Pros & cons of crop diversification for indoor farmers

New farmers often struggle with crop diversity. There’s always a temptation to pick and choose twenty of your favorite greens and veggies without concern for pests, viable growing methods, and market research. This can leave farmers overwhelmed, with no customers, and with pest problems.

Some new farmers go for a high-value monocrop, and open up the possibility of exhausting demand. If combined with poor pest control, they also run the risk of losing their entire operation’s yield at once.

To address all of these issues, Upstart University has enlisted some farming professionals who have been in the trenches to give the best advice regarding crop diversity.

Matt Marsh of American Heartland Acres, Tom Deacon of Fable/Farm to Table, and Nick Burton of State of the Soil, lend their experience with diverse growing situations.

Upstart University sorted the tips and insight on both approaches (monocropping and polycropping) into these factors: learning curve, sales, logistics, and pests.

Both approaches offer advantages and challenges. Read on to learn more.