Successional sowing - does it work?

[anneski]

OK, I've done this for salad leaves and radishes and it works fine as you all know. And I know there are early and late varieties in things such as peas, but how about runner beans, and courgettes? Are there different varieties to plant in succession, if so where can I find out more about them please?

If not, can I make sowings about a month or so apart, will that work?  ???

Thankee kindly :)

[anneski]

[Mrs Ava]

Yes, you can start some beans of very early if you can provide adquate protection and keep sowing french beans until autumn to grab a last minute crop.  Courgettes and cucumbers the same.  If you have a greenhouse or cloches and fleece, then you could start some off in very early spring to pick a few weeks before the main harvest starts, and if you sow in early august, you could pick a few small courgettes before winter arrives.  (I have done this with melons, courgette and cucumber but it is an experiment!)  Most things that don't depend on daylength can be staggered, but it is suprising how quickly a main sowing catches up.  I successional sow everything as I do not want 84 parsnips all in one go, so I have 1 row that are already a great size, and 1 row that are currently more like small carrots........

[wardy]

Successional sowing as EJ suggests is also useful when you get caught out by frost as you have some more waiting in the wings as it were.  Well I handn't but will make sure I do next year  :)  I wish I'd used my brains when sowing my lettuces as I did end up with tonnes of it all ready at the same time.  I lived on lettuce sarnis for weeks  :)

[wardy]

I'm the most disorganised person I know.  I would be organised if I had the choice but I can't get organised enough to get organised if you know what I mean  ???

Aren't people who are too organised a bit scary  ;D

[BAGGY]

Yep - that and tidiness.  Freaks me out.  Well, that's my excuse.

[Ed^Chigliak]

Yes it works. Best for fast growing crops with short harvest period.

Courgettes - no becasue they have a really long harvest period there is no real need. The extra effort for earlier than normal crops you have to decide if it's worth it. You need spare in reserve started a bit later in case of frost.

Peas yes - early varieties are quick growing and the harvest period is short. Sown at intervals the harvest period is extended. Alternative is to use early, mid and late varieties.

Runner beans - probably not since they are slower growing. I take the glut on the chin and freeze them.

Here are my successional crops
Beetroots
Carrots
Spring onions
Rocket
Parsley
Corriander
Basil
Radish
Lettuce
Land cress

Lettuce I extend the cropping for as long as possible by harvesting a leaf from each plant rather than taking a whole lettuce. I only make two sowings. Most successional sowings I am making 5-6 sowings per season.

You don't need to be organised. You just need lots of popup reminders on a pocket PC and you can switch off your brain. I'm the other sort of scary type... gadgets and cool shades  8)

[redimp]

I'm the most disorganised person I know.  I would be organised if I had the choice but I can't get organised enough to get organised if you know what I mean  ???

Aren't people who are too organised a bit scary  ;D

I think we are all left brainers.  I am a disorganised mess most of the time.  My brother is a right brainer and is anally retentive.  I prefer  my short comings.

Oh, and to stay on thread, I would love to be good a succesional sowing - I managed to do it with my cabbages and the first sowing failed so a good job too.  I did it also with my French beans but my successions were too small.  Totally failed with my lettuce twice thinking I had sown some more and now have no homegrown lettuce.  Waiting for a few leaves through September but do not have a winter variety  :(

[anneski]

I'm the other sort of scary type... gadgets and cool shades  8)

Coooool...... and if memory serves you also have an Indian guide called 'One Who Waits', an obsession with movies, a great line in odd quotes and waaaaaaay too much aggro from Maurice Minniefield!

Pass the popcorn Ed!  ;D

[Vez1]

i didn't do much successional sowing asonly got my plot in April and am still new to all of this. Next year I plan to do it, I like being organised. I have measure both plats and am about todraw up little plans of what is going where.
You've guessed it I am a right brainer.

[Ed^Chigliak]

you also have an Indian guide called 'One Who Waits', an obsession with movies, a great line in odd quotes and waaaaaaay too much aggro from Maurice Minniefield!

Alsas no... although it would be nice.

Perhaps one day I will camp down the allotment and bury my hand in the ground overnight to find out if I am to be a Shaman.  ;D

I forgot to mention... successional french beans.