annual yield estimates: tomatoes 8-15kg; potatoes 2-3kg; carrots 3-5kg; onions 2-3kg; courgettes 5-10kg (one plant!); beans (climbing) 2-4kg; lettuce 2-3kg (multiple cuts); brassicas 2-4kg; rhubarb 2-3kg (perennial). High-yield crops per area: courgettes, tomatoes, beans, salad leaves. Low-yield per area: sweetcorn (1kg/m²), pumpkins (1 fruit per 2m²). Choose crops based on: family preference, growing conditions, time to manage.

Yield per plant — for planning. Tomato (cordon): 4-6kg per plant. Cucumber: 5-10kg per greenhouse plant. Pepper: 1-3kg per plant. Courgette: 8-15kg per plant (1-2 plants enough for family). French beans (climbing): 1-2kg per plant. Runner beans: 2-3kg per plant. Potato (early): 1-1.5kg per seed potato. Potato (maincrop): 2-3kg per seed potato. Onion sets: 1 onion per set (300g). Garlic: 1 bulb per clove planted (10-20× return).

Total UK home growing potential. 50 m² productive garden (typical UK back garden useful for veg): 200-400 kg/year fresh produce. Value: £400-£1,000/year at supermarket prices. Allotment standard 250 m² (10 rods): can produce £2,000-£4,000/year worth of food if intensively managed. National average UK allotment yields lower (£600-£1,500/year) due to part-time management. Self-sufficiency target: 200m² minimum for vegetables (excluding cereals, dairy, meat); 1+ acre for full self-sufficiency.

Improving yields with crop rotation. 4-bed rotation (standard UK): Bed 1 — Legumes (peas, beans, soya); Bed 2 — Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale); Bed 3 — Roots (carrots, parsnips, beetroot); Bed 4 — Potatoes/onions. Rotate clockwise yearly. Benefits: prevents pest buildup (clubroot, eelworms); manages nutrients (legumes fix N for brassicas); reduces fungal disease. Potatoes especially benefit from rotation — avoid same ground for 4+ years to prevent blight buildup.

Maximising space — UK kitchen garden techniques. Vertical: climbing beans, peas, indeterminate tomatoes save ground space. Succession planting: salad leaves, radishes, spinach — sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Intercropping: lettuce between slow brassicas; quick-growing crops in spaces. Polytunnel: 30-50% yield increase, extends season 6-8 weeks. Raised beds: better drainage, deeper soil, easier access. Companion planting: marigolds among tomatoes (pest deterrent); chives among carrots (carrot fly); basil and tomatoes flavour synergy.