Crops with the biggest "profit"

This is really difficult for me to answer in a clear manner. Simply put, the only edibles that we grow are difficult to find in the shops, or too expensive when we do. There is only one real exceptions to this, and thats strawberries. The ones that we have are an old german variety that were first planted in the garden over 60 years ago. Even if that variety is still available, I could never be certain tht they were identical in taste, etc.

All of the other things we grow are used for various recipes, more often than not older ones. Although newer ones are used on occasion.

To give a list of what are grown here and their uses. Other than strawberries. Buckthorn (for jam). Gooseberries (tarts, etc). Cherries (cakes). Gooseberries (tarts, crumbles etc.). Redcurrants (for an old Swedish recipe called a "slice". Chokeberries, which together with strawberries make a good pie. Rhubarb ( crumbles). Quince ( for cotognata). Rowanberries (they make a jelly to go with the Easter lamb).

 

I'd like to add to the general consensus of growing what you like to eat, what's best freshly picked or hard to buy, plants that are just too interesting or fun not to try.

I have grown Agretti (most successful, but tastes dull), Chia (very handsome plants and the seeds were free from The Teenager's trendy cuisine stash), Cucamelons (baby sparrows loved the fruitlets ), mini Gherkins, and several indoors edibles such as Tree Basil (looks like a bunch of overgrown nettles slightly wilted) and Dragon Fruit (I know why they are called Dragon fruit now). Even if the nutritional side is slim pickings, just growing something for fun is great. And you never know if a new favourite plant or foodstuff might emerge.

By far the best cost-effort success is with Chives. A £1 supermarket plant is now several large groups that require zero maintenance, are not attacked by any pests, flower freely and provide handfuls of the stuff that we love to eat. A bunch chopped and mixed into sour cream goes with everything.

 

@shiney
I don't think will ever be a problem in our garden. We have about 600m^2 of land, but half of that is easily occupied by our house, garage, porch and driveway. And half of the remaining land is my wife's holy lawn. So there is about 150m^2 left for growing whatever I like (as long as my wife agrees with it ).

I try to keep it simple and easy to maintain, while also considering the birds and bees. With lots of neighbors tending to more "civilized" gardens, I prefer plants that feed a lot of different visitors.

 

Purple sprouting broccoli fresh from the garden, even if it takes 9 months or so from planting to cropping, is hard to beat; shop bought is pricey and invariably limp. Also makes a pleasant snack raw while working near it.
Sweet corn is another crop best picked immediately before cooking. In my case a few minutes in the microwave.

 

Fresh picked purple sprouting is a favourite. I sowed mine in April 2020 and we are harvesting it now. Although it's a long time growing it doesn't suffer from slug damage being a tall plant. I did have our 2 rows netted through the summer.
I guess the most profitable crop we grew though was the runner beans, we had bucket loads every week during August and September.