In a survival situation, growing vegetables for flavour and nutrients is important—but growing for calories is vital. Calories are energy, and without enough of them, even the most nutritious garden won’t sustain you for long. That’s why every prepper or self-sufficient gardener should carve out some space specifically for high-calorie crops.
High-calorie crops are the backbone of food security gardens. They're bulky, filling, and energy-rich—providing the fuel your body needs to work, think, and survive. They also tend to store well, making them ideal for preserving through winter.
Below is a breakdown of key high-calorie crops for UK growers, along with typical yield estimates from a 2.4m x 1.2m bed and the total calorie content of a full harvest. This allows you to directly compare which crops give the most energy per square metre.
Dry beans are varieties grown specifically to be harvested when the pods and seeds are fully mature and dried—unlike French or runner beans, which are eaten fresh. These beans are left on the plant until the pods dry and rattle, then shelled and stored.
They're one of the most calorie-dense crops you can grow and store for years if dried properly. Ideal for long-term food security and compact gardens.
With a yield of 3–4kg dried beans from one bed and around 347 kcal per 100g, these beans can provide over 13,000 calories from a single small space. That’s energy-dense growing at its best.