Succession planting means planting the same crop multiple times throughout the season at regular intervals. Instead of one big harvest that overwhelms you, you get steady, manageable quantities over weeks or months.

For LocalRoots sellers, this is essential. Your customers want to buy fresh lettuce every week, not 50 heads all at once in June. Succession planting lets you list produce consistently, build reliable customer relationships, and maximize income from limited garden space.

The concept is simple: if lettuce takes 45 days to mature and you want fresh lettuce for 12 weeks, you need to make a new planting roughly every 10-14 days.

Not all crops benefit equally from succession planting. Focus on:

Fast-maturing crops that are harvested all at once: - Lettuce (30-60 days) - Radishes (25-30 days) - Bush beans (50-60 days) - Spinach (40-50 days) - Cilantro (45-70 days)

Crops that benefit from fresh sowings: - Corn (pick at peak sweetness) - Beets (tender when young) - Carrots (sweetest when not overgrown)

Not worth succession planting: - Tomatoes, peppers, squash (produce continuously over long period) - Perennials like asparagus - Long-season crops like winter squash

Start with these questions:

1. How long until harvest? Check days to maturity on seed packet.

1. How long is harvest window? Lettuce holds about 1-2 weeks; radishes only days.

1. When is first frost? Stop planting when there won't be time to mature.

1. How much do you need at once? Plan plantings to match your expected sales.

Example: Lettuce - Days to maturity: 50 days - Harvest window: 10-14 days - Growing season: April 15 - September 30 - Succession interval: Every 10-14 days - Number of plantings: 12-15 over the season

Create a simple calendar marking each planting date. Set reminders on your phone.

Every 7-10 days: - Lettuce (for continuous baby greens) - Radishes - Arugula

Every 2 weeks: - Spinach - Bush beans - Beets - Cilantro

Every 3 weeks: - Sweet corn (for extended fresh eating) - Carrots - Turnips

Every 4 weeks: - Scallions - Kale (if harvesting whole heads)

Adjust based on your market. Selling at farmers markets? You might want weekly lettuce plantings. Filling orders for a few regular customers? Less frequent works.

Succession planting requires thoughtful space planning:

Dedicated Succession Beds: Reserve specific beds for quick-rotation crops. As one planting finishes, immediately replant the same bed.

Interplanting: Tuck quick crops between slow crops. Plant radishes between pepper plants while peppers are still small.

Relay Planting: Start new plantings in a different bed while current planting matures. By harvest time, next succession is already established.

Block Planting: Instead of rows, plant in blocks that are easy to clear and replant completely.

For a 4x8 raised bed dedicated to lettuce with 10-day successions, divide into 3-4 sections. Plant one section, wait 10 days, plant the next.

Extend your succession planting season with these techniques:

Spring: - Start first successions indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting outside - Use row covers to protect early plantings from frost - Choose cold-tolerant varieties for earliest plantings

Summer: - Many cool-season crops bolt in heat - pause succession during hottest weeks - Provide shade for heat-sensitive crops - Choose bolt-resistant varieties for summer plantings

Fall: - Resume cool-season succession as temperatures drop - Plant last successions 4-6 weeks before first frost - Use row covers to extend harvest into early winter

With protection, you might harvest succession lettuce from March through December in many climates.