Discipline 03 · Vegetables & Herbs
Vegetable & Herb Horticulture
The production of vegetables, salad, herbs and roots in field, protected and home-garden systems.
Scope4 work areas
Measured by4 metrics
Standards3 references
Regions16
Palette75 regional entries
What practitioners deliver
- Crop planning, rotation and successional sowing.
- Soil fertility, compost and irrigation scheduling.
- Protected cropping: polytunnel, greenhouse and cloche.
- Harvest, storage and seed saving.
What is measured
- Yield in kg per m² per crop.
- Days to maturity from sowing or transplanting.
- Rotation interval for each crop family.
- Soil organic matter and pH, tested every 3–4 years.
Standards and bodies
USDA Organic · EU Organic · GlobalG.A.P.
Across 16 regions
| Region | Climate | Taxa | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Europe Cfb · 7–9 | Temperate oceanic | 5 | Field guide |
| Continental Europe Dfb / Dfa · 4–7 | Humid continental | 4 | Region |
| Nordic & Boreal Dfc / ET · 1–5 | Subarctic and alpine | 4 | Region |
| Mediterranean Csa / CSb · 8–11 | Mediterranean | 5 | Region |
| US Northeast Dfb / Dfa · 3–7 | Humid continental | 4 | Region |
| Pacific Northwest Csb · 7–9 | Warm-summer Mediterranean | 4 | Region |
| California & Southwest Csa / BWh / BSh · 5–11 | Mediterranean and arid | 5 | Region |
| US Southeast Cfa · 7–11 | Humid subtropical | 5 | Field guide |
| Tropical Latin America Af / Am / Aw · 11–13 | Tropical | 4 | Region |
| Andes & South America Cfb / Csb / ETH · 6–10 | Temperate and highland | 4 | Region |
| Africa Aw / BSh / Csa · 9–12 | Tropical savanna, highland and Mediterranean Cape | 6 | Region |
| Middle East BWh / BSh / Csa · 7–11 | Arid and semi-arid | 4 | Region |
| South Asia Am / Aw / Cwa · 8–13 | Monsoon tropical and subtropical | 8 | Region |
| Southeast Asia Af / Am · 11–13 | Equatorial | 5 | Region |
| East Asia Cfa / Dwa / Dfb · 4–10 | Temperate monsoon | 4 | Region |
| Australasia Cfb / Cfa / BWh · 7–11 | Temperate and arid | 4 | Region |
FAQ
How much should I plant?
For a household of four, a 10 m² bed of mixed salad, herbs and roots is a realistic start; a 4 × 8 ft raised bed is enough for herbs and salad, not for a year of potatoes.
Why rotate crops?
To stop soil-borne disease and pests building up in one bed. Move plant families on a 3–4 year cycle and record what grew where.
What can I grow in a container?
Salad, herbs, chilli, dwarf tomato and strawberries work in 20–30 litre pots; roots and brassicas need more depth and space.