What Does Maximum Yield Mean?
Maximum yield refers to a plant’s maximum amount of crop output or produce production. Maximum yield is a common expression used by all levels of gardeners who are striving towards the highest plant production levels possible.
Maximum yield encompasses things like faster plant growth and maturation, larger yields of fruits/vegetables, and longer production cycles, all of which can be achieved by using a wide range of different methods, depending on the growing set-up/system being used and the skills of the grower.
New growers usually first concern themselves with growing healthy plants. Once they become skilled and develop some tricks, they are more likely to concern themselves with maximizing their yields. In other words, to seek maximum yield is to make sure plants not just survive, but thrive and grow to the best of their genetic abilities.
Maximum Yield Explains Maximum Yield
Humans have cultivated plants for tens of thousands of years in an attempt to feed ourselves and the animals we care for. Whether we’re talking about cucumbers, wheat, tomatoes, squash, or something else, humans have invested immense time and effort in attempting to reach maximum yield.
Maximum yield is a term that implies a plant matured quickly, filled out as much as possible, and yielded significant amounts of food. Quite a few methods can be used to achieve maximum yield.
Plant nutrition is one of the most important aspects of achieving maximum yield. This can be as simple as applying 10-10-10 to an in-ground garden bed, or as complicated as creating the right nutrient mix for a hydroponic system.
Light is another consideration – even plants grown outdoors must be planted in areas that receive the ideal amount of sunlight throughout the day for growth and development. Indoors, artificial lighting can be used at different brightness levels during each stage of growth to speed maturation.
Other methods of achieving maximum yield can include trellising for vining crops like cucumbers, staking for tomatoes, pest control of all types (ranging from applying commercial sprays to hand-removing pests individually) and more. Pruning methods, growing and plant manipulation (SCROG, for instance), and other techniques can all play a role in achieving maximum yield of a particular plant or group of plants. Proper environmental control is also essential, as well as timely transplanting, and CO2 supplementation.
