Successive Herb Planting Methods

Single Crop

• Stagger the planting dates of one type of herb ensuring that as one plant's harvest is depleted, another is getting ready for harvest. This prevents all of your plants being ready for harvest at the same time so you don't end up with too much. You get a steady stream of herbs ready to be picked. Plant a new basil seedling every week in the spring, and you'll never go without basil through the summer because every week a new plant will be ready for harvest.

Multiple Crops

• Plant one type of herb once another is harvested to make the most out of your garden going empty. As one crop's harvest finishes, put another seedling into the same spot. Plant cilantro early in the spring. Once you harvest the cool weather-loving cilantro, put in a sun-loving basil plant. Once the basil is harvested towards the end of the summer, replace it with another cool-weather herb, such as parsley.

Annuals

• Herbs suited for succession planting are annuals. Annuals grow for one season and die off on their own in own in one season. Because they are short-lived, they make the best candidates for succession planting. Some annuals to consider growing are basil, borage, chamomile, chervil, coriander, dill, fennel, nigella, pot marigold and savory. ??Perennial herbs, such as bay, chives, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme, don't require new seeds or transplants. They grow back from the existing root system, which can last for years. Plant perennials separate from annuals so you don't accidentally pull them up when their harvest is depleted.

Planning Dates

• The key to successful successive gardening is planning. Sort the herbs you want to grow into cool weather and warm weather crops. You'll want to get your cool spring herbs in as early as possible so they can be harvest and replaced with warm summer growing herbs, and you'll want to get your fall herbs in before a frost hits. Check to see when the first and last frost dates will hit your local area to help you plan planting and harvesting dates.