Planting

Relay Cropping for Roots, Tubers & Specialty Vegetables

Table of Contents

Includes: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots (if desired), ginger, garlic, onions, parsnips, radishes, turnips

Relay Cropping Root and Tuber Vegetables

Root crops occupy underground space but often leave canopy space above them for short-term leafy crops. Relay cropping improves productivity by pairing slow-developing roots with fast greens or by planting the next root crop before the previous one is completely gone. Ginger and garlic, both long-season crops, pair beautifully with quick-maturing relays early and late in their cycles.

In small gardens, these combinations reduce empty bed time and keep nutrients cycling through the soil.

Relay-Cropping Compatibility Chart: Roots & Tubers

Primary Crop (Ending)	Relay Crop (Beginning)	Why They Work Together
Potatoes	Lettuce	Lettuce fills space before potato foliage closes canopy.
Potatoes	Spinach	Spinach germinates in early spring alongside young potatoes.
Potatoes	Green onions	Onions mature upright without interfering with tubers.
Sweet potatoes	Lettuce	Lettuce finishes before vines spread fully.
Sweet potatoes	Radishes	Quick radish harvest before vines take over.
Garlic	Lettuce	Lettuce grows in early spring between garlic rows.
Garlic	Spinach	Spinach handles cool soil under garlic stalks.
Ginger	Lettuce	Lettuce enjoys early-season shade and finishes early.
Ginger	Green onions	Onions mature before ginger thickens.
Radishes	Spinach	Spinach takes over after radishes lift.
Turnips	Lettuce	Lettuce fills space after turnip harvest.
Parsnips	Green onions	Onions grow while slow parsnips mature.
Onions (bulb)	Lettuce	Lettuce matures quickly in open spaces.
Green onions	Spinach	Fast spinach grows around upright onions.

Conclusion

Relay cropping roots, tubers, and specialty vegetables is a simple way to turn every square foot of your garden into a productive, season-long system. By staggering plantings and pairing crops with compatible growth habits, you harvest more often, reduce empty bed time, and build healthier soil through continuous living roots. With a bit of planning and observation—as well as a willingness to adapt based on weather and crop performance—you can create a steady, predictable rhythm of planting and harvesting that keeps your garden thriving from early spring through late fall.

Stephen Albert

Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

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