Succession Planting Calculator & Chart
See exact sow and harvest dates for every batch — example below uses Toronto. Search your city to personalize. Free, no signup.
Lettuce — Toronto, ON
Every 7 days · 45-day maturity| Batch | Sow / Plant | Harvest by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 6 | May 21 |
| 2 | Apr 13 | May 28 |
| 3 | Apr 20 | Jun 4 |
| 4 | Apr 27 | Jun 11 |
| 5 | May 4 | Jun 18 |
| 6 | May 11 | Jun 25 |
| 7 | May 18 | Jul 2 |
| 8 | May 25 | Jul 9 |
| 9 | Jun 1 | Jul 16 |
| 10 | Jun 8 | Jul 23 |
| 11 | Jun 15 | Jul 30 |
| 12 | Jun 22 | Aug 6 |
Based on Toronto's last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 30). Schedule stops once harvest would miss the frost window.
What is Succession Planting?
Succession planting means sowing the same crop at staggered intervals — every 1 to 4 weeks — so you harvest fresh vegetables continuously instead of all at once. It is the simplest way for Canadian gardeners to get more from a short growing season.
The widget above uses your location's frost dates to space each batch automatically. For custom sow dates, maturity windows, and seed-starting details, use the full calculator below.
Full Calculator — Custom Sow Date & Seed Starting
Fine-tune your first sow date, see seed-starting and transplant dates, and calculate for all 50+ crops in our database.
Save your succession schedule
Create a free account to save your planting dates, set reminders for each sowing, and plan your full season.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Pick a crop — choose from 15+ vegetables optimized for Canadian growing conditions.
- 2Select your location — we use your region's average last-spring and first-fall frost dates to calculate safe planting windows.
- 3Get your schedule — the calculator shows every planting date with recommended intervals so you harvest fresh produce all season long.
Why Succession Planting Works
Instead of planting 30 lettuce heads in April and harvesting them all at once in June, you plant a small batch every week or two for a continuous supply of fresh greens from spring through fall.
This technique is essential for Canadian gardeners who want to make the most of a limited growing season. By staggering your plantings, you avoid the feast-or-famine cycle where your garden produces more than you can eat for two weeks, then nothing at all.
Succession planting works best with fast-maturing crops like lettuce, radishes, spinach, and bush beans. Crops that produce continuously over a long period, such as tomatoes and peppers, are typically planted once and harvested throughout the season.
Succession Planting by Zone in Canada
Your planting schedule depends on your hardiness zone. Here are example succession timelines for common Canadian zones:
Zone 3 (Prairies, Northern Ontario)
Short season — start lettuce indoors in April, direct sow every 2 weeks from late May through mid-July. Last sowing of spinach by early August for a fall harvest before the September frost.
Zone 4 (Ottawa, Manitoba)
Sow radishes every 10 days from early May to mid-August. Start bush beans in late May and plant a second batch in late June for harvests through September.
Zone 5 (Southern Ontario, Montreal)
Sow lettuce every 2 weeks from April 20 through July. Plant carrots in mid-May, again in mid-June, and a final batch in early July for harvests into October.
Zone 6 (Southern BC, Niagara)
Longer season — begin succession sowing in mid-April and continue through August. Kale and spinach planted in late August will produce well into November with light frost protection.
Not sure which zone you are in? Use the calculator above with your location and it will apply the correct frost dates automatically. For a full zone-by-zone schedule, see our succession planting guide for Canada.
Succession Planting Chart
Recommended planting intervals for 15 popular Canadian garden vegetables
| Crop | Planting Interval | Method | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | Every 7 days | Direct Seed / Transplant | Cool | Multiple varieties extend harvest; bolt-resistant for summer |
| Radish | Every 7 days | Direct Seed | Cool | Fastest crop; interplant with slow-growers like carrots |
| Spinach | Every 10 days | Direct Seed | Cool | Spring and fall; too hot in midsummer without shade |
| Arugula | Every 10 days | Direct Seed | Cool | Quick to bolt in heat; best in spring and fall |
| Cilantro | Every 10 days | Direct Seed | Cool | Bolts rapidly; frequent succession is essential |
| Basil | Every 14 days | Transplant | Warm | Start indoors; transplant after last frost only |
| Bush Beans | Every 14 days | Direct Seed | Warm | Concentrated harvest; 3 plantings covers the season |
| Peas | Every 14 days | Direct Seed | Cool | Spring and late summer plantings; skip midsummer |
| Carrots | Every 14 days | Direct Seed | Cool | Slow to germinate; keep soil moist for 14-21 days |
| Beets | Every 14 days | Direct Seed | Cool | Harvest greens early; roots later. Dual-purpose crop |
| Kale | Every 21 days | Direct Seed / Transplant | Cool | Very cold-hardy; sweetens after frost |
| Swiss Chard | Every 21 days | Direct Seed / Transplant | Cool/Warm | Heat-tolerant; harvest outer leaves continuously |
| Broccoli | Every 21 days | Transplant | Cool | Spring and fall crops; harvest side shoots after main head |
| Cucumbers | Every 21 days | Direct Seed / Transplant | Warm | Stagger for extended harvest; pick frequently |
| Summer Squash | Every 30 days | Direct Seed / Transplant | Warm | 1-2 plants per planting is usually enough |
How It Works in Our Planner
Choose Your Crops
Select from 50+ vegetables in our crop database, each with Canadian-specific growing data and timing.
Set Succession Intervals
Define how many plantings you want and the interval between each. Our planner calculates all the dates automatically.
Get Your Full Schedule
See seed starting, transplanting, and harvest dates for every planting on a visual timeline. Export to calendar or CSV.
Benefits of Succession Planting
Continuous Harvest
Enjoy fresh vegetables every week instead of a single overwhelming harvest. No more wasted produce or empty garden beds.
Maximize Space
Keep every square foot of your garden productive all season. As one crop finishes, the next planting is already growing.
Reduce Waste
Harvest only what you need each week. Smaller, staggered plantings mean less food going to waste and more going to your table.
Extend Your Season
Late-season plantings of cold-hardy crops give you fresh produce well into fall, stretching your Canadian growing season.
Succession Planting FAQ
What is succession planting?
Succession planting is the practice of sowing the same crop at regular intervals throughout the growing season. Instead of planting all your lettuce at once and harvesting it all at once, you plant a new batch every 7-14 days to ensure a continuous supply of fresh vegetables throughout the season.
How often should I succession plant?
Planting intervals vary by crop. Fast-growing greens like lettuce and radishes benefit from weekly sowings. Medium crops like beans and carrots do best with 14-day intervals. Slower crops like broccoli and kale need 21-day spacing between plantings.
Which vegetables are best for succession planting?
The best candidates are fast-maturing crops that you want a continuous supply of: lettuce, radishes, spinach, arugula, cilantro, bush beans, and carrots. Crops like tomatoes and peppers are typically planted once since they produce continuously over a long period.
When should I stop succession planting in Canada?
Stop succession planting when there is not enough time for the crop to mature before your first fall frost. Count backwards from your first frost date using the crop maturity time. For example, if lettuce takes 45 days and your first frost is September 20, your last planting should be around August 5.
Can I succession plant in raised beds or containers?
Yes. Succession planting works in any growing setup, including raised beds, containers, and in-ground gardens. In smaller spaces, it is especially valuable because it maximizes your harvest from limited area throughout the season.
New to succession planting? Read our zone-by-zone succession planting guide for crop-specific intervals, last sowing dates, and a sample schedule for Canadian zones 3–6. Pair it with our companion planting guide to choose the best neighbours for each succession.
Plan Your Succession Planting Schedule
Our free calculator generates exact planting dates based on your frost date. Try it now, or sign up for the full planner with succession planting built in.
Explore More Resources
Planting Dates by Province
Province-specific planting dates, zones, and growing tips for all 10 provinces.
US State Planting Dates
USDA zones, frost dates, and growing tips for all 50 US states.
Hardiness Zones Canada
Find your Canadian hardiness zone by city with USDA equivalents.
Frost Dates Canada
Find your last spring frost and first fall frost dates by province.
When to Plant Vegetables
19 popular crops with timing, frost tolerance, and Canadian tips.
Free Calculator
Calculate exact planting dates based on your location and frost dates.