13 Crops You Should Succession Plant This Year

Instead of a “one and done” kind of yield, succession planting ensures a steady supply of fresh fruits and vegetables for an ongoing harvest. For plants that ripen all at once, it’s a means to get subsequent yields. By planting repeated rounds of our favorite crops and staggering their timing, they mature at different intervals for all-season picking. 

Use succession planting to boost the number of crops you’ll use and enjoy the most. Fast-growing selections, in particular, allow multiple yields per season and make for easy direct sowing. Climate factors influence the best fit for your growing area, especially temperature and length of growing season. Plant selection and variety have a bearing, with dwarf or compact selections sometimes maturing faster than their full-size counterparts, creating a quicker turnaround.

Succession planting is especially useful for crops that produce all at once. Once their fruits are ripe for harvest, there’s no ongoing yield (like carrots and determinate tomatoes). It also works well for those crops you use a lot of to ensure there’s plenty, from vegetables to herbs to cut flowers. And, it helps if a certain plant slows at maturity after ongoing production, especially in the summer heat, or succumbs to pests and diseases in peak season. A fresh round steps in to replenish the slowing harvest and may miss the most active pests.

Timing the planting depends on your climate. Some cool-season crops like radishes and leafy greens go all summer in northern climates, while warmer gardens extend the season with successive heat-loving crops like beans, squash, and tomatoes. Use your last frost date and first anticipated fall frost as guidelines for sowing to make sure there’s plenty of time to harvest the final round.

The term successive planting also relates to keeping beds filled as the seasons transition. Follow a cool-season crop like peas with summer squash and then a round of kale in fall, and finally with a cover crop in winter. Pairing certain crops to improve soil health while practicing crop rotation becomes part of the planning.

Sweet Corn

	botanical name Zea mays
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5-12’

Sweet corn, with its high sugars and juicy kernels, is the best “eating” corn. The heat-loving crop grows quickly from seed in warm months. Direct sow seeds one to two weeks after the final frost and when the soil temperatures are 60°F (16°C) and above. Plan to sow successional rounds every few weeks for ears throughout the summer and into early fall. Stalks produce all at once, or nearly so, and staggering the plantings yields multiple harvests. 

Sweet corn comes in varieties with early, mid, and late season yields. Sow the same variety successively or use different cultivars with different maturation times. In cool climates, look for an early-maturing variety like ‘Golden Bantam,’ which tolerates cool spring soils. The 1902 heirloom has sweet, yellow kernels and two sturdy ears per stalk.

Corn is open-pollinated, which means that if you’re planting more than one variety that ripens at the same time, the genetic qualities may cross. Wind and insects travel between stalks, moving around pollen granules between the silks. The subsequent pollination alters the selections. The flavor may not be as sweet, white corn may become yellow, etc. If you’re growing a single variety, there’s no concern over genetic crosses – plant away.

To prevent characteristics from crossing when growing multiple varieties, stagger the planting times to vary the maturity of the developing ears. Plant one selection earlier than another or opt for early-, mid-, and late-season distinctions. Allow 14 days between mature yields to prevent cross-pollination.

Summer Squash

	botanical name Cucurbita spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-12’

Summer squashes, like zucchini and pattypan, grow quickly from seed. Bushing varieties take less time to mature than many of the long, vining types. Opt for bushing types if your summer is short or for a successional crop later in the season.

A late round of summer squash has its advantages, not only for the additional harvest but also if you live in an area where squash vine borer and squash bugs are problems. These pests are most active at the vines’ peak growing season in mid-June and July. 

Install a round in late July or August if your growing season remains warm for about 55 days (bush variety). The insect’s season slows as summer wears on, and egg-laying decreases. There’s still time for a yield of fruits, albeit not as prolific as the earlier season yields. 

‘Black Beauty’ is a favorite bush-type zucchini. The 1920s introduction is prolific with dark, greenish-black fruits and tender, creamy interiors. The All-America Selections award winner has early, flavorful fruits on a compact, easy-to-grow form. Direct sow zucchini and other summer squashes in warm soils, ideally 70-85°F (21-29°C).

Bush Beans

	botanical name Phaseolus vulgaris
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’

Bush beans tolerate cool-to-warm weather fluctuations and are fast-maturing, ready in about 50 days. With a delicate root system, they do best with easy direct sowing. They thrive in mild summers with temperatures below 90°F (32°C). Sow successive rounds every week or two to continue the harvest. In hot climates, grow them in spring and fall. A round in spring and another in late summer (August) gives time for fall beans.

Bush beans rely on good air circulation around leaves and stems to stave off fungal issues. Thin seedlings for adequate spacing. Rely on strong performers like ‘Maxibel Filet’ with long, slim, and tender stringless green beans in the French style. The full-length lean beans grow six to eight inches. ‘Contender’ is another favorite stringless that tolerates heat and resists diseases like powdery mildew. Harvest the pods regularly so plants keep producing more.

Cucumber

	botanical name Cucumis sativus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-6’

Cucumbers, with their high productivity of crisp, cool summer rewards, are prime crops for successional planting. As curcubits, they may fall to pests and diseases in the peak of summer, or decline in vigor due to all their early production. It’s always a good idea to have a fresh supply on retainer.

Direct sow the first batch two weeks after the frost or when soil temps are at least 60°F (16°C) – ideally 70°F (21°C) or above. Seed additional plantings after you pull the first ones, or about three weeks apart. Stop sowing four to six weeks before your fall frost date. Depending on the variety, cucumbers usually take between 50 and 70 days to ripen.

‘Spacemaster 80’ is compact and delicious with full-size slicers or harvesting small for pickling. The space-saver has short, two to three-foot vines. The cukes are ready in about 62 days. ‘Marketmore’ is a 1968 introduction out of Cornell with uniform six to eight-inch fruits, even under variable weather conditions. The dark green cucumbers are crisp, flavorful, and resistant to cucumber mosaic virus.

Heirloom varieties offer culinary and garden history and good performance. ‘Lemon’ from 1894 has unique round fruits in sunny yellow with a light flavor. The vines are fast-growing and produce a high yield early in the season. They’re disease and drought-resistant.

Carrots

	botanical name Daucus carota
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’

Carrots are easy to tuck in wherever there’s extra space. They grow in the cool seasons of spring and fall and are heat-tolerant, able to withstand warm-to-cool transitions. These crops are best for succession planting in areas with cool, mild summers. Sow rounds every three weeks up until 10 to 12 weeks before fall’s first frost. In warm climates, seed in late winter/spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest.

The best germination occurs when soil temperatures are 60-85°F (16-29°C). Carrots can take up to three weeks to germinate and fully develop a few weeks later. They’ll germinate sporadically over the course of those early weeks, and sowing more seeds than you need ensures enough seedlings.

‘Shin Kuroda’ is a heat-tolerant variety with stout and sturdy taproots. The Japanese variety produces orange-red carrots that are five inches long. A high moisture content lends an exceptionally sweet flavor. ‘Shin Kuroda’ grows well even in dense soils and develops in 75 days.

Carrots make good companions to a number of other vegetables, herbs, and flowering plants. Beneficial companion plantings improve growth and repel pests. Carrots are an easy pairing with radishes; scatter seeds of both in the same patch.

Radish

	botanical name Raphanus sativus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-36”

To complement carrot crops in a succession planting, grow radishes. Radishes are quick-growing and pair well with the carrot patch. Harvest the speedy radishes before the carrots are ready, thinning the crop and aerating roots simultaneously.

Radishes are crisp, crunchy, colorful root vegetables and prolific growers in cool temperatures. Their compact stature makes them a good choice for containers and raised beds. In areas with cool summers, sow these up to several weeks before the average first frost date.

‘Cherry Belle’ is a classic bright red radish with crisp white flesh. The Holland heirlooms won the All-America Selections award in 1949 for their fast growth, easy care, and flavorful roots. These are salad radishes and a chef’s favorite. Harvest the little belles when the roots are small, about 1’ in diameter.

Beets

	botanical name Beta vulgaris
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’

Like radishes and carrots, beets aerate soils with their bulbous taproots. They also pack the nutrition, including in their leafy tops, and are rich in vitamins A, C, iron, potassium, folic acid, and antioxidants. Spring is the best time for planting, with direct sowing about four weeks before the final frost or as the soil is workable. The ideal soil temperature is at least 45°F (7°C), and ideally 60 to 85°F (16-29°C). 

Plant a round in mid-summer for a fall harvest, aiming for six to eight weeks before fall’s first frost. In cool climates, successional sowing every three weeks from spring through fall yields a continual supply.

Baby beets are ready early and are versatile in containers, raised beds, and cuisine. ‘Robin’ yields bunches of small, deep red, two-inch globes. Harvesting begins at 45 days. ‘Chioggia’ is an 1800s Italian heirloom and candy-striped variety with white and red stripes. The showy, early producer matures in 55 days.

Spinach

	botanical name Spinacia oleracea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-18”

Spinach thrives in the cool conditions of spring and fall, and even on the kitchen counter. Sow multiple rounds in spring and again in fall for a nonstop harvest of baby greens. Aim for every three weeks for a ready supply of nutrient-rich, tender leaves. Do a final sowing a month before the anticipated first frost. 

Spinach is a fast grower, and young leaves are delicious when they reach two to four inches tall (about 20-25 days). ‘Bloomsdale’ is a dependable heirloom from the early 1800s with thick, curled leaves. Situate seeds close together in containers or beds for a high yield.

Tomatoes

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-8’

Determinate tomatoes make good crops to succession plant because they produce all at once. By staggering the planting time or the varieties, you’ll get multiple yields in the same season. In subtropical and tropical gardens, you can even grow tomatoes into fall, where they get a reprieve from summer extremes.

Small tomatoes like roma and cherry varieties are good picks for additional planting. Sow them outdoors in trays in dappled shade to give seedlings a headstart for planting. Time the harvest so they don’t overlap with an existing yield, unless you want bundles of tomatoes at the same time.

‘Supremo’ is a reliable bush hybrid with uniform, extra-large romas. It has good disease resistance and heat tolerance, and sets fruit well in hot temperatures. The early producers are ideal for enjoying fresh, for sauces, and canning.

‘Red Pride’ hybrid bush is a vigorous, dwarf slicing tomato variety. The tidy growers reliably produce 10-ounce fruits with excellent disease resistance to wilts, stem canker, and leaf spot. Sturdy, determinate vines yield fruits late in the season (78 days after sowing). Pair these slightly later and larger fruits with earlier harvests of romas and cherries.

Scallions

	botanical name Allium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’

Scallions (or spring, bunching, or green onions) are an easy-to-grow favorite. These are a crop to succession plant in cool climates, where they germinate best in 60-85°F (16-29°C) soils. Sow them every two to four weeks for a continual harvest. In hot climates, plant them in fall for a winter/spring yield.

To succession plant, look for faster-maturing varieties. ‘White Lisbon’ is a 1700s heirloom that matures in 60 days and is reliable under various conditions. It has good heat and cold tolerance to withstand seasonal shifts.

‘Tokyo Long’ has a mild, sweet, oniony flavor and long, slender stalks. Along with the slim white onion portion are the tasty blue-green tops, ready to garnish any cuisine. ‘Tokyo Long’ is disease-resistant, heat-, and frost-tolerant. It takes about 65 days from sowing to harvest.

Snap Peas

	botanical name Pisum sativum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-7’

Snap peas usher in the cool season and are ideal for fresh snacking, steaming, and stir-frying. Start these four to six weeks before spring’s last frost, and plant another round three to four weeks later. Skip the summer heat (snap peas prefer temperatures below 85°F or 29°C) and sow a final round 10 to 12 weeks before fall’s first frost.

‘Sugar Daddy’ is a compact variety at two to three feet high. Its small size lets us fit multiple rounds in smaller spaces. It grows well in a container and needs only a small trellis or fence for support. The short vines have improved disease resistance. The slender and sweet pods are ready in about 60 days.

‘Sugar Magnolia’ is another favorite with purple flowers and pea pods. Its tall, vigorous vines grow six to seven feet long and need a large trellis or an A-frame. Place seeds directly at the base of a growing fence or other structure to give them support as they climb. 

Bok Choy

	botanical name Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-24”

Bok choy, or pak choi, is a mild, sweet, tender cabbage with centuries of history in Asian cuisine. This fast-developing, nutrient-rich leafy green is ideal for a cool spring sowing before frost and another in late summer for a fall harvest.

Look for dwarf cultivars for quick growth and good heat and frost-tolerance, making them good options during weather fluctuations. ‘Toy Choy’ is a miniature variety that grows to five inches tall and is ready in as little as 30 days. ‘Baby Choy’ matures in 35 to 60 days and reaches 20 inches tall. Pick leaves early for tender greens with crisp white stems.

Sunflowers

	botanical name Helianthus annuus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-15’

Sunflowers make the list as a crop to succession plant for their ornamental value and tasty, nutritious seeds that dual-function as forage for songbirds and other wildlife. Sunflowers grow quickly from seed and relish warm weather. Direct sow them starting one to two weeks after the final frost, with two to three successional plantings. When the first batch fades, another takes its place. Blooming through frost, the staggered seeding guarantees all-season color.