The fury of mid - to - late summertime , as the harvests start to flap in , is always a doozy . One 2nd , you ’re jumping for joy at your first eggplant , the next , you have a ABA transit number full of Piper nigrum you ’re unsure what to do with . But what if I assure you that you could avoid the mad rush by harvesting earlier and later while growing more ? rent me introduce to you succession planting !
For the long time , I always thought of sequence planting in the simple form : gardener can space out the timing of their planting so that their industrial plant senesce at unlike time .
But then I saw a lecture by Meg McAndrews Cowden about her book , Plant Grow Harvest repetition : Grow a Bounty of Vegetables , Fruits , and Flowers by Mastering the Art of Succession Planting .
Tomatoesgreatly benefit from a couple of months growing indoors before being transplanted outside with protection.
At first , I thought , how could you write a whole book on succession planting?But with a background in natural resource management , Meg has a unique take on succession andhow it also applies to generations of plant .
So , I need to share a little bit more about what on the button succession planting is and how you’re able to master it in your own garden with the help of Meg .
PLUS , make indisputable to read all the way to the end to see how you canwin a written matter of Meg ’s bookand my own for yourself .
This postal service will cover …
Reprinted with permission fromPlant Grow Harvest repetition : produce a Bounty of Vegetables , Fruits , and Flowers by dominate the Art of Succession Plantingby Meg McAndrews Cowden © 2022 . write by Timber Press , Inc.
Expert Tips for Succession Planting
What is Succession Planting?
My original take on succession planting remains true , albeit a simple version . Here ’s how Meg describes it : “ In the simplest term , sequence think of one follows another . In ecology , chronological succession describes how works communities develop over prison term , with unlike mathematical group of works come through one another . ”
This mean succession plant canoccur in one seasonwithin your annuals and vegetablesor over many yearsin how your trees , shrub , and perennial develop .
Succession Planting in Practice
A forest is a great instance of succession planting . The young tree diagram grow larger , eventually becoming overstory trees . As awildfirecomes or a bombastic tree dies , it will pass down and then open up more sunshine to the footing cover plants . This then stimulate new growth , create a constant cycle of succession .
Another wonderful example isweed seeds . I often refer to the weed money box , which is the stock of seminal fluid in our grunge that can be dormant in our garden for 25 or more years . As soon as the conditions are appropriate , they grow . They ’ll spud at the right fourth dimension , filling in patches of soil .
So as you may see , succession planting has multiple components . InThe Regenerative Garden , I spill aboutpolyculture gardens , and chronological sequence planting is a fully grown part of how we educate those .
Planting vegetables quick for harvest at unlike times , successiveness planting , and sowing multiple varieties of each veg are all part of growing a polyculture garden .
You also see it infood forestsand lodge . Some fruit and plant will mature in 5 - 6 old age , while others might be quick a year after embed . All the plants continue to educate in not just one growing season but in a succession of time .
The Juicy Benefits of Succession Planting
Okay , but why would you want all the extra exploit of planning a succession garden ? Well , let me give you a firsthand example .
A few long time ago , I watched my new neighbor move in across the street from me . They build a Modern garden full of vegetables . After a couple of month of growing , ALL those vegetable came into maturity simultaneously .
I watched as all of a sudden they had bucketful of beets and arms of gelt and more vegetables than any mates could get laid what to do with . watch it was a bang-up instance of why succession planting is so valuable , so I always ascertain I implant affair so they mature at unlike multiplication as well .
“ Succession gardening willincrease your garden ’s productiveness by maximizing the days of your growing time of year , even if those day are limited , and maximizing your space , even if your garden is small , ” says Meg .
Rather than rushing to harvest everything in a match of calendar month , what if you could reap food for a whole eight months ? Or dare I say it , even the whole twelvemonth long ? “ [ This could perhaps ] cope with your nutrient needs , reduce seasonal overwhelm , create a more robust local food arrangement , and thus feed you more totally , ” says Meg .
And it ’s not just you who will benefit . This also give an chance for the local wildlife to have an extended season . you’re able to helpfeed beeswho wake up early and take peak to brace themselves orbirds who tarry longer than normalin the fall due to get up temperatures .
How to Succession Plant
Now that you ’re on gameboard with the estimation , there are many facial expression to regard when succession planting . With a picayune planning , it ’s not hard to do in any variety of space or garden .
Continuous Planting
Continuous planting is the idea that there is no planting season ; it ’s an ongoing part of your garden . “ grok the whimsy thata garden is never fully plantedis key to embracing the concept of continuous planting , ” says Meg .
So while spring can be fussy , so can the summer and settle for planting .
Variety
Why not grow a few kind of the same veggie ? If you have some favourites , you’re able to actually help to stagger their harvesting time just by choosing a different miscellany .
“ plant a few different varieties of the same vegetable ( or fruit , for that matter ) with various maturation date is thesimplest agency to follow through staggered succession planting , ” read Meg .
Tomatoesare a great example of this . From cherry to beef steak , you’re able to cover the harvesting time by a month or more just by planting a few varieties rather than concentrate your efforts on one .
Blocking
Blocking is typically see in large - graduated table agriculture . Think ofneat and tidy up rowsof crops and vegetables . This can really help maximise outer space and keep track of all your harvest .
Endurance
I do n’t think endurance gets spoken of enough , and I love that Meg points it out as an integral part of successiveness planting . As she says , “ Seed starting is a marathon , not a dash . ”
You want to be after so your plants grow and produce for as long as potential , peculiarly if you live in a position with a short growing season . Soplan ahead , and see to it you and your plants can keep up with the planting .
Zone Bending
zone can be a utilitarian tool to help us determine what can uprise , but we all haveunique microclimatesthat can make itharder to predictexactly how thing will go when you plant them .
Frost dates are very irregular , especially withchanging climates . But you may usefrost protectors , glasshouse , and even grow lights to help begin your season early and extend it late .
Interplanting
Interplanting is a large one when it derive to succession planting . “ This meansgrowing more than one eccentric of vegetable or blossom simultaneously in the same proximity , ” say Meg . “ Also called intercropping , and sometimes referred to ascompanion planting , this mingling of more than one case of works in a space creates a live arial mosaic — quite literally a garden salad . ”
Not only does this maximize space , but it canallow plants to help each other . One tall plant may provide shade for a lower plant , or oneflower may foreclose pestsfrom feasting on another plant . It also can stop weeds from growing by study up any empty space .
Staggering Harvest
This is the one that succession planting is known for . This is where youmake sure that not everything harvests at the same meter . For instance , you will want to ensure that not all your tomato plant plants need harvesting at once but also that other plant in the garden are n’t also reaching maturity at the same time .
Meg notes , “ Considering the maturation rates of plants geminate together is part of the equation , as well as see appropriate lightheaded levels remain throughout the length of each flora ’s lifecycle . ” In other words , control the plants get the correct conditions to harvest as planned .
Vertical Gardening
Vertical gardening is a great path tomake use of small space . It washow I managed to develop some vegetablesin the diminished sliver of sun my quondam garden used to have .
“ Take a look at natural landscapes , and you ’ll quickly notice vines ascend Tree , bush interlude in opportune gaps in otherwise dense wood , and other plants produce upwards for sunlight in creative style , ” say Meg .
Grow vertical plantslike tomatoes and vines like cucumber or beans . Also , practice space upwards andget originative with your growing space .
Edible Perennials
If you want to have lots of comestible solid food , do n’t discount the time value of perennial . Not only will thislower the amount of maintenanceyou need to put in each twelvemonth , but it will also aid foster amore springy garden . industrial plant fruit Tree , aboriginal comestible tree and shrubs , berries , andperennial vegetable .
What Crops Are Good for Succession Planting?
fortunately , you could go for ecological succession planting to most of your favourite vegetables and edible plant . As long as it does n’t have a long and set uprise period ( likegarlic , for example ) you’re able to probably engraft to sequence flora with most of your comestible plants .
Meg ’s a chronological succession planning professional , and here ’s a handysuccession planting chartbased on her passport . Utilize these early start time , and continue planting routinely until the last planting day of the month .
- With protective covering is any variety offrost tribute , such as insensate frames or burrow hoops . Keep protect until after the last hoarfrost .
- Soil should reach a minimal temperature of 50 ° F/10 ° C at 6 inch down before planting alfresco .
Free Printable Succession Planting Chart
If you ’re ready to be after your succession garden , download my gratis succession planting chart printable ! It include a print - friendly translation of the chart above , as well as a successiveness planting worksheet you’re able to apply to fill out and be after your own veggie garden .
Download the Free Succussion Planting Chart Here
Frequently Asked Questions About Succession Planting
utterly . Flowers are majuscule for interplanting , attract pollinatorsfor your vegetable industrial plant and vulture for pest . Then , you may bask their beauty while they also bring home the bacon a host of benefit to your garden . you may even plantedible blossom , so they ’re playing double duty . I always aim to have flowers flower as too soon and as late as possible to help out my early and late wildlife . Meg ’s favourites for chronological succession planting are cosmos , zinnia , marigold , helianthus , andcalendula .
Tomatoesare often one plant that provides a full-grown harvest at the same prison term . Before the tomatoes are planted outdoors , you could get somespeedy spring vegetablesto take their spot before they ’re quick for transplant . Start your love apple as early as February 1 or as late as April 1 . If you embark on them early in February , they will get reasonably big before they can go outside , but you will get an earlier harvest . Typically , you’re able to sow them six weeks before the last frost , transplant them just after the last frost , and harvest time from July to September . check that to harvest all the tomatoes 2 - 3 weeks before the last frost . Then , you could plantquick - growing fall vegetablesor even yourgarlicfor next year in their place . Also , be sure to grow different diversity of tomato plant to help with varying maturity times .
cucumber are great for ecological succession planting . First , start inseminate your cucumber indoors in May , transplant them outside in other June , and then you’re able to harvest these from mid - July to August . Then , sow another round 12 workweek before the first frost ( end of June ) , transpose them outside 4 weeks later , and then you should be able to reap them in September or about 4 weeks before the first frost .
Win a Copy of Plant Grow Harvest Repeat!
Want a copy ofPlant Grow Harvest Repeat?I’m giving away one transcript of Meg ’s book , along with my book , The Regenerative Garden , to one lucky Garden Therapy winner .
You canenter one of 3 manner . insert on all three chopine to increase your chance of acquire !
This competition is open to those in the continental USA online . The competition close on May 4 , 2023 , where I will use a random act source to select the winner .
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