Guest Contributor: Cassey Anderson, Horticulture Agent, Colorado State University Extension
[PHOTO]
Continuous harvest
Crops that can benefit from a continuous harvest are those that, once they start to produce, will continue to do so as long as you keep them harvested. If you let the fruit get large or mature then it can signal to the plant that their reproductive efforts have been successful, and it may slow or stop new fruit production.
Pole bean – The pole bean is probably the poster child of plants that give you season-long production. They grow rapidly, produce quickly and will continue to put out new growth and new fruit as long as you keep them picked. Be aware that pole beans do not do well if they are not trellised, so you need some way to allow the bean to “wrap” and climb up onto a trellis – horizontal lines are vital to success with growing pole beans.
Summer squash – Probably the poster child of continual (and excessive?) production summer squash will continue to grow from the tip and push out new flowers and fruit. Do remember that squash have both male and female flowers and you need both to get successful fruit production. Squash can be harvested at almost any size, so if you get overwhelmed, try harvesting when very small (2-4” long) and pickle them! Or you can let the fruit get very large and hollow out the seeds and roast like a winter squash. Summer squash really is incredibly versatile. If you struggle with powdery mildew, you can prune out all but the youngest 7-10 leaves to increase airflow and reduce mildew growth.
Tomato – While a late-season contributor, tomatoes will continue to produce provided you have an indeterminate variety (the most common) and you keep the plant well supported and pruned. Tomatoes can benefit from structural support. There are many approaches to supporting the tomato plant, try a few and see which one works best for your gardening style. Tomatoes will still produce if not supported on a trellis but you’re more likely to have poor quality fruit due to ground pests and moisture.
Pepper – Peppers are a little slower to produce (depending on variety) than tomatoes, but they, too, will continue to push new growth and provide you with new peppers. When harvesting be sure to clip the pepper from the plant rather than tearing to ensure you don’t damage the plant.
Broccoli (if you pick the right one) – Not one that many gardeners consider, but breeders have developed several types of broccoli that produce side branches once the main crown has been harvested. You can try varieties such as bonanza, Umpqua, purple peacock, Waltham. Be sure to use a sharp knife, pruners, or scissors to create a clean cut when harvesting broccoli to keep the main stem healthy to allow for future production. Some growers find they can get a full season of broccoli harvest from this approach with just 2-3 broccoli plants.
Cucumber – Another of the vining crops, cucumbers will continue to grow new flowers and fruit and can become quite prolific! Be sure you stay on top of watering and have room to grow or a trellis to train the cucumber plant on because as the season progresses they can get quite large. Be sure to check under all the leaves, even in older parts of the vine in case you miss a cucumber as they can quickly grow large and unwieldly. Overlarge cucumbers can sometimes be salvaged as pickles especially if the seeds are removed.
Cut and regrow
You can cut the leaves of many of our leafy greens and then allow them to re-grow, sometimes several times. This allows a longer season of harvest before having to re-plant. For some leafy greens such as lettuce and arugula you want to plant more densely than you would if you were planning to let the plant grow into a mature head. For leafy greens such as kale, spinach, Swiss chard etc. you can harvest the largest outer leaves first and allow the plant to grow up from the middle over time. With both types you want to ensure you leave at least 2-3” intact above the soil. This reduces the chance that you will damage the growing point of the plant and allow it to continue to produce new leaves!
Succession planting
The next approach to ensuring good, continual harvests is to practice succession planting. Succession planting is where you continually plant on a 2–3-week interval to ensure continued harvest. This is particularly useful for leafy greens as we go into summer and temperatures increase.
If you have a 12 garden rows to dedicate to lettuce, for example, instead of planting all 12 rows at once, perhaps you plant 3 rows, then wait 2-3 weeks and plant another 3 rows, wait 2-3 weeks and plant another 3 rows, wait 2-3 weeks and plant the final 3 rows, by which point the first set might be nearing the end of its harvestable lifespan (or trying to bolt due to high temperatures!) and be ready to remove and re-plant again, thus continuing the cycle.
Common varieties to use this practice include lettuce, spinach, cilantro, radish, and beets. Some that may not occur to you may include zucchini if you struggle with powdery mildew (plant every 4-5 weeks for zucchini), or peas, where you could do a spring and fall harvest which is a little less succession sowing but peas are so awesome that we should plant more of them in the garden!
Another common crop to succession plant is bush beans, as they have limited production, so succession planting can guarantee that you have a full season of harvest. Do some experiments to see what works for you in your space!
As always, reach out to your local Extension office for further information if you have any questions.
🌱 Find all of Fresh Food Connect's Resources for Gardeners here
🥕 Gardening in Colorado? Check out CSU Extension's Grow & Give program for more information on growing to share for hunger relief in Colorado.
Your garden can make a difference!
Donating your extra homegrown produce for hunger relief is a meaningful way to give back in your community. The free Fresh Food Connect mobile app connects you to a local hunger relief program, then manages and tracks your donations of homegrown produce throughout the season. 🍅Download the app to get started!🍅