Relay Cropping

Includes: daisy-family flowers (zinnia, marigold, cosmos, calendula), plus any cut-flower companions you prefer Using Flowers in Relay Cropping to Boost Productivity Relay cropping is not only for vegetables—flowers can be relayed between crops to support pollinators, reduce pest pressure, and maintain continuous bloom. Daisy-family flowers (Asteraceae) are among the best because they mature quickly, bloom…

Includes: lettuce, spinach, kale, celery, leeks, bulb onions, green onions, fennel, peas, radishes, turnips, parsnips, fava beans, garlic How Relay Cropping Boosts Productivity With Leafy and Cool-Season Crops Relay cropping—sowing a second crop among or alongside a maturing first crop—works especially well with fast-growing leafy greens and cool-season roots. These crops thrive in the filtered…

Includes: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, summer squash, winter squash, sweet potatoes, corn Warm-Season Relay Cropping: Extending the Harvest Window Warm-season vegetables often start slowly, then accelerate as temperatures rise. Relay cropping takes advantage of their gradual early growth by planting quick-maturing or cool-season crops between young transplants. As the warm-season plants spread, the early crops…

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…

Relay cropping is a gardening technique where a second crop is planted directly into a standing first crop before it is harvested. This ensures that garden beds are always covered by actively photosynthesizing plants, improving productivity, maximizing light use, and maintaining soil health. By overlapping crops in this way, gardeners can make continuous use of…