Growing a productive fall vegetable garden in Louisiana is one of the most rewarding experiences for a home gardener. The heat of summer starts to fade, and cool-season crops thrive. But to make the most of that precious window, you need a plan. That is where creating your own successful succession planting plan comes into play, and I’m here to help you feel confident in making it happen.
Plant, Grow, Harvest, Repeat (Meg McAndrews Cowden -2022)
Succession planting means that by staggering your planting dates, you can keep a continual harvest well into November and beyond. And if you do it in raised garden beds, you get even better control over soil warmth, drainage, and weed pressure.
I grew up in South Louisiana, and my raised beds are the backbone of my Fall garden. They warm up faster in early fall, drain well after our heavy rains, and let me plant in tight, organized blocks. That’s especially important with maximizing your garden space. With a few simple succession strategies, I can harvest lettuce, broccoli, turnips, and greens for months. Let me show you that this is the perfect time to make succession gardening your own in your Louisiana garden.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Fall is a more productive growing season than spring for cool-weather crops in Louisiana. Plants mature as temperatures decrease rather than bolting in rising heat.
- Succession planting is a technique where you stagger planting dates every 10 to 14 days. Tailor this to each crop’s maturity to maintain continuous harvests.
- North Louisiana experiences earlier frost dates and has earlier planting deadlines than South Louisiana. Many crops require planting by October 15 in the North versus November 15 in the South.
- Raised beds provide faster soil warming in early fall and superior drainage during Louisiana’s heavy rain events, making them ideal for managing multiple succession plantings in defined growing blocks.
- Fast-growing crops like radishes, lettuce, and bush beans mature in 25 to 50 days and are easiest to succession plant, while slower crops like broccoli and Brussels sprouts require single or double plantings on specific dates.
Why Louisiana Is Perfect for Fall Succession Planting
Many home gardeners think Spring is the main growing season, but Fall is actually more reliable for many cool-weather crops. Cool-season vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and kale grow best when temperatures are mild. In Louisiana, our fall weather provides warm soil to start seeds, then cooler air for leaf and head development. The LSU AgCenter provides detailed planting windows for both North and South Louisiana, and by following those dates, you can keep the garden producing through multiple successions, especially with fast-maturing crops.
Growing cool-season brassicas in spring is difficult because the transition to hot weather causes bolting. Fall planting avoids that problem entirely. The plants mature as the weather gets cooler, which improves flavor and quality. That general principle applies here in Louisiana just as much as anywhere else.
North Louisiana vs. South Louisiana Planting Windows
The LSU AgCenter separates planting recommendations for north and south Louisiana because the climates differ significantly. In north Louisiana, frost comes earlier, so planting windows close sooner. In South Louisiana, the longer warm season lets you plant well into November. Pay attention to which region you are in, and use the specific month-by-month schedule below.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for Louisiana
One way that the US Department of Agriculture provides us with a better understanding of our climate is through the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones for the United States and each state (Louisiana). The appropriate zones and sowing times are listed on the seed packet to help gardeners know when to plant. The following diagram illustrates the Plant Hardiness Zones in Louisiana:
Timing Recommendations for Fall Garden
| Month | North Louisiana | South Louisiana |
| August | Lima beans (pole and bush), cucumbers, Irish potatoes, summer squash (by the end of the month) | Pole-type snap beans, eggplants, okra, lima beans (all month) |
| September | English peas, pumpkins (by Sept. 15), bush-type snap beans (by month’s end) | Cucumbers, Irish potatoes, summer squash (by midmonth), celery plants (by Sept. 25), English peas, pumpkins (by Sept. 15), bush snap beans (by month’s end) |
| October | Broccoli, Brussels sprouts (by Oct. 15), cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, Swiss chard (by Oct. 15), kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, rutabagas (by Oct. 15), turnips (for roots), collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens; carrots and celery (by Oct. 15), kale (through Oct. 31) | Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower (by Oct. 15), Chinese cabbage, Swiss chard, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, rutabagas (by Oct. 15), turnips (roots), collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens; carrots and celery (all month), kale (through Nov.) |
| November | Beets and spinach (by Nov. 15), cabbage and garlic (through month’s end) | Beets and spinach (by Nov. 15), cabbage and garlic (through month’s end), mustard and turnip greens (by Nov. 10), carrots, kale, lettuce (by Nov. 15), shallots (anytime through Feb.) |
Notice that many crops can be planted across multiple months. That is the foundation of succession planting. You can put in a small patch of bush beans in late August, then another patch in mid-September, and a third in early October, as long as you respect the final planting dates.
How Succession Planting Works in Raised Beds
Raised beds make succession planting much easier.
First, the soil warms up faster in early fall, so that you can start seeds earlier than in-ground beds. The defined borders keep each planting block separate. I often divide my raised beds into quarters and plant a different crop in each quarter. When one quarter is harvested, I clear it out and replant immediately with a new crop. Or you can just plant or sow seeds however you want. That’s the beauty of having raised beds in the backyard.
Another big advantage of raised beds is how they drain the soil. Louisiana fall can bring heavy rain from tropical systems and cold fronts. Raised beds drain excess water quickly, preventing root rot and disease. That is especially important for crops like lettuce, which hate soggy soil.
Full sun is still essential for most vegetable gardens, especially during fall when the sun angle drops. Vegetables need six to eight hours of sunlight a day for the best production. Leafy vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage can get by with less sunshine, but you will still get better growth with more sun. Position your raised beds to catch maximum light from September through November.
Staggering By Growth Rate and Season
Fast crops like radishes, lettuce, and bush beans are the easiest to succession plant. You can use succession sowing, planting a new row every 10 to 14 days, to enjoy a continuous harvest. Slower-growing crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and pumpkins need more room and longer maturity periods, so you plant them once or twice on specific dates.
Here is a simple succession crop schedule I use in my South Louisiana raised beds:
- Late August: Plant bush beans and lima beans in one bed. Harvest starts in about 50 days. After the last picking, replant with turnips or mustard greens.
- Mid-September: Set out broccoli transplants and sow bush-type snap beans. Broccoli can be planted from August 1 to October 31 statewide, according to the LSU AgCenter.
- Early October: Plant kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, and Swiss chard. Also, sow carrots if you are in South Louisiana (North Louisiana has until Oct. 15).
- Early November: Plant garlic (by the end of the month), beets and spinach (by Nov. 15), and in south Louisiana, more lettuce and kale (by Nov. 15).
If you are in north Louisiana, move those dates out by about two weeks and pay close attention to the October 15 deadlines for Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, rutabagas, carrots, and celery. Kale can be planted through October 31 in north Louisiana, which gives you a little extra time.
| Crop | Days to Maturity | Succession Frequency |
| Radishes | 25-30 days | Every 7-10 days |
| Lettuce (leaf) | 45-50 days | Every 14 days |
| Bush Beans | 50-55 days | Every 14-21 days |
| Turnips (greens) | 30-40 days | Every 14 days |
| Broccoli | 60-85 days | 1-2 plantings only |
Best Crops for Succession Planting in Louisiana Fall
Not all vegetables are suited to succession planting. The best candidates are those with short maturity times or those that you harvest leaf by leaf. Here are the top performers based on the LSU AgCenter planting windows and my own experience. You can also look at seed packets, but I prefer to check local sources like the LSU AgCenter.
Leafy Greens
Leafy crops, such as collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, and spinach, all grow quickly in the fall. In Louisiana, you can plant many of these from October through early November. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, kale, broccoli, and cabbage can get by with less sunlight, making them perfect for partial-shade spots in your raised beds. I sow a new row of lettuce every two weeks from October through mid-November in south Louisiana.
Brassicas (Cabbage Family)
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and kohlrabi are cool-season stars. Broccoli plants can be planted in both south and north Louisiana from August 1 to October 31. Fall planting is more reliable than spring planting because plants mature in cooler weather, reducing the risk of bolting. In raised beds, I give each broccoli plant at least 18 inches of space, and I plant a second batch in September, after the first August planting is well on its way.
Root Crops
Beets, carrots, radishes, turnips (both roots and greens), and rutabagas are excellent for succession. Root vegetables will grow fast after sowing. Radishes mature in 25 to 30 days, so you can sow a new batch every week. Carrots take longer, but South Louisiana gardeners can plant through November 15. I sow carrots in early October and again in early November in South Louisiana. In north Louisiana, get carrots in by October 15.
Legumes
Bush-type snap beans, pole-type snap beans, English peas, and lima beans all work for Fall’s cool season. Bush snap beans can be planted statewide by the end of September. I plant a late August batch and a mid-September batch for two harvests. English peas need to go in by September 15.
Bulb Crops
Garlic and shallots are planted in fall and harvested the following spring. Garlic can be planted through the end of November statewide. Shallots can be planted anytime between now and February 28, which gives you enormous flexibility. I tuck shallots into the edges of my raised beds after the summer crops are done.
Planning Your Succession in Raised Beds
The key to a long fall harvest is preparation.
Start by mapping your raised beds on paper. Decide which crops you want to grow, then check the planting windows for your region. Use the table above to determine the earliest and latest dates for each crop. Then make a simple schedule: Plant bed A with bush beans in late August, then after harvest in October, replant with kale or turnips. Plant bed B with broccoli transplants in mid-September, then underplant with radishes for a quick bonus crop. Plant bed C with lettuce and carrots in October, then follow with spinach in November.
Keep in mind that pumpkins planted in September will not be ready for Halloween in Louisiana. They need a longer growing season than our fall offers. If you want pumpkins for carving, plant them in spring or early summer. For fall, focus on pumpkins you plan to store for winter use, and accept that they will mature after Halloween.
Soil Amendments and Feeding the Soil
Healthy soil is essential, so replenish your raised bed soil between seasons and even between succession plantings. After pulling out spent crops, add a few inches of compost or aged manure. Work it into the soil surface. The compost keeps the nutrient supply steady (and organic) for the next set of plants.
Watering in Fall
Even though temperatures drop, fall can still be dry. Raised beds dry out faster than in-ground gardens. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on rain. Mulch with straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture and keep the soil cool for fall crops. In Louisiana, we can still have 90-degree days in September, so it is a good idea to recognize that watering needs remain high early in the season.
MOST IMPORTANT INSIGHTS TO REMEMBER
- Fall planting eliminates bolting problems that plague spring brassicas because crops mature as temperatures decrease rather than increase, resulting in better head formation and flavor for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and other cool-season vegetables in Louisiana gardens.
- Regional planting deadlines differ by up to 30 days between North and South Louisiana: North Louisiana requires completion of most plantings by October 15, while South Louisiana allows plantings through November 15 for many crops, making location-specific timing critical for success.
- Dividing raised beds into quarters enables continuous production and risk management by allowing independent succession schedules in each section and preventing a total crop loss when weather events such as flooding or unexpected freezes affect only portions of the growing space.
- Fast-maturing crops planted every 10-14 days create continuous harvests through December, with radishes maturing in 25-30 days, lettuce in 45-50 days, and turnip greens in 30-40 days, making them ideal succession candidates compared to slower 60-85-day crops like broccoli.
- Raised beds provide 5-10°F warmer soil temperatures in early fall, allowing seeds to germinate faster and enabling gardeners to plant 7-10 days earlier than in-ground beds. At the same time, superior drainage prevents root rot during Louisiana’s heavy fall rain events.
Putting It All Together for a Continuous Harvest
Succession planting in Louisiana raised beds is about timing and organization. Use the LSU AgCenter dates as your guide. Start with fast crops like radishes and bush beans, then follow with slower crops like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Keep a calendar or a simple notebook to track when you plant each bed. When you harvest one crop, immediately replant with something else.
By November, I am still harvesting lettuce, kale, and carrots from my raised beds, and I have garlic and shallots tucked in for spring. It takes a little planning up front, but the payoff is fresh produce for months. If you like this post, check out my latest posting on fall gardens in Louisiana including how to extend the fall growing season in Zone 9A, best vegetables to plan in Fall, and the Fall Planting Guide for Zone 9A, plus other raised garden bed posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reuse the same raised bed soil for multiple succession plantings without adding new compost each time?
While you can replant in the same soil for one or two quick successions of light feeders like radishes or lettuce, heavy feeders like broccoli and cabbage will deplete nutrients rapidly. It’s smart to add at least one to two inches of fresh compost between each succession planting to replenish nitrogen and organic matter. If you skip soil amendments, your harvest will be progressively smaller.
What should I do if I miss the LSU AgCenter planting deadline for a crop I really want to grow?
If you miss a deadline by only a few days to a week in South Louisiana, you can still plant and accept a slightly reduced yield or smaller mature size. However, missing deadlines by two weeks or more significantly increases the risk of crop failure due to insufficient growing days before the first frost or freeze occurs. We recommend that, instead of forcing a late planting, you choose a faster-maturing variety of the same crop or switch to an even quicker crop.
How do I keep succession-planted lettuce from bolting if we get an unexpected warm spell in October?
Louisiana can experience 85-90°F days even in mid-October. Select bolt-resistant lettuce varieties like Jericho, Nevada, or Magenta for your succession plantings rather than standard butterhead types. You will have much better success. You can also provide afternoon shade using shade cloth (30-40% density) during heat spikes, and water in early morning to keep soil temperatures cooler. Lettuce planted in raised beds with darker soil is more vulnerable to heat, so consider adding a light-colored mulch, such as straw, around seedlings to reflect heat rather than absorb it.
Should I fertilize between succession plantings or just rely on compost additions?
Compost provides slow-release nutrients sufficient for most fall crops if you add 2 to 3 inches of compost between plantings. However, heavy feeders in their second or third succession spot may benefit from supplemental feeding. Apply a balanced organic root stimulator or fertilizer (like 5-5-5) at half the package rate when transplanting brassicas, or side-dress leafy greens with compost tea every three weeks. Avoid high-nitrogen synthetic fertilizers to stay organic.
Can I plant tomatoes and peppers in the fall for a second harvest?
Tomatoes and peppers are warm-season crops that need heat to fruit. In Louisiana, you can sometimes get a fall crop if you set out transplants in July or early August, but the LSU AgCenter planting windows do not include them for August in north Louisiana. For reliable fall production, avoid tomato plants and stick with the cool-season crops listed in the October and November windows.
What is the best way to start fall vegetables in raised beds? Transplant or seed?
For crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, transplants from a garden center or your own indoor nursery give you a head start. For leafy greens, radishes, carrots, and beans, direct seeding works well. In raised beds, the soil stays warmer in September, so seeds germinate quickly. Always check the seed packet for planting depth and days to maturity.
MINI GLOSSARY
Succession Planting – The practice of staggering planting dates for the same crop over several weeks or months will extend the harvest period, rather than planting everything at once and experiencing a single large harvest followed by no production whatsoever.
Bolting –The process whereby cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage prematurely flower and produce seed when exposed to warm temperatures. Bolting causes the plant to refocus its energy on reproduction, growing seeds, rather than producing edible leaves or heads. Unfortunately, bolting makes the crop bitter and inedible.
Cool-Season Crops – Vegetables that grow best in temperatures between 40°F and 75°F, including leafy greens, brassicas, and root vegetables that thrive in Louisiana’s fall and winter rather than the hot months of summer.
Transplants – Seedlings started indoors or purchased from nurseries that have developed root systems and several true leaves are planted into garden beds to give crops a head start compared to direct seeding, particularly beneficial for slower-growing crops like broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
Underplanting – Underplanting is the practice of planting fast-maturing crops, such as radishes or lettuce, in the spaces between slower-growing plants like broccoli. The underplanting technique maximizes bed space and allows the quick crop to be harvested before the main crop needs the full area.
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