This is the second post in our new series “Weekend Warriors (click here to see full series)” Many of the gardeners in Zone 9 have busy lives during the week and the majority of their gardening time happens on the weekend. This series, Weekend Warriors, is devoted to these gardeners.
Weekend Warriors – Tip 2 – Succession Planting
Because of the very long growing seasons we have here in Zone 9, it is often important to plant crops that are only harvestable once using a technique known as Succession Planting
Succession Planting
Several smaller plantings are made at timed intervals, rather than all at once. The plants mature at staggered dates, establishing a continuous harvest over an extended period. Lettuce and other salad greens are common crops for this approach.
For most crops, staggering the planting by a week over the span of a month works great, while some 2 weeks over the span of 2 months works well. Crops that will benefit from Succession Planting (such as bush beans, leafy greens, determinate tomatoes etc.) are the perfect weekend warrior project.
Planting these types of plants on the weekend is a great way to remember when the first crop was planted and makes it very easy to time when to plant the next crop.
For fast growing and yielding crops, plant them every weekend over the span of a month or two.
For slower growing and yielding crops (such as tomatoes) plant them every other weekend, for the span of 2 months.
This practice will ensure a constant harvest over an extended period!
