Succession planting is a gardening technique focused on maximizing productivity by managing the timing and space of crops to ensure a continuous harvest rather than a single, overwhelming glut. The method involves planting smaller amounts of crops at timed intervals throughout the season, allowing vegetables to reach maturity sequentially. By constantly replacing harvested plants with new ones, this practice maintains high productivity and extends the harvest period significantly. This systematic approach allows gardeners to consume produce at the same rate it is harvested, minimizing waste.
Strategic Planning and Crop Selection
Successful continuous harvesting begins with comprehensive planning that accounts for the entire growing window. This window is defined by the date of your last expected spring frost and the first expected autumn frost. Understanding the length of this frost-free period determines how many successive crops can be planted. This planning requires selecting appropriate crops, particularly those that mature quickly and are harvested only once.
Fast-maturing vegetables are the backbone of a successful succession plan, including radishes, loose-leaf lettuce, bush beans, and arugula. For every selected variety, the Days to Maturity (DTM) listed on the seed packet must be identified, as this metric is the fundamental unit for all timing calculations. DTM indicates the estimated number of days from planting until the first harvest is ready, typically ranging from 20 to 60 days for fast crops. Careful selection of varieties with shorter DTMs allows for more planting cycles within the growing season.
Staggering Planting Intervals
The most straightforward method of succession planting involves making repeated, small sowings of the same vegetable at regular intervals. This ensures that a new batch reaches peak ripeness just as the previous one finishes producing. This technique relies entirely on the crop’s DTM to calculate the appropriate time gap between plantings. The goal is to divide the crop’s total maturity time into smaller chunks that reflect a household’s consumption rate.
To calculate the interval, take the crop’s DTM and divide it by the number of successions desired, typically three or four, to determine the planting frequency. For example, if a bush bean variety has a DTM of 60 days, dividing by four suggests a planting interval of approximately 15 days. Sowing a small row of beans every 15 days means the first set is ready around day 60, and the second set is ready 15 days later, creating a near-seamless supply. This staggered timing ensures a steady yield of one particular vegetable.
Maximizing Space with Varietal Rotation
While staggering planting times addresses the harvest calendar, maximizing physical space requires more advanced techniques involving varietal rotation and spatial overlap. One effective method is relay planting, which involves sowing the subsequent crop directly into the space occupied by the current, nearly mature crop. For instance, a gardener might sow seeds for a fall cabbage crop between the rows of summer onions just weeks before harvest. When the onions are pulled, the young cabbage seedlings are immediately exposed to full sunlight, minimizing downtime in the plot.
Another powerful technique is intercropping, where crops with vastly different habits and maturity times are grown side-by-side in the same space. Quick-maturing crops, such as radishes or salad greens, can be planted in empty spaces around slower-growing plants like tomatoes or peppers. The fast crops are harvested and removed before the main crops grow large enough to demand the full area and light resources. Varietal rotation can also be achieved by planting different DTM varieties of the same vegetable simultaneously. For instance, planting a 45-day, a 60-day, and a 75-day variety of summer squash on the same day naturally staggers the harvest over a month-long period.
Ongoing Soil Preparation and Maintenance
Maintaining a rapid succession schedule requires that the soil be prepared immediately after a harvest for the next planting. The first action is to clear the spent crop, either by pulling the entire plant or cutting it off at the soil line. Leaving the roots to decompose adds organic matter, but clearing must be done promptly to keep the planting schedule moving forward.
The newly cleared plot must then be quickly amended to replenish the nutrients removed by the previous crop. Incorporating a thin layer of nutrient-rich material, such as aged compost or a balanced granular fertilizer, provides energy for the new seedlings. Speed is paramount, as any delay in soil preparation directly impacts the DTM calculation for the next succession. Finally, the newly sown area requires consistent watering to ensure optimal seed germination and maintain the continuous harvest cycle.