Have you noticed that time seems to speed up when spring comes? That rush of weeding, building new beds, tending and transplanting seedings.
So much to do, yet this is the fun stuff for us gardeners.
One way to maximize your garden space is to evolve succession planting.
🌿 Have you explored the wonders of succession planting in your garden? If you seek a continual harvest and wish to maximize your yields, this technique could be a game-changer for you.
Succession planting isn’t just about planting once; it’s a strategic approach that keeps your garden brimming with life and produce throughout the year.
By staggering planting times, you ensure a steady supply of your favorite veggies, from carrots to radishes, turnips, beets, and even head lettuce.
Succession planting is a lifesaver for crops vulnerable to sudden weather shifts or diseases, like the delicate zucchini. If you are a canner, succession plant determinate tomatoes.
You can also succession plant bush beans.
If you like to can or freeze bush beans, eat loads fresh or have limited space, if your plants start to peter out, pull them and plant more.
🥕 When it comes to embracing this technique, there are two keys to succession planting abundance.
First is timing – 3 Steps to timing your succession planting
Start with one crop and choose what bed you will plant it in. (we’ll talk varietal choices in a bit). Consider how much of that crop you want to harvest every couple of weeks and designate enough space to cover that amount of plants.
Next, split that bed up into three or four sections. This is especially necessary for root crops. not as critical for fruiting crops.
For root crops, plant each section, of your three or four sections, two weeks after the last section you planted. For fruiting crops, you might remove plants that are no longer producing and replace them with new plants, or you might save space to add plants as the season progresses.
✨ Embrace the simplicity of succession planting, where your garden becomes a symphony of growth and harvest.
Second is varieties – Choosing varieties to succession plant
The varieties you choose make a big difference. So, you want to be sure they will grow and produce in the time you are giving them.
They key here is to choose shorter days-to-maturity varieties as they work best.
Consider these top favorites for your succession planting journey:
- Carrots: ‘Yaya’, ‘Danvers 126’
- Radishes: ‘Cherry Belle,’ ‘Purple Plum,’ ‘Pink Beauty’, ‘Helios’
- Turnips: ‘Purple Top White Globe,’ ‘Hakurei,’ ‘Golden Globe’
- Beets: ‘Detroit Dark Red,’ ‘Boro,’ ‘Boldor Golden.’
- Butter Head Lettuce: ‘Four Seasons’, ‘Pirat’
- Romain Lettuce: ‘Valamaine’, ‘Mayan Jaguar’, ‘Jericho’
- Zucchini: ‘Raven’, ‘Green Machine’, ‘Cash Machine’
- Tomatoes: ‘Oregon Spring’, ‘Little Napoli’, ‘Siletz’, ‘Rutgers’, ‘Gold Nugget’
- Bush Beans: ‘Maxibel’, ‘Jade’, ‘Blue Lake 274’
✨ Embrace the simplicity of succession planting, where your garden becomes a symphony of growth and harvest.
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