Salad greens are a staple in many diets, offering a burst of freshness and nutrients to any meal. But keeping a steady supply of greens throughout the year can be challenging and many people leave salad greens to the summer time. However that’s where succession planting comes in. By strategically planting your salad greens in intervals, you can ensure a continuous supply of harvest, providing you with fresh, homegrown greens all year round. Let’s look at the ins and outs of succession planting salad greens, helping you to optimize your garden for a bountiful and consistent harvest.
Choosing Your Salad Greens
Before diving into succession planting, it’s important to choose the right salad greens for you and your garden. There is a wide variety to choose from, each with its own flavor profile and growing requirements. Some popular options include lettuce varieties, spinach, arugula, kale, mizuna and silverbeet. Don’t forget there’s also beetroot greens, nasturtium, herbs, and kumara greens and all sorts of other edible leafies which brighten up a salad. Consider factors such as your climate, available space, and personal taste preferences when selecting which greens to grow.
Planning Your Succession Planting Schedule
Succession planting involves planting small batches of seeds or seedlings at regular intervals to ensure a continuous supply of fresh produce. When it comes to salad greens, timing is key. You’ll want to stagger your plantings so that you have mature plants ready for harvest as others are reaching the end of their lifecycle. Here’s a basic guide to help you plan your succession planting schedule:
Early Spring Plantings
Start by planting cold-hardy greens like spinach, kale, and certain varieties of lettuce in early spring. These crops can tolerate cooler temperatures and will mature quickly, providing you with a quick harvest.
Mid-Spring Plantings
As the weather warms up, continue planting additional batches of greens every 2-3 weeks, consider adding summer herbs to the mix here – like basil and coriander! This ensures that you’ll have a continuous supply of fresh leaves throughout the spring and early summer months.
Summer Plantings
While many cool tolerant plants will start to bolt to seed at this point, there are salad greens, such as heat-tolerant lettuce varieties that can be planted throughout the summer months. Or keep on top of your harvest, picking a little here and there from each plant when leaves are small to slow down the bolting. Take advantage of any available space in your garden to sow seeds or transplant seedlings for a late summer and early fall harvest.
Autumn Plantings
As the summer heat begins to wane, transition to planting cool-season greens like lettuce, arugula, and mustard greens. Now is also a great time to get some cabbages going. These crops thrive in cooler temperatures and can withstand light frosts, providing you with a harvest well into the fall months.
Late Autumn and Winter Plantings
Depending on your climate, you may be able to continue growing salad greens all winter, or you may need to protect your greens by using cold frames, row covers, or other season-extending techniques. Consider planting cold-hardy varieties or using protective coverings to shield your crops from harsh weather conditions. My place in Auckland is temperate enough to support spinach and kale without protection all year round.
Tips for Success
- Soil Preparation: Leafy greens love a nitrogen rich compost.
- Watering: Keep your salad greens consistently moist, especially during hot weather, to prevent them from bolting or becoming bitter. Mulching and watering around the base of plants can help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds and prevent damage to leaves.
- Thinning: Once your greens have sprouted, thin them out to allow proper airflow and room for the remaining plants to grow. Crowded plants are more susceptible to diseases and pests.
- Harvesting: Harvest your salad greens frequently by picking individual leaves rather than entire plants. Regular harvesting encourages new growth and prolongs the harvest period.
- Pest and Disease Management: Keep an eye out for common pests such as aphids, slugs, and green caterpillars, and take appropriate measures to control them, such as handpicking, using organic pesticides, beneficial insects or companion planting strategies.
Succession planting salad greens is a simple yet effective way to ensure a steady supply of fresh, homegrown produce throughout the year. By planning your planting schedule and harvesting regularly, you can enjoy a diverse array of salad greens straight from your garden anytime. So roll up your sleeves, grab your seed packets, and get ready to enjoy the fruits (or rather, the greens) of your labour!
