You do not need to weigh every leaf to learn which crops earn their space.
Choose a useful measure
Decide what you want to understand: quantity, timing, kitchen use or the work involved. A consistent unit such as a weighed harvest is useful where practical, but a record of usable portions can answer a household question too. Describe the method so a later comparison is fair. “One basket” means little if the basket size or how tightly it is filled keeps changing.
Include the part you did not use
Record what was eaten, shared, stored or lost. A large harvest that repeatedly goes unused may be less valuable to the household than a smaller crop that arrives at a useful time. Note the reason for losses without turning every record into a diagnosis. Delayed picking, an unwanted variety and weather damage point towards different next-season decisions.
Compare a whole season
Link each crop to the space, approximate effort and purchase costs it used. Avoid declaring a variety best after a single good week. Weather and other changes limit what a one-season comparison can establish. Use the log to choose a few practical adjustments: less of a glut-prone crop, an earlier check during harvest or a different planting quantity. Keep successful timing and quantities as well as the disappointments.
Your practical checklist
- Use a consistent unit and identify the variety.
- Record when the harvest was useful.
- Include losses and the observed reason.
- Make only a few clear changes at season’s end.
The next useful decision
Grow more when the log shows useful demand and manageable effort. High gross yield alone does not establish that a crop deserves more of the plot.
Sources & further reading
Primary references for the principles and context discussed here. Our planning method and worked example are original editorial material. Check the source relevant to your location; official requirements and conditions can change.
Prepared with AI assistance. First published 23 October 2026. Edition dates organise this 2026 catalogue; they do not indicate an earlier publication or separate fact-check. Read our Editorial Policy. This is general educational information; specialist, veterinary and local regulatory questions need appropriate advice.
