Kayas Cultural College Succession Planting Guide

What is succession planting?

·       Succession planting maximizes yield by planting and harvest fast growing crops multiple times during the growing season

LRRCN Likely Growing Conditions Overview

Month

Likely Growing Conditions

Late April–May

Start seeds indoors; prep beds; use cold frames/hoop tunnels

Early June

Last frost — direct sow and transplant warm crops

June–July

Peak growing season — plant successions of fast crops

August

Begin harvesting cool crops, plant hardy fall greens

Early Sept

First frost likely — cover crops or greenhouse use only

Tips for successful succession planting

·       Choose fast-maturing varieties

o   Look for 30–65 day crops. Read the labels on seed packets.

o   Avoid slow crops like large cabbages or long-season corn unless grown indoors or with season extension tools.

·       Use indoor seed starting

o   Have transplants ready when the previous crop is harvested.

o   Start second/third rounds of lettuce, kale, or spinach inside while earlier plantings grow.

·       Use the greenhouse or row covers

o   Protect early and late successions from frost and cold nights.

o   Extend the season by 2–4 weeks in both spring and fall.

·       Interplant strategically

o   Mix quick crops like radishes between rows of slower ones like beets or kale.

·       Keep planting!

o   You can double or triple your yield with succession planting.