13 Most Profitable (and Surprising) Greenhouse Crops

Greenhouse farming allows a conducive way to farm crops under ideal conditions and is considered one of the most profitable types of farming, earning an average profit of $11,000 to $20,000 each year. This article will enumerate which crops thrive best in a greenhouse environment to help you start your greenhouse farm and earn a sum of money out of it.

The most profitable greenhouse crops are tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, spinach, herbs, strawberries, microgreens, onions, kale, peas, string beans, and garlic. Growing these crops in greenhouse conditions can earn you more than in the field. Crops grown in greenhouses have high quality, which makes them profitable.

Now let's learn more about how these greenhouse crops give maximum returns and why these crops are the best choices among others.

13 Greenhouse Crops With The Highest Returns

Greenhouses are profitable because they can extend the seasons of planted crops since the weather conditions can be controlled. Since the environment in greenhouses is controlled, pests and diseases are rare, which allows for good growth and the production of high-quality crops.

We all know that one factor that raises the value of crops is their high quality and freshness, which is achieved well in greenhouses.

Below is a list of crops that thrive well in a greenhouse farm and can let you earn a good amount of profit:

1. Tomatoes are the most common and profitable greenhouse crop.

Tomatoes are very common crops, not just in greenhouse farming but in the field as well. They are planted for various reasons, such as their popularity in the market. A high demand for tomatoes is seen in the market since they are used daily in a variety of cuisines.

Tomatoes are more profitable than other crops since they are prolific. They also have many varieties, such as cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and vine-grown tomatoes, which adds to their appeal. Aside from this, they are easy to grow, and they are fertile producers - which means that a plant can produce a bunch of fruits in a season.

Tomatoes thrive well in a temperature-controlled area such as a greenhouse. A higher yield can be expected if they are properly planted, spaced out, and supported in a greenhouse setting.

2. Lettuce comes in second as a profitable greenhouse crop.

You won’t be surprised if lettuce makes it onto the list of the most profitable greenhouse crops since this crop has great demand in the market. From being a salad ingredient, it has made its way into burgers, which are almost everyone’s favorite meal.

This popularity makes lettuce profitable, plus you can supply it to local restaurants and price it nicely. Lettuce is also a profitable greenhouse crop because of the following characteristics: it is easy to grow, has varieties such as cut and head lettuce, and is considered a hardy vegetable.

3. Peppers are a challenging greenhouse crop but are very profitable.

Peppers are the most difficult greenhouse crop to grow, but the challenge they pose is worth it because they are quite profitable. There are two types of peppers: sweet peppers and chili peppers, and both have high market demand.

The profitable factor for peppers is that they easily wither, so most of the chili peppers, for example, that you see in grocery stores look dried already. But chili peppers from greenhouse farms have the juiciest and freshest products, which customers will most likely purchase. You can supply these peppers to the local market and get a good return on your investment.

4. Cucumbers are versatile crops that make them profitable.

Cucumbers make a good crop for greenhouse farms because of their availability, quick maturation period, and ability to grow well in vertical spaces. They also produce over a long period of time, which means you’ll have a fresh supply of cucumbers to sell on the market for a long period of time.

Cucumbers are versatile crops, and their high market demand makes them profitable. They are in demand for various purposes, ranging from salad ingredients and a side dish to being used as a skin care regimen.

5. Spinach grows well in greenhouses and makes good cash in return.

Spinach is considered one of the best cash crops for market gardens and greenhouse farms. When you grow them in greenhouses, you keep them from direct sunlight, which makes their growth and quality even better.

The profitable characteristic of spinach is that when you cut it, it will just grow back quickly, so you are able to sell an unlimited number of spinach leaves from the same plant per season. Spinach sells for its taste and freshness, and the high demand for it is mostly for making baby food.

6. Herbs have high demand in the market, which makes them profitable.

Herbs are used both in cooking and for medicinal purposes, which is why they are always in demand. But what makes them profitable is the fact they are easy to grow, don’t need much attention, and can be grown in small spaces.

Some of the most commonly known herbs are basil, chives, thyme, rosemary, sage, cilantro, mint, and parsley. They can either be sold dried or fresh.

7. Strawberries surprisingly thrive in greenhouses and are very profitable.

Although not commonly known, strawberries are another good choice if you plan to make a profit out of your greenhouse farm. In-season strawberries are cheap, and although planting them has a few challenges such as pest management and pollination, once overcome, strawberries can be sold at high prices.

They are profitable because of their high market demand; they are used in foods such as jams and cakes and are a favorite beverage flavor. Greenhouse-grown strawberries also have superior qualities compared to field-grown.

8. Microgreens are a good choice of crop to earn profit from in greenhouses.

Microgreens are young seedlings of vegetables and herbs that are small and tender and sold at high prices in restaurants. Microgreens grow well in greenhouses. They can be harvested in 2 to 4 weeks, which makes them a lucrative choice for your greenhouse farm.

Microgreens have been the latest trend for health-conscious people these days, as they are jam-packed with nutrients and have a milder taste than their matured versions.

9. Garlic is an all-year-round crop, which is why it is profitable.

Garlic is an all-year-round crop, which means you’ll never run out of supply to sell. This makes garlic profitable, aside from the fact that it is easy to grow and has a high demand.

Planting garlic in small-scale farms such as greenhouses allows you to maximize your space and reduce other farming risks. At the same time, it can earn you a good amount of profit.

10. Onions are a good crop choice for greenhouses and can earn you good cash.

Almost all dishes have onions as their first and main ingredient, which is why they have huge market demand. But aside from cooking purposes, onions also have medicinal value and a long storage life, which adds to their profitability factor.

11. Kale is also a profitable greenhouse crop.

What makes kale a profitable greenhouse crop is that it’s easy to plant, easy to manage, and very easy to sell. They also have high demand as they are used as ingredients in almost every salad mix. Kale is also good to intercrop with other greenhouse crops.

12. Pea plants are well suited to a greenhouse and create good profit in return.

The suitability of pea plants in greenhouses is attributed to their cold-tolerant characteristics, which make them a better option than other vegetables. The ability of pea plants to grow vertically makes them a good greenhouse crop too, as in this way you can maximize the space with other crops and get larger crop yields.

Aside from this, growing pea plants in a greenhouse setup allows an all-year-round pea production.

13. String beans are one of the most profitable greenhouse crops.

String beans are one of the easiest crops to grow. They also don’t take up much space since they grow vertically. Planting string beans every 1 or 2 weeks can give you a consistent yield in the long run, which makes string beans a lucrative additional crop for your greenhouse setup.