[RareAGcoinz]

What is the best edible plants to grow for own consumption not resale, that have the most edible flesh with the least waste?

[Alex_]

That's a tricky question. Are you trying to grow your food in a small area and want to get the most food from your beds?

I would go with potatoes and as they grow you add more dirt to the plant you can get a lot of food in a smaller area and it worked well for Matt Damon.

If you are trying to do this in a small area. Any climbing plants work well (in small spaces you have to go vertical)

[farmershort]

yeah, spuds and corgettes (zuchini) have got to up there in the top 10. Also runner beans.

A man (or woman) cannot live on those alone though. are you going for 100% self-sufficiency on food? Where are you trying to grow? No point trying to raise high yield exotics if we're talking about the top of a hill in cumbria.

[pgkevet]

What is the best edible plants to grow for own consumption not resale, that have the most edible flesh with the least waste?

As the others have said... but if specifically most flesh with zero waste then with spuds you don't eat the skin - so toms, peppers, cues you can eat it all. For most yield in a small area, but you'ld never grow it UK, then a breadfruit has to be up there: a 3foot wide truck with more than a ton of carbs  . Apples, pears, sweet chestnut (porridge) 'cos i have to add a nut. All soft fruit.

There's an argument for not bothering growing cheap to buy stuff like spuds and brassicas when you work out the hourly costs on a small plot and sticking with the more expensive crops. Horses for courses.

[doganjo]

What is the best edible plants to grow for own consumption not resale, that have the most edible flesh with the least waste?

As the others have said... but if specifically most flesh with zero waste then with spuds you don't eat the skin - so toms, peppers, cues you can eat it all. For most yield in a small area, but you'ld never grow it UK, then a breadfruit has to be up there: a 3foot wide truck with more than a ton of carbs  . Apples, pears, sweet chestnut (porridge) 'cos i have to add a nut. All soft fruit.

There's an argument for not bothering growing cheap to buy stuff like spuds and brassicas when you work out the hourly costs on a small plot and sticking with the more expensive crops. Horses for courses.

Why wouldn't you eat potato skins - very good for you and very tasty

[Fleecewife]

What is the best edible plants to grow for own consumption not resale, that have the most edible flesh with the least waste?

As the others have said... but if specifically most flesh with zero waste then with spuds you don't eat the skin - so toms, peppers, cues you can eat it all. For most yield in a small area, but you'ld never grow it UK, then a breadfruit has to be up there: a 3foot wide truck with more than a ton of carbs  . Apples, pears, sweet chestnut (porridge) 'cos i have to add a nut. All soft fruit.

There's an argument for not bothering growing cheap to buy stuff like spuds and brassicas when you work out the hourly costs on a small plot and sticking with the more expensive crops. Horses for courses.

Why wouldn't you eat potato skins - very good for you and very tasty

Absolutely  .  The skin, and just under it, is where the most vitamin type nutrients of a potato are to be found.  All they need is a good scrub to clean off the soil.  Roughage 


Going back to the OP: << What is the best edible plants to grow for own consumption not resale, that have the most edible flesh with the least waste?>>we need a whole lot more info before we can make any helpful suggestions.  Whereabouts are you?  Do you have any experience of growing for eating?  This message is posted in 'Fruit', so is it just fruit you are interested in or veggies and fruit together?  What do you like?  There's not a whole lot of point in growing stuff which no-one in your family will eat. How many folk will you be growing for? What is your garden area?

[pgkevet]

Why wouldn't you eat potato skins - very good for you and very tasty

I forget the rest of you don't have endemic scab to cope with

[Fleecewife]

Why wouldn't you eat potato skins - very good for you and very tasty

I forget the rest of you don't have endemic scab to cope with

Nothing wrong with scabby skins - just rub off the scarry bits and the rest is fine.  My potato brush has a ridgy bit on the back which is perfect for that sort of blemish.

[Marches Farmer]

I agree with Fleecewife - lots more info needed before practical suggestions can be put forward from experienced growers.

[Penninehillbilly]

Certainly spuds, early/ second early, I think most root crops, onions, i struggle with brassicas, too much work/protection needed.
Runner beans can have a fantastic crop depending on weather,  soil preparation.
Also main thing is what do you like to eat?
And where you live ?

[Penninehillbilly]

Just seen you've tried to change the heading to fruit ?
If that's right maybe amend your first post to say which you mean ?
Soft fruit would be the quickest, but birds would be a problem.
Apples ? Plums ?