What is succession planting?
Succession planting staggers sowings of the same crop — or complementary crops — so something is always ready to harvest. Instead of 20 lettuces maturing in one week, you might sow a row every fortnight and eat fresh leaves for months.
In New Zealand's varied climates, timing matters. A sowing schedule that works in Auckland won't suit Invercargill. That's why this tool pairs each crop with regional season windows and calculates repeat plantings from maturity days and succession intervals.
How to use the calendar
- Select your NZ region — 11 zones from frost-free Northland to short-season Otago.
- Set season start and end dates — defaults are provided; adjust for your microclimate.
- Choose crops — browse 82 vegetables and 23 herbs, filter by season or method, or try Popular / Beginner presets.
- Generate your timeline — review the Gantt chart for sow, transplant, and harvest windows.
- Export — download CSV or import the ICS file into a dedicated garden calendar (not your personal one).
Ready to build your plan? The interactive tool takes about five minutes to set up.
Open planting calendar →Calendar import tips
Before importing the ICS file:
- Create a new calendar in your app (e.g. "My Garden 2026")
- Import the file into that calendar only
- When you replan with different crops, delete the old garden calendar and start fresh
This keeps dozens of planting reminders organised and easy to reset each season.
Frequently asked questions
What is succession planting?
Succession planting means sowing the same crop at regular intervals so you harvest continuously instead of all at once. Planting lettuce every two weeks, for example, gives fresh leaves across the season rather than a single glut.
Which crops work best for succession?
Fast-maturing crops suit succession best — lettuce, Asian greens, radish, bush beans, and coriander. The calendar's Popular and Beginner presets are a good starting point. Source subtropical understory plants from Troppo.nz for food forest layers.
Which NZ regions are supported?
Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Gisborne/Hawke's Bay, Taranaki/Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury, West Coast, and Otago/Southland — each with preset season dates you can customise.
Can I use this for a food forest garden?
Yes — use the calendar for annual and quick-turn understory crops while perennial canopy layers establish. For broader food forest design, try Orchard Planner. For community support, visit Food Forests NZ (.co.nz) or see working demos at Grow Te Puke.
Is this tool free?
Yes — free for personal, educational, and non-commercial gardening use, from Troppo and Vector Group Charitable Trust.