New World Survival · Community Garden Field Manual

Succession Planting Workbook

Map a small plot in time as well as space. Use local planting windows, prepare replacements before beds open, record actual harvest dates, and simplify the plan when it exceeds your capacity.

Local dates control. Do not copy planting dates from this workbook or another region. Record the Cooperative Extension calendar you are actually using.

1. Plot and season

Garden / plot

Year

Gardener

Approximate usable area

2. Local planting reference

Extension office / source

Calendar URL / publication

Local frost / season reference

Fall growth adjustment source

3. Bed map

Draw the bed and divide it into management zones if only part of the plot will turn over at a time.

4. Crop space-time schedule

Bed / zone	Crop	Plant date	Expected first harvest	Likely removal window	Next crop

5. Strategy choice

Crop / zone	Strategy	Why	Main risk
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay
	☐ staggered ☐ maturity groups ☐ replacement ☐ relay

6. Days-to-maturity record

Crop / variety	Listed days	Count starts at	Source	Target harvest window
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear
		☐ direct sow ☐ transplant ☐ unclear

7. Repeated-sowing plan

Crop	Batch	Planned date	Actual date	Why this interval?

8. Replacement queue

Outgoing crop	Replacement	Latest useful planting window	Seed / transplant ready date	Status
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan
				☐ ready ☐ start now ☐ source ☐ change plan

9. Transplant lead-time planner

Crop	Target outdoor date	Seed-start lead time/source	Seed-start date	Hardening / transition plan

10. Fall back-planning worksheet

Crop	Desired harvest / establishment	DTM definition	Local fall adjustment	Calculated target plant date	Frost tolerance checked?
					☐
					☐
					☐
					☐
					☐
					☐
					☐
					☐

11. Relay / overlap check

Outgoing crop	Incoming crop	Overlap dates	Light / root / water conflict?	Decision
				☐ relay ☐ serial replacement
				☐ relay ☐ serial replacement
				☐ relay ☐ serial replacement
				☐ relay ☐ serial replacement
				☐ relay ☐ serial replacement
				☐ relay ☐ serial replacement
				☐ relay ☐ serial replacement

12. Turnover checklist

☐ Current crop no longer justifies the space or replacement window is closing

☐ Replacement date still fits local guidance

☐ Spent crop and weeds removed appropriately

☐ Pest / disease record reviewed

☐ Soil moisture and physical condition checked

☐ Amendment decision based on evidence, not routine

☐ Replacement seed / transplant ready

☐ Watering plan adjusted for establishment

13. Turnover record

Zone	Outgoing crop removed	Reason	Replacement planted	Actual gap days

14. Workload audit

Seed starting per week

Transplanting per week

Extra watering checks

Harvest / processing load

What should be simplified?

15. Harvest-glut record

Crop	Successions that overlapped	Why they converged	Next-year interval change

16. Missed-window record

Crop planned	Window missed	Why	Replacement decision	Prevention next year

17. Actual season record

Crop	Plant date	First harvest	Final harvest / removal	Notes on weather / growth

18. What changed from the plan?

Finished earlier than expected

Finished later than expected

Best succession

Succession to drop next year

19. Capability check

☐ I can locate the local planting calendar.

☐ I know what the listed days to maturity mean for my crop.

☐ I can distinguish the four succession strategies.

☐ I prepare replacements before the bed opens.

☐ I can back-plan fall crops with a local adjustment.

☐ I can change the plan when the window is missed.

☐ I do not automatically amend the soil at turnover.

☐ I can keep the workload within my capacity.

☐ I record actual dates instead of preserving only the original plan.

20. Handoff note

List the next three scheduled actions and the date each must happen.

Action	Crop / zone	Due date	Why it matters