Gardening Initiatives Detailed Herein
Gardeners Embrace Succession Planting for a Continuous Harvest
In the heart of the growing season, a group of enthusiastic gardeners are putting their green thumbs to work, implementing a strategic approach called succession planting to ensure a bountiful supply of fresh produce throughout the year.
Having first ventured into gardening at their own home in 2015, these gardeners have since learned valuable lessons and faced challenges along the way. This year, they are focusing on a diverse range of crops, including potatoes, field cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes (Sweetie, San Marzano, Mortgage Lifter, and Roma), zucchini, buttercrunch lettuce, radishes, onions, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, peas (snap peas), arugula, kale, garlic, beets, and even a few ornamental nasturtiums to combat pests.
One of the key strategies they are employing is succession planting, a technique that involves sowing crops at regular intervals to ensure a continuous harvest. By planting every 7 to 21 days, they aim to extend their harvest well beyond the traditional growing season.
Planning and Preparation
To effectively implement succession planting, the gardeners have been meticulous in their planning and preparation. They have taken into account their region’s frost dates and growing season length to determine optimal planting times and intervals. They maintain a calendar to guide sowing every 1 to 3 weeks.
Choosing the Right Crops
When it comes to selecting crops for succession planting, the gardeners have chosen wisely. Vegetables that do well with staggered planting, such as lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets, beans, broccoli, cucumbers, and other quick-growing crops, have been prioritized. Different crops have different maturation times, so the gardeners have planned accordingly to avoid overlapping harvest peaks and gaps.
Different Methods for Succession Planting
The gardeners have also employed different succession methods, including staggered planting, relay planting, and intercropping. Staggered planting involves sowing the same crop repeatedly at intervals to extend harvest. Relay planting is planting a new crop before the previous one finishes for continuous use of the space. Intercropping, where fast-maturing crops grow alongside slower ones to maximize space and harvest frequency, has also been utilised.
Extending Growing Seasons
In an effort to extend their growing seasons, the gardeners have started early in spring and continue sowing into late summer or early fall as climate permits. For instance, lettuce can be planted every 10-14 days until about a month before hot weather to avoid bolting.
Managing Growing Conditions
To maintain healthy growth throughout the season, the gardeners monitor soil moisture, fertility, and sunlight. Succession planting requires consistent care to maintain continuous production. However, these gardeners have faced challenges, such as struggles with fertilizing their garden and a lack of time for maintenance tasks like weeding.
Combating Pests
Pests have been a persistent issue for the gardeners, with slugs, aphids, cabbage moths, wire worms, and coddling moths causing damage. To combat these pests, the gardeners have resorted to organic approaches, such as growing nasturtiums around their kale to combat large quantities of aphids in the summer. This year, they are also trying organic pest control methods on their apple trees and kale plants.
By carefully timing plantings, choosing appropriate crops, and maintaining garden care, these gardeners are transforming their garden into a year-round source of fresh vegetables with overlapping harvests and minimal downtime between crops. Succession planting has proven to be a valuable strategy in their quest for a bountiful harvest.
[1] Succession Planting: A Guide for Gardeners [2] Succession Planting: A Technique for Continuous Harvest [3] Succession Planting: A Strategy for Year-Round Vegetables [4] Succession Planting: Tips for a Continuous Harvest [5] Succession Planting: A Guide for Home Gardeners
- The enthusiastic gardeners, in pursuit of a continuous organic harvest across their home-and-garden, employ succession planting strategies, such as staggered and relay planting, to ensure a bountiful supply of diverse crops throughout the year.
- Embracing the sustainable lifestyle, this group of gardeners has integrated intercropping and organic pest control methods, like growing nasturtiums, in their home garden, nurturing a lush and thriving home-and-garden environment.
