Can you crop rotate backwards?

[shirlthegirl43]

As the title says.

Where I grew roots (unsuccessfully) last year, I intended putting brassicas this year. Will this cause any problems? I was going to rake in some home made compost, chook pellets and a bit of lime.

[Two_Sheds]

Well, chook pellets are already alkaline, so you might not need the lime at all

apart from that, should be fine.

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks Two_Sheds. Once I have enough beds I should be able to get the rotation right (though it is more likely we will move and I will have to start over)

[gojiberry]

I love the idea of a nice simple crop rotation Shirl, but I find in practice it never seems to work for me as I am always looking for more space to put stuff. Most of the stuff is rotated and I always make sure the same family never gets planted in the same place two years running. However one bed which had nothing planned now has 5 rows parsnips 3 rows beetroot (so far so good) 1 row khol rabi, 2 rows garlic, 1 row spring onions, 1 row ordinary onions, 1 row dwarf french beans and a row of spinch. So I don't know what should go in there next season.

Ian

[shirlthegirl43]

Spuds? mutter, mutter, too short message

[Alison]

As the title says.

Where I grew roots (unsuccessfully) last year, I intended putting brassicas this year. Will this cause any problems? I was going to rake in some home made compost, chook pellets and a bit of lime.

No probs at all, the main thing you need to do is make sure that you don't repeat the same group, so you'll be fine.

[Hole Digger]

Only when ive been drinking STELLA ARTOIS

[Snadger]

You can do anything you like................it's YOUR bit of Eden!

Don't be a slave to convention...........experiment and find what works for YOU!

[Snadger]

the reason for the convention of crop rotation not to prevent pest and disease build up in the soil, as some may think.
Since crop rotation was developed before farmers learned how to deal with pest and diseases. The reason for proper crop rotation is to increase carbon and nitrogen in the soil. Though legumes and carbon crops.
This is reason the sequence is usually not reversed.

We aren't farmers. Crop rotation depends on using equal areas for roots,brassicas, legumes and others.
I grow what I like to eat and sow accordingly. .........as one crop is harvested another dissimilar 'pocket' is sowed/planted.
The amount of Nitrogen given off from legume roots is minimal and can easily be added from organic sources.
Just add loads of organic material at every crop swap. It works for me!

[Nicos]

...following on from what Snadge says....

we always find it 'difficult' to fill a brassica rotation- mainly because we prefer other veg.

Also once you've dug up roots the ground becomes less compacted and brassicas do better on firm soil ...nothing that a good old jump up and down and good old stamping session won't sort out!!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

Have done the jumping up and down bit! I seem to have more brassicas than I thought so might have to expand on the area used for those.

My biggest problem has been that I started 3 years ago with a raised bed and a little bit of cleared garden where I grew peas. The original raised bed has now been turned to permanent onions with sand added to suit them. The original bit of garden had roots last year and this year brassicas. There is now a lot more garden recovered and another raised bed (put to spuds this year). Following the change in shape of the hen run yesterday, I now have a clear area which used to be brambles, privet and mess where I intend putting squashes and sweetcorn - BONUS (thanks girls) and I have another raised bed to build which I think might get roots crops in it this year.