Herb Garden Yield Calculator

Select your herb type, enter the number of plants you are growing, choose your growing method (container, raised bed, or in-ground), and indicate your sunlight hours, season length, and care level. The more accurate your inputs, the more realistic your yield estimate will be.

Yield is estimated using a base yield per plant for each herb type, adjusted by growing method, sunlight availability, care level, and season length. Herbs grown in full sun with high care in raised beds or in-ground plots typically yield 30–50% more than container-grown herbs with minimal care.

Results are realistic estimates based on typical growing conditions. Actual yields vary with local climate, soil quality, pest pressure, and specific cultivar. Use the calculator as a planning guide rather than a guaranteed output figure.

Yes — simply select 'Container / Pot' as your growing method. The calculator applies a yield adjustment that reflects the smaller root zone and slightly reduced production typical of potted herbs compared to raised beds or garden plots.

Most soft herbs like basil, mint, and chives can be harvested every 2–3 weeks during the growing season, allowing 6–10 cuts. Woody herbs like rosemary and sage grow more slowly and typically yield 3–5 harvests per season. The calculator estimates this automatically based on your herb selection and season length.

Yields vary widely by herb. Mint and chives are very productive, yielding 8–16 oz per plant per season under good conditions. Basil typically yields 6–12 oz. Rosemary and thyme grow more slowly at 3–6 oz per plant. Container growing and low sunlight reduce these figures by 20–40%.

The most effective methods are maximising sunlight (6+ hours daily), harvesting regularly to encourage bushy regrowth, fertilising every 3–4 weeks, and ensuring adequate water drainage. Raised beds and in-ground plots generally outperform containers because roots have more room to spread.

The calculator estimates total seasonal yield based on your inputs. For succession planting, you can run multiple estimates with different season length values — for example, staggering two batches of cilantro or basil — and add the results together to model a continuous harvest strategy.