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Crop Yield Estimates for Vegetables

This question frequently arises: "Do you have yield estimates for vegetables?".

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Updated:

March 22, 2023

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Photo: Elsa Sanchez, Penn State

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It is a difficult question to answer because many factors affect yields, including cultivar; nutrient, irrigation, and pest management; plant spacing; weather conditions; and more.

Since 2008, a group of Extension educators and specialists have been evaluating cultivars of various vegetables in western (Indiana County), central (Pennsylvania Furnace), and southeastern (Manheim) Pennsylvania. We have developed a table of averages and ranges of the yields we collected to estimate expected yields.

When using the table, it's essential to look at the production methods we used in our experiments. This information is key. It's impossible to relate the values to your situation without knowing the production protocols. For example, we used a plasticulture system with raised rows, a single line of drip tape, and black plastic mulch to grow our acorn squash. Suppose you are growing your acorn squash on bare, flat ground and relying only on rainfall to supply water or are growing into a cover crop mulch as part of a reduced tillage system. In that case, the values may not apply to your situation.

Yield estimates by crop

The table below lists averages and ranges for marketable and total yields per plant in pounds and numbers for muskmelon, bell pepper, pumpkin, winter squash, and sweet corn. Averages and ranges for head weight and diameter are listed for broccoli. Click on each crop to see the growing methods we used.

Crop/ Production Methods	¹AVG MKT YLD/ plant (LBS.)	¹AVG MKT YLD/ plant (No.)	²AVG TTL YLD/ plant (LBS.)	²AVG TTL YLD/ plant (No.)	³RNG MKT YLD/ plant (LBS.)	³RNG MKT YLD/ plant (No.)	⁴RNG TTL YLD/ plant (LBS.)	⁴RNG TTL YLD/ plant (No.)
Muskmelon (cantaloupe)	1.6	0.93	1.9	3.8	0– 4.0	0– 4.7	0– 6.72	0– 9.63
Peppers, Green bell	3.9	9.8	4.4	11	1.3– 6.3	4.25– 14.7	1.4– 5.8	4.5– 16.5
Pumpkin	38.5	2.1	–	2.2	21.8– 61.0	1.1– 3.3	–	1.3– 3.3
Squash, Acorn	12	7.4	12.9	8.2	5.9– 24.2	3.0– 15.1	6.0– 26.0	3.5– 15.7
Squash, Buttercup/ kabocha	10.6	3.2	14.1	4.3	1.8– 26.6	0.5– 13.4	4.1– 32.9	1.8– 16.0
Squash, Butternut	15.9	5.4	18.8	7	9.9– 28.7	2.5– 7.9	9.9– 38.0	2.8– 10.3
Sweet corn, synergistic, white, and bicolor	0.7	0.93	0.72	0.98	0.24– 1.1	0.58– 1.0	0.24– 1.1	0.37– 1.1