Succession Planting Guide for Continuous Harvests
Stop harvesting everything at once! Succession planting ensures you have fresh vegetables to pick every week from spring through autumn.
What is Succession Planting?
Succession planting means sowing small amounts of fast-maturing crops every 2-3 weeks throughout the growing season, rather than sowing everything at once. This gives you a continuous supply of fresh vegetables instead of a glut followed by nothing.
Why Succession Plant?
- Avoid gluts: No more 20 lettuces ready on the same day
- Extend harvests: Pick fresh salads from May to October instead of just June
- Reduce waste: Harvest only what you need when you need it
- Fill gaps: Replace finished crops with new sowings
- Maximize space: Keep beds productive all season
- Spread risk: If one sowing fails, you have others coming
Best Crops for Succession Planting
Quick-Maturing Salads (3-8 weeks)
Lettuce - Sow every 2 weeks from March to August
Rocket - Sow every 2-3 weeks from March to September
Radishes - Sow every 2 weeks from March to August
Spring Onions - Sow every 3 weeks from March to July
How to Grow Lettuce | How to Grow Rocket | How to Grow Radishes
Fast Vegetables (6-10 weeks)
Spinach - Sow every 3 weeks from March to August
Beetroot - Sow every 3-4 weeks from April to July
Turnips - Sow every 3 weeks from March to August
Kohlrabi - Sow every 3 weeks from April to July
How to Grow Spinach | How to Grow Beetroot
Beans & Peas (8-12 weeks)
French Beans - Sow every 3 weeks from May to July
Peas - Sow every 3-4 weeks from March to June
Runner Beans - Sow in May and again in June for autumn crop
How to Grow French Beans | How to Grow Peas
Root Vegetables (8-14 weeks)
Carrots - Sow every 3-4 weeks from March to July
Parsnips - Single sowing in March/April (too slow for succession)
Brassicas (Variable)
Calabrese - Sow every 3 weeks from April to June
Kale - Sow in batches April-June for autumn/winter harvest
UK Succession Planting Calendar
March
Start: Lettuce, rocket, spinach, peas, broad beans
Frequency: Every 2-3 weeks until August (salads) or June (peas)
April
Start: Carrots, beetroot, turnips, radishes, spring onions
Frequency: Every 3-4 weeks until July
May
Start: French beans, runner beans, courgettes
Frequency: Every 3 weeks until July (beans)
June-July
Continue: All succession sowings
Last sowings: Carrots (July), beetroot (July), lettuce (August)
August
Final sowings: Rocket, spinach, winter lettuce for autumn harvest
Plant: Spring cabbage for next year
How to Plan Your Succession Sowings
1. Calculate How Much You Need
Work backwards from your weekly consumption:
- Family of 4 eating salad 3x per week = 12 lettuce heads per month
- Lettuce ready in 8 weeks = sow 3 lettuces every week
- Or sow 6 lettuces every 2 weeks
2. Mark Your Calendar
Use our printable garden planner to schedule sowings every 2-3 weeks.
3. Prepare Seed in Advance
Buy enough seed for the whole season - you'll need 4-6x more than a single sowing.
4. Keep Sowing Records
Note what you sowed and when. This helps you:
- Know when to expect harvests
- Adjust timing for next year
- Identify which varieties work best
5. Have Backup Space
Reserve a section of your garden for succession sowings. As early crops finish, replant immediately.
Practical Succession Planting Tips
Use Modules for Flexibility
Sow in seed trays or modules, then transplant when space becomes available. This is especially useful for:
- Lettuce and salads
- Brassicas (cabbage, kale, calabrese)
- Beetroot
Interplant Fast & Slow Crops
Sow quick crops (radishes, lettuce) between slow-maturing crops (parsnips, brassicas). Harvest the fast crop before the slow one needs the space.
Replace Finished Crops Immediately
When you harvest:
- Early potatoes (July) → plant kale or spring cabbage
- Peas (July) → sow French beans or beetroot
- Broad beans (July) → plant leeks or winter brassicas
- Garlic (July) → sow lettuce, rocket, or spinach
Adjust for Weather
In hot, dry summers:
- Skip mid-summer lettuce sowings (they bolt)
- Focus on heat-tolerant crops (beans, beetroot)
- Resume lettuce in August for autumn harvest
Extend the Season
Use cloches, fleece, or cold frames to:
- Start sowings 2-3 weeks earlier in spring
- Continue harvesting 4-6 weeks later in autumn
- Grow winter salads (rocket, winter lettuce, spinach)
Example: Lettuce Succession Plan
| Sowing Date | Quantity | Expected Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| 1st March | 6 plants | Early May |
| 15th March | 6 plants | Mid May |
| 1st April | 6 plants | Late May |
| 15th April | 6 plants | Early June |
| 1st May | 6 plants | Mid June |
| Continue every 2 weeks... | ||
| 1st August (final) | 6 plants | Late September |
Result: Fresh lettuce from May to October instead of a glut in June!
Tools for Succession Planting
- Seed trays & modules: For starting succession sowings
- Garden markers: Label each sowing with date
- Garden planner: Track sowing schedule
- Measuring tape: Mark out rows for successive sowings
- Watering can: Keep succession sowings watered
Build The Plan Into Your Garden
Planning guides are easier to act on when you pair them with bed records, soil preparation, and the right basic tools.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.