There's a familiar pattern when setting up a new veggie patch. You plant everything in one go, wait, and then everything's ready at once. A bountiful harvest, sure, but it's one and done.
What is succession planting?
Succession planting is the fix. The idea is simple: instead of planting your whole crop at once, you stagger it. Every few weeks, you plant another small batch. Done well, it keeps your kitchen in fresh veg for months rather than days, and it works in any season.
What to succession plant
Fast growers
Fast growers are the obvious candidates, and lettuce is the classic. If you're starting from seed, sow your first batch early in the season and keep going every few weeks until there isn't enough growing time left for a final batch to mature. For slower growers like broccoli and cabbage, skip the seed stage and use seedlings to save yourself a few weeks.
Plants prone to bolting
Plants prone to bolting also benefit from this approach, since you've always got a fresh batch coming through to replace the one that's gone to seed. Coriander, rocket and spinach are all good candidates.
A handy insurance policy
Beyond the steady harvest, succession planting gives you a bit of a safety net. If pests, weather or bad luck take out one batch, the next is already on its way.
When succession planting isn't the answer
Some crops just need a full season to do their thing. Onions, pumpkins and Brussels sprouts all fall into this group. For these, try a different trick: plant several varieties at once. Different onion varieties mature at different rates, so you'll naturally end up with a staggered harvest from a single planting.