timing
Succession planting
Last reviewed 2026-10-04
Succession planting is the practice of scheduling repeated sowings or follow-up crops so a garden space produces several harvests over a season. A succession can mean sowing the same crop at intervals, planting a second crop after the first is harvested, or using varieties with different maturity times.
What it means
The interval between sowings depends on the crop, season, and desired harvest size. Fast crops may be resown every few weeks, while a long-season crop may be followed by a cool-season planting. The plan must account for the time needed to clear the bed, prepare soil, and establish the next crop.
How it affects the garden
Succession planting spreads work and harvest instead of creating one large glut. It can also reduce losses when a planting fails. Heat-sensitive crops such as lettuce may need earlier and later windows rather than repeated summer sowings. Keep notes on actual emergence and harvest so next year's intervals are based on local experience.
The succession planting tool can calculate repeat dates, while the planting calendar helps check each crop against frost and seasonal windows.
Example
A gardener sows a short row of radishes every two weeks in spring. As one row is harvested, another approaches usable size, giving a steadier supply than planting the whole packet on one day.
Common confusion
Succession planting is not simply intercropping. Intercropping grows different crops together at the same time. Succession planting uses time, often with one crop following another.
Sources
University of Minnesota Extension explains repeated sowings and follow-up crops.
