Succession Planting for Sunflowers, Lisianthus, Ranunculus, and Larkspur

Succession planting is a gardening technique where you stagger the planting of crops to ensure a continuous harvest over an extended period. This method is particularly valuable for cut flowers, allowing gardeners to enjoy fresh blooms all season long. For those growing flowers like lisianthus, ranunculus, sunflowers, and larkspur, succession planting can maximize your garden’s yield and bloom time.

In this post, we’ll explore how to effectively apply succession planting to these four beautiful cut flowers, ensuring you have a steady supply of stunning blooms throughout the growing season.

What is Succession Planting?

Succession planting involves planting crops in intervals, rather than all at once. By staggering the planting dates, you can extend the harvest window, reduce the risk of pest infestations, and ensure that flowers are at their peak bloom for a longer period. This method works especially well for flowers that have relatively short bloom cycles and prefer specific growing conditions.

When applied to flowers like lisianthus, ranunculus, sunflowers, and larkspur, succession planting can result in a garden full of vibrant, diverse blooms from early spring to late summer. Let's break down how this can be done for each flower.

1. Lisianthus: A Long Blooming Beauty

Lisianthus is a perennial often grown as an annual for its stunning, rose-like blooms that last from late spring through summer. This flower, though hardy in warm climates, requires a long growing season, making succession planting an ideal way to ensure continuous blooms.

Steps for Succession Planting Lisianthus:

1. Start Seeds Early:
• Lisianthus has a slow germination process and can take 10-14 days to sprout. Start seeds indoors around 10-12 weeks before the last expected frost (typically mid-winter for Zone 8b). You can transplant the seedlings outside when the danger of frost has passed.
2. Stagger Planting:
• To extend the bloom season, start new seeds every 4 weeks. This ensures that you have lisianthus flowers blooming continuously from late spring through summer. For example, plant batches of seeds in early January, early February, and early March.
3. Planting Outdoors:
• Transplant your lisianthus seedlings after the last frost when soil temperatures warm up to at least 65°F (18°C). If you're in a warmer area of Zone 8b, you might be able to plant earlier; otherwise, wait until the end of spring.
4. Care and Maintenance:
• Lisianthus thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms and protect plants from late-season heat, as high temperatures can lead to premature wilting.

2. Ranunculus: Vibrant Spring Blooms

Ranunculus is beloved for its colorful, ruffled blooms and is perfect for a spring garden. These flowers prefer cool weather, making them ideal for early planting in Zone 8b. By succession planting ranunculus, you can enjoy waves of blooms that last through early summer.

Steps for Succession Planting Ranunculus:

1. Plant Bulbs in Fall for Spring Blooms:
• In Zone 8b, plant ranunculus corms in fall (October to early November). Soak the corms for a few hours before planting them in the ground. By early spring, you’ll see the first flush of blooms.
2. Successive Planting in Early Spring:
• For a continuous display, plant additional ranunculus corms every 2-3 weeks starting in early winter. This staggered planting ensures that blooms will appear throughout the spring months, especially for varieties that bloom at different rates.
3. Optimize Growing Conditions:
• Ranunculus prefers cool temperatures (ideally 50-60°F or 10-15°C) and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. In late spring, as temperatures rise, the blooms may start to fade, but you can prolong their bloom time by providing some afternoon shade.

3. Sunflowers: The Summer Showstoppers

Sunflowers are the quintessential summer flower, known for their bold, cheerful blooms. With succession planting, you can ensure a continuous display of sunflowers throughout the warmer months.

Steps for Succession Planting Sunflowers:

1. Direct Seed Sowing:
• Sunflowers grow quickly and can be direct-seeded in the ground once the soil is warm (typically after the last frost). Start planting sunflower seeds in early spring (around late April or early May) for the first round of blooms.
2. Plant Successively:
• For a steady stream of blooms, plant additional sunflower seeds every 2 weeks from early spring through mid-summer. This will ensure you have sunflowers in bloom from late spring through fall.
3. Variety Selection:
• Choose a variety of sunflower types, from dwarf varieties for smaller spaces to towering giants, to create visual interest and increase harvest potential. Some varieties, such as pro-cut or pollen-free sunflowers, are especially suited for cut flower production.
4. Support for Tall Varieties:
• Tall sunflowers require staking or some form of support to prevent them from toppling in the wind. Planting them in a spot with good air circulation and consistent watering helps prevent disease.

4. Larkspur: A Gorgeous Early Summer Flower

Larkspur (Delphinium) produces beautiful spikes of blue, purple, and white flowers that are perfect for early summer arrangements. These flowers do well in cooler temperatures, so they’re best planted in early spring, with successive planting to extend their bloom time.

Steps for Succession Planting Larkspur:

1. Direct Seed in Early Spring:
• Larkspur seeds need a period of cold stratification, so start them early in the spring (around late February to early March) either in trays or directly in the soil. In Zone 8b, they should be sown after the last frost.
2. Stagger Planting:
• To extend the blooming period, sow new seeds every 2-3 weeks. This ensures that larkspur will bloom continuously from late spring to early summer.
3. Optimal Growing Conditions:
• Larkspur prefers cooler weather and full sun. They require rich, well-drained soil and consistent watering. They can be slightly frost-tolerant, so if you plant them early, you might get blooms in early summer. Protect young plants from extreme heat, which can cause them to wilt.
4. Deadheading for More Blooms:
• Deadheading spent flowers will help encourage more blooms and prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production. This practice is especially helpful for extending the harvest window.

Final Tips for Succession Planting in Your Cut Flower Garden:

• Monitor Soil Health: With succession planting, you’ll be planting multiple crops in the same soil throughout the season. Ensure you maintain healthy soil by adding compost and organic matter regularly to replenish nutrients.
• Pest Control: Keep an eye on common garden pests like aphids, snails, or caterpillars. Regularly inspect your plants and use natural remedies or pesticides as needed.
• Watering and Mulching: Keep your flowers hydrated during dry spells, but avoid overwatering, which can lead to rot. Mulching helps retain moisture and keeps the soil temperature more stable, which is especially important during the hot summer months.
• Succession Planting for a Beautiful, Diverse Garden: By varying the types of flowers and planting intervals, you can create a garden that is full of color and fragrance all season long. Rotate flower varieties to ensure that your garden is always in bloom, providing cut flowers for your home or business throughout the year.

Conclusion

Succession planting is a powerful strategy for creating a continuous supply of lisianthus, ranunculus, sunflowers, and larkspur throughout the growing season. By timing your plantings carefully, you can ensure that your cut flower garden remains full of vibrant blooms from spring through summer. With a little planning and patience, you’ll enjoy an ever-changing, beautiful garden that supplies stunning flowers for arrangements all season long. Happy planting!

Here’s a breakdown of succession planting for Lisianthus, Ranunculus, Sunflowers, and Larkspur in Zone 8b, with suggested planting and harvesting times for each flower.

Succession Planting Chart for Zone 8b

Flower	Planting Method	Optimal Planting Time (Zone 8b)	Harvest Period	Frequency of Succession Planting	Additional Tips
Lisianthus	Start seeds indoors, transplant outside after frost	Start indoors: Late January to February Transplant: April to early May	Late Spring to Summer (2-3 months after transplanting)	Every 4 weeks (indoor sowing) starting in January	Slow germination, protect from frost; provide full sun and well-drained soil
Ranunculus	Soak bulbs before planting, plant in the ground	Plant corms: October to November Winter/Spring Blooming: Early March to May	Early Spring to Early Summer (about 8-10 weeks after planting)	Every 2-3 weeks (planting corms in fall and early winter)	Requires cool temperatures for best blooms, protect from late frosts
Sunflowers	Direct seed into the ground or pots	Direct seed: Late April to May (after last frost)	Late Spring to Late Summer (from 60 to 90 days after sowing)	Every 2 weeks from April to mid-summer	Choose heat-tolerant varieties for hot summer months; staking may be required for tall varieties
Larkspur	Direct seed in the ground, or start seeds indoors	Direct seed: February to March (after last frost) Indoor sowing: January	Late Spring to Early Summer (about 60-80 days after sowing)	Every 2-3 weeks from February to March	Prefers cooler temperatures; protect from late frosts and extreme heat

Detailed Breakdown for Each Flower:

1. Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)

• Planting Time: Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date (early January to February). Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost, usually in April to early May.
• Succession Planting: Start new seeds every 4 weeks (January, February, and March). This ensures a continuous bloom period from late spring to summer.
• Harvest: Begin harvesting flowers about 2-3 months after transplanting, from late spring through summer.
• Tips: Lisianthus requires warm soil (65-70°F or 18-21°C) to germinate, and it’s sensitive to frost, so be mindful of frost dates. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

2. Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus)

• Planting Time: Ranunculus is typically planted as corms in fall (October-November) or early winter (December-January) for spring blooms. Soak corms for 2-3 hours before planting.
• Succession Planting: To extend the bloom period, plant additional corms every 2-3 weeks starting in fall, ensuring blooms from early spring through late spring.
• Harvest: Ranunculus flowers bloom around 8-10 weeks after planting, so expect a harvest from early March to May.
• Tips: Ranunculus prefers cool temperatures (50-60°F or 10-15°C) and full sun. Protect from late frosts in early spring. Mulch around the plants to help maintain consistent moisture levels.

3. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

• Planting Time: Direct seed sunflowers outdoors after the last frost (typically late April to early May). They can also be started indoors for earlier blooms.
• Succession Planting: For a continuous bloom from spring through late summer, plant sunflower seeds every 2 weeks from late April through mid-summer.
• Harvest: Depending on the variety, sunflowers mature in 60-90 days after planting. Expect blooms from late spring through summer.
• Tips: Choose varieties suited for your garden space (dwarf for small spaces, tall varieties for cutting). Sunflowers love full sun and well-drained soil. Water regularly but ensure the soil does not become waterlogged.

4. Larkspur (Delphinium spp.)

• Planting Time: Larkspur can be direct-seeded outdoors in early spring (late February to March) or started indoors in late winter (January). It prefers cooler temperatures, so early sowing ensures they bloom in late spring and early summer.
• Succession Planting: Start seeds every 2-3 weeks in early spring (February to March). This ensures blooms from late spring through early summer.
• Harvest: Larkspur typically blooms 60-80 days after sowing, with flowers appearing from late spring to early summer.
• Tips: Larkspur thrives in full sun and cool weather. It is sensitive to high heat, so try to harvest before summer heat peaks. Provide good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Additional Tips for Succession Planting:

• Soil Preparation: Ensure soil is well-drained and rich in organic matter. Amend the soil with compost and organic matter before planting.
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during germination and early growth stages. Water in the early morning to avoid fungal diseases and reduce the risk of overheating.
• Pest and Disease Management: Keep an eye out for pests like aphids, slugs, and caterpillars. Organic treatments like neem oil or insecticidal soap can be effective.
• Frost Protection: Be prepared to cover sensitive plants (like lisianthus and ranunculus) with frost blankets if frost threatens in the early spring or fall.

Conclusion

Succession planting is an excellent way to maximize your garden's potential for lisianthus, ranunculus, sunflowers, and larkspur in Zone 8b. By carefully timing your plantings, you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh, beautiful blooms for cutting from early spring through late summer. With proper care, attention to planting schedules, and monitoring for pests, you can extend your flowering season and enhance the diversity of your cut flower garden.