10 Tips to Increase the Yield of your Garden

10 Tips to Increase the Yield of Your Garden


When growing edibles in your garden, most people would like to harvest as much food as possible for as little time spent working.  Many people do not have as much space as they would like or need to grow everything they want to have either, so maximizing the yield produced by your garden becomes desirable.  Abundance begets prosperity, so striving for higher yields makes a more prosperous garden.  Also, the bigger your harvest, the less you spend at the grocery and the more you can give to friends.  The following are ten tips aimed at achieving higher yields for the edibles grown in your garden: 

 

1.  Plant High-Yielding Crops.  

 high yield plants

This can be different depending on the area you live in, so check what grows best in your area.  Some typical high-yield vegetables are tomato plants (especially cherry varieties), beans and peas, basil and other herbs, blueberries, leaf lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, carrots, peppers, and cucumbers.

 

2. Plant in Blocks or Triangles.

 block planting

This can maximize your space and produce better yields than growing in rows.  There is less wasted space on pathways and you can fit more plants in a smaller area.  Be sure not to bunch them too tight though.

 

3. Vertical Gardening.

 vertical gardening

Vertical gardening can save a lot of space by growing up instead of out.  Many vertical growing crops are high yielding as well.  Beans and peas can be harvested as they are ready and will regrow quickly after they are plucked.  Using a trellis is typical.

 

4. Arching the Soil in Box Planters.

 raised bed gardening

By packing the soil in box planters into an arc, more space is created than the dimensions of the box itself.  This allows more plants to be grown in the same amount of space a box planter takes up.

 

5. Use Compost.

 compost

Using compost in your garden is extremely beneficial for the health of the plants.  Compost is very nutrient-rich, and plants grow stronger and yield more when compost is utilized in the garden.

 

6. Succession Planting.

 succession planting

This makes efficient use of space and timing.  There are four basic approaches, and some can be combined:

 

  • Two or more crops in succession (plant another crop in the same space after the previous one is harvested)
  • Same crop, successive plantings (stagger smaller plantings at timed intervals)
  • Two or more crops simultaneously (Non-competing crops, intercropping, and companion planting)
  • Same crop, different maturity dates (varieties with different maturity dates to ensure a continual harvest over the season)

 

7. Germinate Indoors.

 germinated seeds, indoor sprouting

A great way to get ahead on your harvest time is to germinate seeds indoors.  You can get your plants sprouted right before its warm enough to plant outside.  This will cut down on the time it takes your plants to yield.

 

8. Use Mulch.

 mulch, garden mulch

The right mulch will retain moisture in the soil, stunt or eliminate weed growth, and help increase the yields of your garden.  Mulch also decomposes into the soil, enriching it with nutrients.

 

9. Pinch and Prune.

 pinching plants, pruning plants

Pinching and pruning your plants will help increase yields by removing excess foliage and flowers.  This lets your plants concentrate on producing fruit instead of using energy growing and maintaining foliage.  This also helps train the plants to grow how you want them to.  

 

10. Replant Roots.

 replanting roots, root planting

Replanting the roots of harvested plants cuts down on growth time and encourages quicker maturity.  The plant uses less energy building roots and can focus more on growth and production. 

 

  

 

 

 

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