Succession Planting Tips (More Harvests)

[@elberthardy961]

The way I do it is called 'Food Foresting'. I fill my 37 tote gardens with a few flowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, even baby mangoes. I grow them year round, here in central Florida. They grow like crazy and I have few if any pests. The soil does not dry out because they are so full of plants, sunlight never reaches the soil. I only fertilize with worm castings. Rain water is my main and most favored watering method. Everything is usually lush, hardy and gorgeous. Gardening this way maximized production. What a gift from God!

[@TheMyHalo]

Sounds amazing. Is it hard to keep bad neighbours away from each other with this method?

[@DiscoChixify]

Food forestry is an absolute blessing. It works really great on a large scale but it can also be used in a small scale garden. It’s about filling niches in the garden with plants of various sizes and root depths that work together to maximize the space right? Like how a forest has a combination of trees, shrubs, and small plants or grasses and they create a network to support each other. What are some of the plants that seem to grow well together in your food forest?

[@amandavhb1630]

I was unable to amend soil in my beds like you taught us because I planted before I discovered you. However I did follow your soil instructions for my containers and they are going gang busters! My cucumbers in the ground struggled, the ones in containers are so lovely. Thank you so much for everything you show us 💕

[@almakelly5248]

Hello from central VA

[@OakKnobFarm]

This is a portion of my skills I need to improve. I have a second batch of brassica starts growing indoors right now. Ready to plant some more beans. Trying to improve my craft and keep teh beds active all year. GREAT video Scott

[@heidiclark6612]

This video makes me think of what I could be growing by succession planting. I have never tried it. My garden now takes so much planning because I start my plants inside from seeds, but I may try some successive gardening.

[@SpiceyKy]

Starting my third batch now. I love my gardening life!

[@ddobrien1]

Always Be -Growing- ...Always Be *Sowing* Starting seeds all the time is the best way _for me_ to be ready to 'succeed' my planting. #suckseed

[@rebeccazody1278]

You are such an amazing teacher. Thank you for teaching me to be a better gardener.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks! You are so welcome

[@giaannstdenis3661]

This is a GREAT video! WOWSERS!!!! I will be watching it several times and probably return to it in future. Of course I knew about succession planting, and of course I've nurtured the the usual good intentions... This is another instance where I find your way of analyzing things brings me to a kind of epiphany/eureka understanding. All the pieces were there.... Thank you for sharing not just your knowledge, but your processes, techniques and most especially: your methods of applying the information you've gathered.

[@ThirdCoastGardening]

I just pulled up some dead tomato plants but I didn’t leave the bed bare. I replaced those dead tomato plants with new plants. I planted sweet potatoes, eggplants and a few other things.

[@WestyMain]

I am still trying to get a good fall and spring planting schedule for zone 7b Arkansas. I am learning so much from your wisdom. Thanks.

[@garden_geek]

Love it. I hate seeing bare soil, especially when there’s still time left in the growing season. Great things to think about as always!

[@MrDerJohann]

Verry nice Gardenning channel. And greattings from Germany🇩🇪💝🇺🇸

[@johnherberte8131]

I've never had success with staggering planting as I have a shorter growing season too but am growing stuff through winter in a greenhouse with success now. Might build some hoop covers to go over my outdoor beds too so I can plant earlier and protect later from frost

[@frankbarnwell____]

More planning in my swamp. Keep healthy Scott

[@judyrogers8745]

I find your videos very helpful. I'm in my 2nd year of amateur raised bed gardening also in Colorado 5B. I wish I had found you last year! I have been pruning my tomatoes like crazy! I will think about succession, I have spinach that has bolted and needs removed. I have volunteer tomatoes & cukes and squash in all my beds because I did my first ever round of kitchen composting in a rolling barrel last fall. Then I tilled all the compost into my beds. Many Surprises!!!! I struggled with pulling them like weeds. They were great plants. I transplanted some, left some & thinned a LOT. thanks for the great info.

[@roccoconte2960]

You are right my mind set in my beds is an all or nothing attatude , i mostly grow tomatoes pepperes eggplant . Old ways are hard to change.

[@jackieo8693]

Your garden is amazing!

[@tsilb]

And don't forget about indoor growing techniques, where IF you can get something to grow, you can grow it year round.

[@mareamiller6957]

I just discovered Chioggia beets! Super fast, super sweet!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

This is my second year and I am already doing succession planting with my potatoes broccoli and cauliflower. Apparently I nee to upgrade next year to do succession and staggered planting at the same time :) Thanks for the video and the tip!

[@DiscoChixify]

Hey, thank you for this video. I use a succession planting strategy in my garden too. I’ll share an example. I break up my planter into three sections; green onion, carrots, and radishes. Green onion and radishes are great companion plants for carrots so I put them on either side. Radishes are seeded in the front, carrots in the middle, and green onions in the back because they’re the tallest. My radishes are ready to harvest in about 21 days so I sow radish seeds every two weeks during the growing season until they start to slow. I let the remainder grow out and then I sow a section of green onions where the radishes were. The carrots are typically ready to harvest next and as the days start to heat up, the green onions are taking over. I pull the carrots out of the middle and plant another section of green onions in their place. The back row of green onions is ready to harvest first. The new front row of green onions helps provide shade for the middle row so they have a little protection against our triple digit early to mid summer days for their germination and early growth. Then the bed is ready for mulch to help with water retention as we get up to a range of 114-118. This also protects the earth worms from absolutely cooking in those planters. Speaking of hot weather and companion planting, I planted tomatoes in some of the planters after my peas & continued to fertilize heavy. As the peas died back the tomatoes were coming in. At the base of each tomato plant I seeded cilantro. Cilantro grows really well in speckled sunlight during the hot summer and helps to keep pests away from the tomatoes. I also planted strawberries, spinach and cilantro together in the same pot. The spinach was ready to harvest first. Then the cilantro came in as the spinach started to bolt. When the spinach left the pot the strawberries were taking over so they could continue providing shade for the cilantro. And, again, the cilantro was able to help reduce pests in these plants. The cilantro will leave the pot as the strawberries begin to ripen. Succession planting and companion planting are great in tandem to maximize harvest and get the most from your growing space. I have a lot of plants grown up against each other and have very few pests in the garden. My big issue this year is the brassica butterfly. But I have a variety of predatory insects in the garden along with some lizards that I introduced which are native to my state but not as common in my city. I just increased their population in my garden by collecting them from a walk a few miles away and then adding them to my planters when I got home.

[@DiscoChixify]

A great way to keep pests at bay is to make up a garlic water solution. Spray it on the leaves and water the soil with it as needed. It also helps to reduce mosquitoes in the garden. It takes care of a lot of ailments but not all of them.

[@DiscoChixify]

When in doubt, I seed herbs and edible flowers between crops. Like if I’m not sure what crop can or should be rotated in next, or if there isn’t a crop I specifically want to grow that will sprout during that time. Dandelions will grow just about anywhere and there are tons of recipes you can find for eating the leaves, roots, and flowers. You just really need to keep up with harvesting the flowers before they seed. Sometimes weeding means removing edible plants from beds intended for a different crop during that time. Romaine lettuce has seeds that blow all over the garden if you’re not careful. Chamomile can also take over a garden if it’s not kept in check. Just something to keep in mind.

[@GardenerScott]

Great methods. Thanks for sharing.

[@DiscoChixify]

Gardener Scott thanks again for your support. :) have a great day!

[@mattandstephsmith]

Can you please do a tour of all your plants? I would really like to see a video of that.

[@GardenerScott]

I am planning that when the plants get bigger and closer to harvest. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@cabdiqayschannel]

thank you for your support this is good video bro

[@jimattolino4777]

As always a lot of good tips. Getting ready to put in my third season. I tried horseradish for the first time and was wondering if you could do a video on harvesting the roots or if you had any pointers. I know I probably won't be able to harvest this fall. Thanks. Keep spreading the joy of gardening. Peace.

[@DunnDifferent]

I love how strait forward and easy to follow your videos are. Where in CO are you? I lived in Durango for six years and really honed in my gardening there. Miss the weather but love our longer growing season down here in oklahoma.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. I'm in Colorado Springs.

[@emiloiu]

Helpful video and very well done as always! Thank you Mr. Scott!

[@j.b.6855]

I am just starting to use succession gardening, but I am just in my second year of gardening. I planted radishes and lettuce early in the season, and I kept a few to go to seed, then I planted onion sets in the open areas. When I pull out the onions and the plants I let go to seed, radishes and lettuce will take their place in my main bed. In a smaller bed Im not sure what I will plant. Right now I have my hands full, but I will think of something.

[@thomasneal5516]

Lol thanks for this video. Trying to learn this and pass it on to others in the gardening section. :) :)

[@GardeningCare]

Very useful tips for gardeners 👍👍👍👌👌👌🙏🏿🙏🏿🤗🤗

[@01JH]

Can you talk about what to plant when for zone 8?

[@ddobrien1]

I'm also interested in zone-specific videos! I'm Zone 8-B Pacific Northwest 😃

[@GardenerScott]

I don't have experience in Zone 8. I encourage you check with your county Extension office or talk to local gardeners to find what they recommend.

[@sammer28]

As always, lovely. Cheers, and one love

[@Horse237]

Is there an online reference that tells us how long it takes a plant to harvested after germination? This would help us plan our garden rotations. Thanks in advance for anyone who has such a comprehensive list. This will help us decide many issues like determinate vs indeterminate tomatoes.

[@GardenerScott]

I don't know of a single reference. Each variety will have its own time and there are many different varieties. Seed packets and online nurseries can provide specific info.

[@tsilb]

Colorado zone 5B ... You anywhere near Loveland perchance? I used to live there. Beautiful place. ... Don't feel obligated to answer that, may not be a great idea to say publicly.

[@GardenerScott]

I'm farther south in Colorado Springs.

[@tranthiduyen615]

Vườn rau đẹp tuyệt vời quá anh ơi

[@GardenerScott]

Cảm ơn bạn.

[@monicam.8006]

Dear Gardener Scott, Peace. Thanks for the video. I've done succession planting before with my indoor container gardening. I have a question about chiggers. I know how to handle them on me, but what effects will they have on a garden, and how do I stop them? The garden isn't high, barely ankle high in places, but some of the plants require a constant drip irrigation. What natural predators can I introduce into my garden to stop them?

[@GardenerScott]

They won't harm plants at all. They do live in grasses and weedy plants and keeping those plants cut in your garden can help. There are many birds, spiders, beetles, small animals, and ants that are predators.

[@hisservants8003]

Just subscribed. Excellent videos!!

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel.

[@brian1185]

Great explanation on the differences between succession planting and interval planting. What are your thoughts on letting a bed lie fallow before or instead of amending it?

[@GardenerScott]

I think that is a viable option. Some years I add extra mulch on some beds when I reduce my plantings and let the bed lie fallow for a season.

[@nanrussell6423]

Do you do plant family rotation from year to year and not worry about rotating within the year, such as planting turnips in the spring and in the same bed in the fall? Thanks.

[@GardenerScott]

I do some annual rotation, but don't worry much about it during the same season.

[@LowcountryGardener]

Scott, what type of wood are you using for your raised beds?

[@GardenerScott]

It's fir and pine.

[@michaelmarchione3408]

Good informative video. haxe watch many of your past videos. Do you have any advice for us in zone 4a? We are able to plant usually Memorial weekend. This year we had a week earlier, first time for everything. Then it snowed the second week of June.If we are lucky we can get to Halloween, mostly to the second week of October. First frost in northern ny in September is not unheard of. Again, I enjoy your knowledge through your videos. Take care and be safe!

[@GardenerScott]

Choosing varieties with a short season can help. I'm doing more of that.

[@vickibarringer1714]

Hello, I also live in Colorado at 8500 feet in the foothills of Jefferson County. I am planning on building a 3 feet platform to raise up and sit a 2x1x6 foot galvanized planters on (which I drilled drainage holes in). Do you think because I raise them up it would cause a problem?

[@GardenerScott]

Raised beds can be easy to work in. They'll dry out faster, freeze earlier, but also thaw sooner. They'll probably require extra attention, but can be effective.

[@lindadavidson2237]

Thanks for the great info.

[@melissakingery3545]

Scott what do you do for vineborers, and hornworms? I live in Texas and started in March with lettuce spinach and chard and it was devoured by something?

[@GardenerScott]

Hornworms are picked off when discovered and I encourage birds in my garden. When borers are discovered I remove the plants and periodically turn over the soil to disrupt their life cycle.

[@melissakingery3545]

Scott I think you are very knowledgeable and I appreciate your advice. We lost a lot of tomatoes so did turn to BT on tomatoes. I'm starting new plants and going to put a Dixie cup around seedings

[@danchicoine40]

What are your thoughts on green houses or high tunnels

[@GardenerScott]

Those add great protection and prolong the growing season. I am planning both as I continue to build my garden.

[@danchicoine40]

@@GardenerScott Thank you

[@ohske]

👍👍👍👌♥️

[@dwardodwardo643]

Very poignant. Thank you.