Succession Planting Secrets: 5 Crops to Keep Your Harvest Going All Summer

By: Ashleigh Smith for True Leaf Market

Spring is here and will soon be transitioning into summer. As you harvest your spring crops, you may consider extending your harvest by succession planting. This is when you plant a single crop multiple times over a span of time. This allows you to gather a healthy harvest throughout the season without being overwhelmed and left searching for ways to preserve your bounty before it spoils. It can also allow you to better tend to temperature-sensitive crops like leafy greens that may become bitter or bolt in the summer heat. Interested in learning more? Check out these growing tips and seed recommendations for succession planting into the summer season!

What is Succession Planting?

As mentioned earlier, succession planting is simply the practice of sowing seeds in small batches over time. This may include sowing the same crop, or replacing it with a different one following a quick harvest. Succession planting can also be paired with the practice of intercropping. This is when you sow different plants side by side. This works best when you pair a long-season crop with a quick-to-mature one. While the crop that is slower to develop continues to grow, you can benefit from a fast harvest. The best plants for intercropping are cool-season crops like leafy greens and root crops that will be ready to be removed within 1-2 months. By planting a few seeds now and a few more in a week or two, you can continue to harvest tasty and healthy vegetables without them expiring into bitter or bolting growth. Enjoy the full potential of your garden by succession planting the crops mentioned below.

Best Vegetables for Succession Planting:

1. Leafy Greens - Crops including lettuce, arugula, and spinach thrive in the cool spring months. But planting them all at once can limit your harvest potential, as they are also quick to spoil. By succession planting leafy greens, you can harvest a fresh and sweet batch week after week. Plus, they make great fillers around summer vegetables that will take several weeks to fill in.
2. Root Crops - Radishes, carrots, and beets are highly underrated. While these vegetables can remain fit for consumption for days and even weeks after harvesting, you don’t need to forgo their delightful fresh flavor when used straight out of the garden. Plant root crops 2-3 weeks apart. Once the summer weather sets in, try filling the space they once took up with summer cucumbers or squashes.
3. Bush Beans - While pole beans will continue to produce throughout the season, bush beans are best planted in batches for a continual harvest. This can be especially beneficial for gardeners utilizing containers or growing an edible landscape. Bush beans make a great border plant grown in succession for a productive and aesthetically appealing landscape.
4. Herbs - While some herbs like basil are used a clump at a time, others like cilantro simply can’t handle the heat. Both basil, cilantro, along with others like dill are perfect candidates for succession planting because you can enjoy a healthy, young harvest with the security of having more in development for future cutting.
5. Green Onions - Some vegetables are commonly used in bulk amounts. However, bunching green onions are typically used a bit more sparingly. Consider growing them in small batches a few weeks apart for a fresh harvest you don’t have to worry about going bad before you have the chance to use them.

Timing Tips for a Continuous Harvest

When choosing how frequently you plant a new batch of succession crops, consider your weekly use of a particular vegetable, how long it takes to mature, how well it stores, and your growing conditions. While root crop harvests may stay good for several days and weeks after being removed from the ground, leafy greens can quickly spoil. Consider planting vegetables like radishes or carrots 2-3 times this spring, with a period of 2-3 weeks between sowing. Grow your leafy greens, including lettuce and spinach, more frequently with only a week between sowing. As the warmer weather approaches, evaluate how well your growing space fits your crops. You may consider utilizing containers in partial sun areas to continue growing cool-season favorites.

Succession Planting in Small Spaces

Most crops can be grown in small spaces with the right considerations. Be sure to match your crops with containers that are large enough to accommodate their root structures and support healthy growth. Because containers often dry out more quickly than traditional gardens, we recommend using a water-retentive soil mix. To grow using the succession planting practice in container spaces, pair long and short root crops together. This will allow you to repeatedly plant and harvest short-root crops without interfering with the healthy development of other plants in the same container. For example, loose-leaf lettuce can be paired with pole beans. As the beans stretch upward on a trellis, the leaf lettuce expands over the soil surface.

Growing a productive garden doesn’t have to require a lot of space or time. Succession planting is the key to unlocking your garden’s full potential. Enjoy your favorite vegetables all season long by planting in batches, adjusting with the seasons, and timing your harvest windows. For greater control over your harvesting potential, consider using season-extending tools like shade cloth and floating row covers to grow cool-season crops further into the summer and fall months. Happy harvesting!

About the Author:

Ashleigh Smith is the Managing Editor at True Leaf Market with a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. True Leaf Market is a nationally certified organic, non-GMO seed and horticultural company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The True Leaf Market staff specializes in supplying a large selection of conventional, heirloom, and organic seeds to home gardeners everywhere. Learn more about our seeds, supplies, and other growing ideas: www.trueleafmarket.com.

All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.

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