sow and sow again... One of the keys to my success in four season gardening will lie in succession planting. I often promise myself each summer that I will commit to succession planting, but I often fail in getting around to sowing all that I promised. Ever the optimist, I am hoping that this year will be be different. So, in an effort to help achieve my goal, I have plotted out on my calender my weekly seeding to-dos. I know right now that on June 19th, I will be reseeding my carrots and bush beans. Let's just hope that when that Saturday comes around, I actually do it.
A gardener's must-have is to compile a list of their crop's succession planting dates. Below is a list that Eliot Coleman scripted in his book Four-Season Harvest. Happy seeding!
beans — every two weeks
beets — every two weeks
carrots — every two weeks
celery — twice: early spring and three months before fall frost
cucumbers — a 2nd and 3rd planting at monthly intervals will keep fruit quality high
lettuce & other salad greens — sow every week or two during the growing season
peas — twice: early summer and midsummer
radishes — sow every week
spinach — sow short rows every week during spring and late summer.
summer squash — 2nd and 3rd planting at monthly intervals will keep fruit quality high
6 comments:
Allison, your posts never cease to cheer me! Not only is your photo of the beans (and carrots) stunning (and with such lovely color), but talk of June and succession planting is enough to beat even the most stubborn case of winter blues. Thank you!
wow Amy, you're too kind. thank you.
i know we still have to finish winter, then mud season, then of course black-fly season... but it feels like summer is just around the corner full of blooms and colorful delights.
I'm determined to actually do some succession planting this year! xx
I didn't manage to succession plant anything but cukes and beans this last summer, but I am doing okay so far this season. At some point in the summer, I know it will all get away from me -- but it's good to start with the best of intentions! ;)
Thanks for the great information. I never thought to succession plant squash, but I didn't much enjoy the last fruits at the end of the harvest, so I will definitely try this!
Thanks for the inspiration, and the reminder that spring really will come. In my tiny garden, I do pretty well with succession planting of the early crops like radishes, carrots and beans, but I never seem to follow through on planting things like late spinach and kale. Before I know it, summer has just slipped away. I like the idea of making a schedule ahead of time. Thanks!
This is a very impressive schedule that lies ahead. I hope you do better than I did last year!
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