Rotation Riddle

[1Bee]

So.... you're supposed to manure in autumn, right? To let the worms break it up and incorporate it and improve the soil structure?

I'm following a (roughly) four year crop rotation, from the sainted John Harrison - Crop Rotation which means that I'm supposed to have:-

Onions & roots
then
heavy manuring
then
potatoes

But how do I give a bed a heavy dose of manure when it's growing leeks and parsnips right through till spring-ish?

*scratches head*

What am I missing?

[Thelma Sanders]

Will all of the area you will be putting the potatoes in be covered with growing leeks and parsnips, all winter?

As you lift a row, spread manure on that bit. Spuds don't usually go in 'til mid-March at the earliest - so there's usually enough time to add manure. As long as it's not fresh you can even add it as you plant.

I always plant my leeks after early potatoes
I just make sure that I don't plant something in the same place that I've just grown it - I don't follow any formal rotation plan. It is much easier

[1Bee]

Thanks Thelma, that sounds sensible.

Following (vaguely) a rotation helps me plan.... otherwise I'm constantly changing my mind and forgetting things. *eyeroll* Last year I only had enough usable manure for one bed, and happily put it on the wrong one because I forgot to follow the plan.... *facepalm*

[Snoop Puss]

I follow a rotation plan. As I've decided not to rotate my cucurbits, I'm moving over to a three rather than a four-year rotation:
Brassicas
Alliums and potatoes (leeks and calçots go in after the potatoes come out)
Everything else (roots, beetroot, lettuce, spinach, fennel, herbs, legumes and anything else)

Each of these groups has the same amount of space (four beds), which stops me from trying to grow every one of my cabbage and broccoli seedlings that germinate.

I use well-rotted manure and add it, in the appropriate amount, shortly before sowing or planting in the beds. I had the same problem as you over when to muck. Everyone I asked said they mucked in March. So I decided not to worry about the whole mucking in autumn convention. That's just me, though. Others may have other solutions.

[1Bee]

Thank you. I'm reassured. I hate that nagging feeling that I'm getting something wrong, somehow.

[Cadalot]

I'm in the process of sorting out my thoughts for my two allotments, but a game changer may be in the offing as I may get the neighbouring plot at my first allotment, which now I have arranged for a drop off and pick up area will actually be accessible in the future and I will not have to give it up and move lock stock and barrel to my second allotment that I have been trying to get ready for the move over as well as maintaining my original plot with restricted access.

My preliminary layout and all the historical layouts since 2012 can be found at Alans Allotment: Crop Rotation

[Baldy]

"Sainted" - hrmm

VC is heading that way here - according to wikihow anyway: "Develop a local "devotion" of people who remember your holiness and pray to you. Hopefully this should grow naturally out of your extraordinary life and works. "

As stated if its well rotted you can pretty much put it down with your seed spuds IMNSHO

[veggiechicken]

You're nuts, Baldy, that's all I have to say on the matter of my Sainthood
However, I think a Halo rather suits me



Re the original question, maybe the "Sainted John Harrison" could be asked to explain, if it isn't clear.
I don't bother with this rotation malarkey so I haven't the foggiest what its about.

[fishpond]

You're nuts, Baldy, that's all I have to say on the matter of my Sainthood
However, I think a Halo rather suits me

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Re the original question, maybe the "Sainted John Harrison" could be asked to explain, if it isn't clear.
I don't bother with this rotation malarkey so I haven't the foggiest what its about.

I thought rotation malarkey had something to do with dancing or cooking

[veggiechicken]

You're thinking of "stirring", methinks

[Cadalot]

VC Rotation malarkey is just moving everything along and not growing the same thing in the same bed every year, except rhubarb and strawberries umm perhaps runner beans there are bound to be some things that can remain static.

[veggiechicken]

...........and perennial leeks and onions and kale.............
My version of rotation is not to plant in the same spot the following year. I don't follow any sort of plan, as you may have noticed!

[Bren In Pots]

I have 3 main beds brassica, legumes, roots and move things along to the next bed each year, the beds aren't the same size so brassicas have priority in their bed and anything else gets shoved in a gap.

[1Bee]

Cadalot my brain melted about halfway through your first sentence... hope things work out as you want them!

LOL @ sainted conversations. JH's books are beside my bed, and were a really helpful go-to when I was getting started, especially the month-by-month bits. I don't do *everything* as he says, but I definitely kiss the book for a blessing once in a while... ;-)

[veggiechicken]

So.... you're supposed to manure in autumn, right? To let the worms break it up and incorporate it and improve the soil structure?

I'm following a (roughly) four year crop rotation, from the sainted John Harrison - Crop Rotation which means that I'm supposed to have:-

Onions & roots
then
heavy manuring
then
potatoes

But how do I give a bed a heavy dose of manure when it's growing leeks and parsnips right through till spring-ish?

*scratches head*

What am I missing?

I don't understand how potatoes can follow onions anyway as onions are in the ground until mid summer, and spuds are planted in spring.
To work this plan, you'd have to lift the onions in summer, spread the manure and not replant until the following spring - so the bed would be empty from about July to March. Bit of a missed opportunity there