One of the most satisfying goals in gardening is to enjoy fresh produce over a long season. Yet many gardeners find themselves with too much food all at once, followed by empty beds. That’s where succession planting comes in. By staggering plantings over time, you ensure a steady flow of harvests instead of one big glut. When combined with companion planting, succession planting becomes even more powerful—boosting yields, deterring pests, and improving soil health while keeping your garden productive all season long.
What Is Succession Planting?
Succession planting is the practice of sowing crops in intervals or following one crop with another in the same space. It maximizes productivity by ensuring beds are never idle for long. Succession can take several forms:
- Staggered planting: Sowing the same crop every couple of weeks to extend the harvest window.
- Sequential planting: Planting a new crop as soon as the previous one is finished.
- Relay planting: Sowing a second crop before the first is harvested, overlapping growth.
- Interplanting: Growing quick-maturing crops alongside slower ones, then harvesting early crops to make space.
Why Combine Succession Planting with Companions?
Companion planting pairs crops that benefit each other. When woven into succession plans, it adds multiple advantages:
- Healthier soil: Alternating crops with different nutrient needs prevents depletion.
- Pest management: Companions repel pests or act as trap crops for successive plantings.
- Space efficiency: Quick-growing companions fill gaps between slower crops.
- Flavor improvement: Certain herbs and flowers enhance the taste of vegetables in succession cycles.
- Continuous biodiversity: Diverse plantings reduce disease pressure and attract beneficial insects.
Examples of Succession Planting with Companions
1. Radishes Before Carrots
- Step 1: Sow radishes and carrots together.
- Step 2: Radishes mature in 3–4 weeks and are harvested early.
- Step 3: Carrots continue growing in the loosened soil.
- Companion role: Radishes act as a quick crop that also breaks the soil for carrots.
2. Lettuce After Peas
- Step 1: Grow peas in spring.
- Step 2: After harvest, sow lettuce in the nitrogen-rich soil left by peas.
- Companion role: Peas enrich the soil, making it perfect for leafy greens.
3. Beans and Corn Relay
- Step 1: Plant corn early.
- Step 2: Once corn is 6 inches tall, sow beans at the base.
- Step 3: Beans fix nitrogen for corn, while corn provides support for bean vines.
- Succession overlap: Beans extend the productivity of corn beds without needing extra space.
4. Spinach Followed by Cucumbers
- Step 1: Grow spinach in cool spring weather.
- Step 2: After spinach bolts, replace with cucumbers that love the summer heat.
- Companion addition: Plant dill or nasturtiums nearby to attract pollinators and deter pests.
5. Cabbage and Buckwheat
- Step 1: Harvest early cabbage.
- Step 2: Sow buckwheat as a short-term cover crop.
- Step 3: Till or chop buckwheat before flowering, leaving fertile soil for the next crop.
- Companion role: Buckwheat suppresses weeds and attracts pollinators, preparing the soil for fall crops.
6. Tomatoes with Basil and Lettuce
- Step 1: Plant tomatoes with basil to deter pests and improve flavor.
- Step 2: Sow lettuce at the base for an early harvest before tomato plants spread.
- Companion role: Lettuce thrives in tomato shade, and basil enhances growth while deterring pests.
Designing Succession Plans with Companions
When planning your garden, think about timing, compatibility, and rotation:
- Timing: Know the maturity dates of crops so you can follow one with another smoothly.
- Compatibility: Pair plants that help rather than compete. For example, avoid sowing heavy feeders back-to-back.
- Rotation: Avoid planting crops from the same family in succession to reduce pest and disease buildup.
Seasonal Example Plan
- Early spring: Radishes interplanted with carrots.
- Mid-spring: Peas with lettuce as a follow-up.
- Summer: Tomatoes with basil and shade-tolerant lettuce.
- Late summer: Beans and corn relay planting.
- Fall: Buckwheat cover crop to refresh soil.
Flowers and Herbs in Succession Plans
Flowers and herbs play an important supporting role in succession planting:
- Calendula: Attracts pollinators and can be planted between spring and fall crops.
- Marigolds: Used between vegetable successions to deter nematodes.
- Cilantro: Grows quickly in cool weather, then bolts—attracting pollinators before summer crops take over.
- Chamomile: Enhances the flavor of nearby crops and provides nectar for beneficial insects.
Practical Tips for Success
- Keep a calendar: Note planting and harvest dates to plan smooth transitions.
- Stagger crops: Plant small amounts at intervals to avoid harvest gluts.
- Use quick crops: Radishes, lettuce, and spinach are excellent fillers between longer crops.
- Mulch heavily: Mulch maintains soil moisture between successions and reduces stress on seedlings.
- Fertilize between successions: A light compost dressing recharges soil before the next planting.
- Observe and adjust: Weather shifts may speed or slow crops, so adapt timing as needed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring maturity dates: Planting follow-up crops too late or too early can cause overlap problems.
- Replanting same families: Succession of brassicas (like kale followed by cabbage) invites pest buildup.
- Overcrowding: Relay planting works only if crops have enough space and airflow.
- Neglecting soil fertility: Successions demand a lot from soil—always replace nutrients.
FAQs on Succession Planting with Companions
What crops are best for succession planting?
Quick crops like radishes, lettuce, spinach, and bush beans pair well with longer crops like carrots, cucumbers, or tomatoes.
Can herbs be part of succession planting?
Yes. Herbs like basil, dill, and cilantro work well, either as companions or seasonal fillers.
Does succession planting require large gardens?
Not at all. Even small raised beds can benefit from staggered sowings and interplanting strategies.
How does companion planting improve succession harvests?
Companions reduce stress from pests, balance soil nutrients, and create microclimates, all of which help crops mature with better flavor and yield.
Can flowers be rotated in succession plans?
Yes. Flowers like marigolds and calendula can be rotated between crops to break pest cycles and maintain soil diversity.