Succession sowing is a practice that farmers and small gardeners both can appreciate. The result is multiple harvests over the entire season. This gives growers the option to split the yields, with part as a food source and part as revenue. 

The key to planting successions effectively is time. Farmers are already clued in to the timings of their seasons and how much time it takes to grow a crop. By combining this knowledge and planting within these bounds, the best yields are possible. Another important consideration is space and placement, with attention paid to what the soil needs, as well as which crops are best planted together. 

For those new to this method, it helps to have a basic understanding and structure to follow. Once it’s implemented successfully, there’s no doubt it will be a tried and true practice for every growing season to come. Farmers can start with quick-maturing crops to get a handle on the routine, adding complexity as the years go on.  

How To Succession Sow

There are a few different methods for sowing successions of crops. The first involves sowing the same crops at intervals. Another involves sowing different crops in the same space. Intercropping is a separate mode of succession sowing, and farmers can even plant multiple varieties of the same vegetable. 

The basis of everything is timing. Farmers should get a good handle on when to sow certain crops, and compare that to how long the season for that crop lasts. Then, they should time their sowings to match the limits of their season and the crop in question, noting that successions should stop within the temperature limits and days to maturity. 

Method 1: Same Crop Sown At Intervals

Some of the best crops to plant at intervals throughout the season are those with low days to maturity. Radishes, beets, lettuces, and beans are a few basic standouts. The focus could be on crops that tend to be sensitive to temperature changes at the beginning or end of the season. By planting at intervals, maximum yields are achieved, despite how sensitive the plant may be. 

Farmers practicing this method should sow their initial seeds, then leave room for the succession yet to be sown. Alternatively, if a nearby crop is about to expire, plant after that one is removed. While slower-maturing crops can be successfully succession-sown, closer attention should be paid to timing to prevent wasted space or seeds. 

Using seasonal extension tools, like low hoops and cold frames, prolongs the season on either the front or back end. 

Method 2: Different Crops Sown in the Same Space

Succession sowing multiple kinds of crops in the same space provides a variety of yields as opposed to simply securing one kind. Combinations of quick and slow-maturing crops, and early and later season ones, offer the most variety. This is a great option for growers who want a healthy diversity of food to eat or to sell.

As harvests finish yielding, farmers plant something new that fits within the timeframe, and they compost the plants from the expiring crop. In this strategy, it’s good to think about which crops will benefit the soil most, based on what was previously planted (also called crop rotation).  For instance, if rows of cabbage dominate in early spring, plant beans to replenish soil nutrients in mid to late spring.

Doing this could support a flavor-improving system that makes eating and selling the harvest much more enjoyable. 

Method 3: Intercrop With Timing in Mind

For a boost to pollination, nutrient exchange, and the best soil coverage, interplant multiple complementary crops in one area. The succession sowing aspect comes into play when each crop is planted. If farmers want to grow a crop that will climb, they should sow the crop that offers support first. Those that provide ground cover should be planted after climbers emerge. 

A good sense of which plants are good and bad companions is important here. For the greatest success and the best integrated approach to pest management, a good diversity of beneficial companions is key. Farmers who manage food forests will find this is the easiest and most adaptable to their current system.

Method 4: Multiple Varieties of the Same Plant

When it comes to larger crops, like potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and more, succession sowing helps farmers determine which producers do best in specific seasons. Planting an early producer alongside a late producer ensures there is one type of crop available throughout the season. For those who eat the same crops over the year, it offers some variety as well.

This option is perfect for farmers who like to be known for a particular crop. If last year’s harvest of one variety was less than spectacular, it’s worth figuring out if a new one is better, too. While this could be considered monocropping, planting multiple crops of the same type with different resiliency offers so much to the farm, especially in future seasons.    

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