Succession Planting: Maximizing Yield and Seasonal Harvests in Your Vegetable Garden
Let’s make the most out of your garden! The thing is, when the word productive comes to mind, we usually think about people, not places or things. I am here to open your mind to the topic and let you know that your garden, too, can be productive. The secret of keeping your green space vibrant and ever-producing is succession planting.
If you look at the gardeners in the southern region, you can notice their planting conditions are almost perfect. But we want to garden here in Virginia! Gardening still requires a lot of careful planning and thinking – it is not something you jump into on a random Tuesday. Experienced gardeners, when the crop is spent and done, pull it out, fill the hole with compost and plant a new different crop in its place.
This process of rotating crops to recycle the space is also known as succession planting. People do this because it can increase the total yield dramatically and improve the overall quality of the fresh produce. There is nothing like snacking directly from a plant in the middle of the garden, am I right? And when you rotate in, especially after the season has come to an end, it’s actually just a new beginning!
Why should you practice succession planting?
At this point, you might be interested in knowing why this process is so important. Succession planting can bring more than personal satisfaction; it can improve your entire garden. The continuous seed starting may sometimes feel like hard work, but it pays off. Here are the best reasons why you should try this practice:
The approach to succession planting will encourage you to always try new things.
By planting the seeds into the garden, you can experiment over and over again, and directly sow the seeds you can as often as you can. This way, you can measure success. In other words, you’ll know exactly how much you need to plant for each type of veggie and create the perfect gardening formula that works for you.
The difference between annuals and perennials is that, with annuals, you need to replant them every season, but once you plant perennials, they grow back on their own. Perennials need a lot more investment, as well as a dedicated space in your garden, but in the long run, they can help you create the perfect scheme – a mix of plants that you can switch between all those you wish to have constantly. Planting diverse perennials can add another layer of succession to your garden. My personal favorites here are asparagus, strawberries, and blueberries.
Succession planting may also mean soil planting. I try to practice no-till gardening as less machinery may mean less weed germination, improves the integrity of the soil, keeps the nutrients, and reduces carbon emissions. By avoiding the tillers, you can expand your growing season. It’s a lot less work and a lot more time to enjoy.
How to start your planting journey
Other than succession planting, you can also touch upon some other planting tips to maximize your yield and seasonal harvests.
Include staggered planting. This involves spacing the plants out of the same crop to extend the harvesting period. Make a planting schedule, space them apart by a few weeks (depending on the requirements of each crop), and choose a variety of different maturation times to stagger harvests. Add proper spacing to maximize airflow and sunlight and help your garden deliver the best plants you have ever grown.
Selecting appropriate crops is also very important. When you’re creating your veggie garden and want to try your hand at succession planting, you might want to categorize your veggies, too. For that purpose, you first need to know what you can plant. Some of the more general veggies people go for include beets, spinach, carrots, radishes, turnips, cucumbers, cabbage, kale, lettuce, beets, broccoli, corn, and tomatoes. Just make sure whatever you decide on is the growing season for that veg!
The best techniques
Here it is for those that stuck with us! The techniques you should implement to make sure you always have something growing in your garden.
Plant some, pull some. As soon as you notice the plants you have in your garden have passed their prime state, pull them out. However, don’t be afraid to replant them. Use all the available space, aerate the soil, and add some compost if necessary. Then, plant again. And don’t forget those worm castings!
Check the sun. Summer is right around the corner, so when you’re planting in this season, it is important to constantly check the soil’s moisture level. If you notice it is drying out, then the seeds that you have sown may not catch on, and you might need to replant others. This will make you lose time and won’t be the perfect thing for the succession planting process. To prevent this from happening, choose a spot with a partial shade, somewhere you will find it easier to plant and grow your next batch.
Pick the right crops. I already mentioned some of the best veggie options you can add to your garden depending on your season, but it is also important to focus on disease-resistance varieties. Oh, and something that matures quickly as well. Some of the plants I love, which also thrive under cooler weather conditions, include lettuce, carrots, beets, Asian greens, arugula, spinach, kale, broccoli, and Swiss chard.
Stop delaying the process. Summer crops usually take more time to mature than the first batch you’ve planted in spring. Before planting add an extra 14 days to the crop rotation if there is not that much sunlight during that period. This will give you the perfect time frame for your succession planting.
You just discovered the basics of succession planting. I hope it has made you want to jump out to your garden and start immediately. If creating wonders in your home has always been your dream, you have landed on the right page. I am always sharing some incredible tips, techniques, and ways how you can elevate your gardening. To discover more about it, sign up for my newsletter. That way, you’ll get a never-ending source of inspiration, education, and information similar to this!
