Poly tunnel crop rotation

[brooklynodog]

Made the decision, poly tunnel coming next week. Will fill one of my 3 veggie patches, leaving 2 to split to give me a 4 year crop rotation rather than the 3 I do now. My question is however, what advice can anyone give about rotation in the tunnel? its a 15x10 that I will path down the middle. Thanks, Paul

[MadamJoJo]

Hi Paul - I'm putting my new polytunnel up at the weekend - weather permitting!! I was pondering the same question myself, I suppose the theory will be the same as normal crop rotation, except you need to bear in mind the higher risks of pests & diseases. I was thinking of making full use of the ground in the first year & then progressing to staging in the following years - Any ideas would be appreciated as it is new wolrd to me too !! MJJ

[JennieAtkinson]

Well ....... I am now in my fourth year with the tunnel. I dont follow a drawn out plan for the tunnel, but do make sure that I rotate on the usual crop rotation basis. As I have dug out my tunnel (20 x 14 feet) myself (it was just a field with all manners of perennial weeds) I have a wide selection of dug and raised beds. Some plants work best in different beds - ie sweetcorn needs to be planted in a "front" bed to get the height, whereas I can shove carrots in near the back as they don't need much headroom. Then each year I just make sure that I plant the next "type". I do a three year rotation as potatoes do grow outside up here!

I have been lucky and don't have too much of a problem with disease and pests, although I do go in for companion planting - mainly tagetes and nasturtiums, but also the tiny egg plants (cant think of the name now, but I'm growing Spanish Omlette this year!).

I hope that helps!

[brooklynodog]

Thanks folks. I am eagerly awaiting the book by Bernard Salt that everyone recommends.

[kentvegplot]

This is my second year. I will plant tomatoes in a different part of the tunnel than last year, I hope that will be OK. The peppers will probably take their place, and I will pop in melons and cucumber wherever I find space. Carrots have their own special raised bed, as I have horrible clay that no carrot is going to manage to get through. Fingers crossed!

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks folks. I am eagerly awaiting the book by Bernard Salt that everyone recommends.

Bernard Salt - the best book you can buy for polytunnel advice!