Many crops have quick turnarounds. They mature over a few weeks, you harvest them, and you leave the garden bare. But when you succession plant, you sow crops consecutively for repeat harvests throughout the seasons. 

Succession planting is as easy as sowing seeds when you have extra time. Walk the garden, find an empty spot, and sow some seeds. The process isn’t as complicated as many guides claim it is.

Succession plant radishes in spring, basil in summer, and root crops in fall. The possibilities are endless, and you can tailor the planting strategy to suit your garden’s needs. To start fall succession planting, follow this easy guide.

What is Succession Planting?

Staggered sowing keeps fresh crops coming week after week.

Fall succession planting takes advantage of the seasons. It’s a method for prolonging the harvest of quick-growing crops. You’ll plant your fall crops, wait a few weeks, then do another round of planting while the seedlings mature. 

With repeat plantings, you can extend some crops’ harvest periods through spring, summer, and fall! Carrots, for example, grow well through the cool of spring and fall. Instead of planting a single round of carrots, sow them successively so long as the weather is cool and mild.

Some growers may extend their growing season through the winter. If you live in a mild climate without harsh winter frosts, you may sow cool-weather vegetables successively from fall through spring, and heat-loving ones from spring through fall. 

Fall Harvests

So, which crops are best for the fall succession planting? Think root vegetables, leafy greens, and cover crops. These plants prefer growing while days shorten and cool, and they appreciate the ample moisture that’s present in autumn. Select your favorites, or try something new.

Root Vegetables

Nutrient-packed roots develop best in mild, consistent conditions.

Root vegetables are the stars of the fall. These unique plants expand their roots, stems, and shoots into large, bulbous veggies full of flavor and nutrients. Some swell their roots, like carrots and beets, while others swell their stems, like kohlrabi. 

Root crops tend to bolt during hot weather. They’ll grow flowers and seeds instead of large roots. This happens because the plants believe their growing season is ending, and they rush to reproduce before the hot weather kills them.

By succession planting root veggies in fall, you’ll ensure many harvests throughout the season. Here are some more options to try this season:

Other root veggies prefer hot weather, like yucca, sweet potato, and taro. Plant these during spring and summer for warm-season harvests.

Cole Crops

Cool weather helps broccoli and cabbage form perfect heads.

Cole crops tend to perform better in the fall in regions with short springs. They include favorite vegetables like broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and cabbage. Head forming types, like cabbage and broccoli, prefer cool, moist weather and full sun exposure. They’ll bolt in the summer’s heat.

Instead of planting in spring, consider starting seeds in the middle of summer after the solstice. The cole crops will prepare for winter by growing large, bulbous heads full of blossoms or leaves. Some, like cabbage, taste sweeter after light frosts! 

I learned to switch my cole crop growing to the fall after many spring failures. My cauliflower bolted in summer, my cabbage failed to form heads, and the kale grew full of green looper worms. In the fall, none of these issues occurred. The vegetables needed much less maintenance to thrive. 

Leafy Greens

Kale and collards need extra time to mature.

Leafy greens are exceptional for fall succession planting. They quickly mature, and they’ll bolt with flowers and seeds if you don’t harvest them on time. Consider planting these leafy vegetables in summer and fall for cool-season harvests:

Knowing when to plant seeds depends on how quickly each plant grows. Arugula and spinach are quick! You may sow them weekly for repeat harvests. Others, like kale and collards, need some time to mature. Plant them every two weeks instead of weekly.

Cover Crops

Fava beans protect the soil and enrich it naturally.

Vegetables aren’t the only crops that work with fall succession planting. Cover crops work well, too. Fava beans, oats, and peas are exceptional green mulches. They cover the soil when not much else is growing, and some offer harvests during cold weather. 

Fava beans and winter peas are the best cover crops to sow successively for late winter and early spring harvests. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I plant fava beans annually in the fall alongside garlic. Some seeds wait to emerge until spring, while a few sprout before the first frost.

Which cover crops work well for your garden depends on where you live and what your growing goals are. If you’d like leguminous harvests, plant favas and peas successively from midsummer until frosty weather arrives. 

Find Your First Frost Date

Knowing frost dates helps time crops perfectly.

Knowing the first frost date is crucial when planning your garden. This date is an average of when the first frost appears, and it’s pulled from previous years’ data. The first harsh frost may not occur on this date, but the average gives you a good, rough idea of when it’ll happen.

Once you know your first frost date, you can plan your fall succession planting. Each seed packet has a number of days on it. This range tells you how many days a plant needs before it’s ready to harvest. 

Counting backwards from the first frost, you’ll know when to plant seeds for fall harvests. Here’s an example. Cabbage, on average, needs 75 to 100 days to mature. If your first average frost is October 1st, you’ll want to plant cabbage at least 75 days before the date, in late June and early July. 

Other plants need much less time to grow after planting. Spring radishes, for example, need around 30 days to mature from seedlings to harvestable roots. Plant them at least a month before the date, in late August and early September. 

Succession Plant

Now that we know the basics, grab your preferred seeds, prepare the soil, and get ready for fall succession planting. 

Sowing Seeds

Seedlings thrive when the soil stays evenly moist.

Direct seeding works best with quick-growing leafy greens like spinach, arugula, and lettuce. Slugs and snails are abundant in cool weather, and they’ll decimate tender seedlings overnight during the fall. Safeguard your seedlings by sowing more than you need and thinning the extras once they’re tall and sturdy.

Direct seeding is also the preferred method for planting root crops. They dislike transplanting, and they’ll grow better when you plant seeds in the ground or containers. 

To make room for multiple plantings, consider using rows or squares. Plant one row of crops, wait a week or two, then plant another row while the first one sprouts. Or, plant a seed every time you harvest. Replace your harvested plant with another new seedling.

Start Seeds Indoors

Starting seeds indoors extends growing opportunities.

Indoor seed starting helps you battle the hot weather of summer and early fall. Some crops may bolt if it’s too hot, or if you plant them before the solstice. Growing them indoors, where A/C units keep temperatures at a lower range, allows you to beat the seasons. 

Cole crops, like broccoli and cauliflower, take well from starts. Sow seeds in pots indoors while it’s hot outside, then bring the seedlings outdoors once temperatures cool and days begin shortening in late summer. 

Avoid starting seeds indoors that don’t transplant well. Some require experimentation. Most guides say that lettuce doesn’t transplant well; however, I successfully transplant lettuce each spring and fall from indoor starts. This year, I had three repeat harvests from a single head! With a little experimentation, you’ll find what works best for you and your garden. 

Transplanting Starts

Nursery starts maintain a steady vegetable supply.

For fall succession planting with starts, you’ll need to supply a steady source of seedlings (or sow them yourself in pots). As with direct seeding, multiple plantings over consecutive weeks will give you enough vegetables for continuous fall harvests.

Here’s an example: if you want multiple rounds of cabbage, start seeds in pots in midsummer. After two weeks, sow another planting of seeds in pots. Repeat the process as long as necessary, and stagger transplanting to ensure each round matures while the other establishes itself. 

Instead of this lengthy process, you may also source starts at a nursery or garden center for planting. Choose good-quality starts, and purchase new ones every two weeks for successive transplanting. 

Winter Care

Thick straw keeps underground veggies safe from cold.

As mentioned earlier, the first average frost date is crucial in fall succession planting. Stop planting two months before the date for plants that need time to mature, and a month before the date for quick-growing leafy greens and radishes. 

Some fall vegetables overwinter well! Keep beets, carrots, and winter radishes in the ground until you’re ready to pick them. They’ll grow sweeter with light frosts, and they’ll keep well under the coolness of autumn. 

To protect your roots, cover them with a thick layer of organic mulch. Straw works well in dry regions, though it’ll grow soggy and moldy in wet ones. Choose compost, leaf mold, or coco coir in moist areas. Add a layer two to three inches thick around the roots, and uncover them when you’re ready to harvest. 

If the plants will die after an approaching frost, it’s better to pick them early and eat them. Ice, snow, and cold rains turn perky veggies into mushy, sad plants. Pick them often and frequently for as many harvests as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions