How Do I Plan For Successive Planting?

“I’ve recently started a backyard farm and I’m excited to grow my own vegetables. However, I want to make the most out of my small space and have a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. What steps should I take to plan for successive planting successfully?” Thanks, Michael, Portland, USA.

How Do I Plan For Successive Planting?

Michael, that’s a fantastic question. Successive planting is an excellent way to make the most out of every inch of your backyard farm and ensure that you always have fresh produce. Let’s walk through everything you need to know to get started with successive planting in your backyard farm.

Understanding Successive Planting

Successive planting involves planting new crops in the same area throughout the growing season to ensure a continuous harvest. This can include sequential planting of the same crop, relay planting, and planting different crops in succession.

Why Successive Planting is Beneficial

There are several reasons why successive planting can be beneficial for your backyard farm:

• Continuous Harvest: You won’t have to deal with gaps between harvests, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce.
• Optimal Use of Space: Makes the most efficient use of the available space, something particularly important for small backyard farms.
• Improved Crop Health: Rotating crops and avoiding monoculture can reduce the risk of pest and disease outbreaks.
• Diverse Harvests: Allows for a variety of crops to be grown, adding diversity to your meals.

Steps to Plan for Successive Planting

1. Assess Your Available Space

Before you start, take a good look at your garden space. Sketch out a simple layout and note the dimensions. This will help you determine how much space you can allocate for successive crops. Keep in mind that some plants may have overlapping growth periods, so you may need to plan accordingly.

2. Know Your Climate and Frost Dates

Understanding your local climate and the average frost dates is critical. These dates help determine the optimal planting windows for different crops. For Portland, USA, the last spring frost generally occurs around mid-April, and the first fall frost is usually in late October. This gives you a good growing season to work with.

3. Choose the Right Crops

Select crops that can be harvested throughout the growing season. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Spring: Radishes, peas, spinach, and lettuce.
• Summer: Tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and zucchini.
• Fall: Kale, carrots, beets, and broccoli.

Think about fast-maturing crops that can be harvested quickly to make room for the next planting. For example, radishes mature in about 25 days, making them a good option for a quick turnaround.

4. Create a Planting Schedule

Having a detailed planting calendar can help you stay on track. Here’s how you can start:

1. List all the crops you want to plant.
2. Determine the planting and harvest dates for each crop based on your climate and seed packet instructions.
3. Sketch out your garden layout, marking where and when each crop will be planted.
4. Include buffer times for soil preparation and crop transition.

An example schedule might look like this:

• April: Plant radishes and spinach.
• May: Harvest radishes; plant beans in their place.
• June: Harvest spinach; plant cucumbers.
• July: Harvest beans; plant carrots for a fall harvest.

5. Soil Preparation and Care

Healthy soil is the foundation of a productive garden. Before planting new successive crops, it’s important to replenish the soil nutrients. Here’s what can be done:

• Incorporate compost after every harvest to add organic matter and nutrients back to the soil.
• Rotate crops to different areas to prevent nutrient depletion and avoid pest build-up.
• Mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

6. Succession Planting Techniques

There are several techniques to choose from when planning for successive planting:

Staggered or Interval Planting

Plant the same crop in intervals over a few weeks to extend the harvest period. For example, plant rows of lettuce a week apart to have continuous harvests rather than all at once.

Relay Planting

Sow seeds of a new crop among current crops shortly before the previous crops are ready for harvest. For instance, sowing bean seeds among maturing spinach ensures beans start growing as you’re harvesting the spinach.

Same Space, Different Crops

Plant different crops in the same space back-to-back. An early crop like radishes can be followed by a mid-season crop like tomatoes. After tomatoes, you can plant a fall crop like kale.

This method utilizes the space efficiently and leverages the different maturity periods of crops.

7. Companion Planting

Growing compatible plants together can maximize yields and health. For example, planting basil alongside tomatoes can improve the flavor and deter pests. Strategically using companion planting with successive planting can give a richer, more productive garden.

8. Timing and Monitoring

Regularly check on the growth of your plants and note any issues. Here are few tips:

• Keep track of the days to maturity for each crop.
• Inspect plants regularly for signs of pests or diseases.
• Adjust planting times based on unexpected weather conditions or changes in growth rate.

Use a gardening journal to record planting dates, growth progress, and harvest dates. This historical data will be invaluable for planning future planting seasons and improving techniques.

Examples of Successive Planting Plans

To give you a clearer picture, here is an example successive planting plan:

Example Plot Plan for One Raised Bed (4’x8′)

Early Spring:

• 2 rows of radishes
• 2 rows of spinach

Mid-Spring:

• Harvest radishes, plant bush beans in their place
• Continue harvesting spinach

Summer:

• Harvest spinach, plant cucumbers in their place
• Beans continue to produce

Late Summer/Early Fall:

• Clear beans and plant fall lettuce
• Harvest cucumbers, plant kale for winter

Adjust the Plan Based on Your Garden’s Needs

While the above plan is a good starting point, it’s important to adjust based on your garden’s specific conditions and your personal preferences. Experiment with different crops, planting intervals, and techniques to find what works best for you.

Final Thoughts…

Michael, successive planting is indeed a rewarding approach to managing your backyard farm. By assessing your space, understanding your local climate, and making smart choices with planting schedules and crop selections, you’ll set yourself up for a thriving, productive garden. Keep experimenting and adjusting your techniques, and soon you’ll enjoy the benefits of a continuous and diverse harvest. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for backyard farming and your thoughtful question. Happy gardening!