One of the secrets to a truly abundant garden, providing a continuous supply of fresh produce and flowers throughout the season, is succession planting. Instead of sowing all your seeds at once, you sow smaller batches at regular intervals. This prevents a glut followed by a lull and ensures a steady harvest. Here is how to make the most of succession sowing:
Understanding the Benefits:
- Extended Harvest: Enjoy a longer period of fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
- Reduced Gluts: Avoid having an overwhelming amount of one crop ripening all at the same time.
- Optimized Space: Make the most efficient use of your garden space by planting new crops as others are harvested.
- Continuous Colour: Keep your flower borders vibrant and full of blooms throughout the summer and into autumn.
Which Crops Benefit from Succession Sowing?
Many vegetables and some annual flowers are ideal for succession planting. Here are a few examples:
- Vegetables: Salad leaves (lettuce, rocket, spinach), radishes, carrots, beetroot, peas, beans (bush and dwarf), spring onions, and some quick-maturing brassicas like summer cabbage.
- Flowers: Calendula, cosmos, cornflowers, and other quick-growing annuals.
How to Implement Succession Sowing:
- Plan Your Intervals: Sow new batches of quick maturing crops every 2-4 weeks. For longer-maturing crops like beans, sow every 3-4 weeks.
- Small and Often: Don't sow huge quantities each time. A small row or a few containers sown regularly will provide a more manageable harvest.
- Record Keeping: Keep track of your sowing dates to help you anticipate harvest times and plan your next sowings. A simple garden diary can be invaluable.
- Prepare Your Soil: Ensure the soil is well-prepared for each new sowing. You may need to add compost or fertilizer to replenish nutrients.
- Comfort in Action: As you prepare different areas of your garden for these staggered sowings, moving between beds and containers, our comfortable and supportive gardening boots will make the process easier on your feet and back.
Example Succession Planting Schedule:
- Early May: Sow first batch of lettuce, radishes, and carrots.
- Late May: Sow second batch of lettuce, radishes, carrots, and first batch of bush beans.
- Early June: Sow third batch of lettuce, radishes, carrots, and second batch of bush beans.
- Mid-June: Sow another batch of salad leaves and beetroot.
- Continue with regular sowings of your chosen crops throughout the summer.
By embracing succession sowing, you can transform your garden into a continuous source of fresh delights. It is a simple yet effective technique that maximizes your harvest and keeps your garden productive all season long.