What is succession planting?

Sowing small batches of the same crop at regular intervals, so plants reach harvest at different times, giving a continuous supply rather than a glut.

Which crops are best for succession planting?

Quick-maturing crops: lettuce, radish, rocket, spinach, spring onions, beetroot. These have short harvest windows so benefit most from staggered sowings.

How often should I sow?

Every 2-4 weeks for most salad crops. Match the interval to the harvest window — sow again when the previous batch starts producing.

When should I stop sowing for the season?

Allow enough time for the last sowing to mature before first frosts (typically mid-October in the UK). Count back the crop maturity time.

Which crops benefit most from succession planting?

Lettuce, radishes, spring onions, and salad leaves give the best returns from succession sowing. Sow every 2-3 weeks from March to August for continuous harvest.

GardenCalcs

Succession Planting Calculator — Continuous Harvest

Plan sowing intervals for a continuous harvest throughout the season.

CropPick a quick-maturing crop — salads, radish and spinach gain most from staggered sowing; slower crops like carrot benefit less.

Harvest Weeks Wanted

Length of harvest season you want supply for — e.g. 20 weeks covers March to August.

Plants per Sowing

How many plants or modules you want ready per batch — e.g. a short row or quarter-tray of lettuce.

How We Calculate This

The sowing interval follows RHS Successional Sowing advice — small batches every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply (faster croppers like radish and beetroot at the 2-week end). Total sowings = Desired harvest weeks ÷ Sowing interval, rounded up.

Total plants = Total sowings × Plants per sowing batch.

Last sow date is the crop's maturity time counted back from the typical UK first-frost window (~mid-October), so the final batch ripens in time. Approximate seed-to-harvest times used: lettuce 8, radish 4, spinach 6, rocket 4, spring onion 10, beetroot 10, carrot 12, peas 12 weeks. Use the Maturity Time Factor to fine-tune for your variety and site.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.