Crop rotation - a job for winter!

[Sara]

We don't know about you, but here at GYO we spend winter evenings planning what to grow in the garden next year. Now that the clocks are about to change we've started thinking about crop rotation.

Do you rotate your veg? Perhaps you swear by growing onions in a single bed or maybe you stop the build up of diseases with a complicated system? Either way we'd love to know!



Your comments may be edited and published in GYO's January issue.

[Chef_uk]

Yup, as a noobie it was one of the first lessons I read about. I've had to divert slightly from the true rotation method but it works for me (see below). As long as I don't keep growing the same group year after year in one bed, then it's one less reason that can be ticked off for when trouble invariably kicks in.

2011 ----> 2012 --> 2013 ---->2014 ---->2015
Brassicas > Roots > Legumes > Alliums > Brassicas
Legumes > Brassicas > Potatoes > Roots > Legumes
Roots > Legumes > Alliums > Brassicas > Potatoes
Salads > Alliums > Brassicas > Potatoes > Roots
Alliums > Potatoes > Roots > Legumes > Alliums

I learnt early on that Salads will fit in anywhere there is space rather than dedicate a bed for them and that I needed to get spuds in my rotation.

[Bigmallly]

Following my SFG bed success this year, next year I will have 2 beds dedicated to SFG. The remaining 3 beds will rotate between Spuds, Brassicas & 3 Sisters.

[Bren In Pots]

I move my Brassicas around then fit everything else in where I have space.

[Andromeda]

I have all my beds numbered and a rotation plan I stick to, but my best discovery was that alternating rows of carrots and onions within a bed seems to reduce problems with both crops.

[VirginVegGrower]

I use a planning tool and have my allotment split into five rotation beds, legumes - potatoes - alliums - brassicas - other roots. Crops like sweetcorn and squashes go in as successional planning/follow on crops and fit anywhere the gaps occur. Salad crops and tomatoes are grown at home. It works for me and so far I am one of only a few plot holders avoiding club root. It forces me to plan for the coming year and structures my sowing.

[veggiechicken]

No complex system for me - I just ensure that I don't plant anything in the same place as it was grown the year before.

[zazen999]

I rotate the spuds around and the rest goes in where it can - but I am turning my plot into 4 large Gertrude Franck beds which rotate and companion plant in strips. So we shall see how that goes.

[chris]

I don't rotate my (french) beans, as I've built a permanent structure for them. The other beds, I just move up/across one each year - I'm not strict with it though - I think this year I grew other legumes in the same bed as last year.. I can't remember!

[Alison]

I have two systems on the go and while they took a bit of organising the first year I now do the same each year. In the main lottie beds I rotate spuds, legumes, brassicas and other roots / aliums with other things fitting in while they there is the space although ususally fitting with the same veggies. I find it easier to allocate space as I then know what needs doing next. I have a more informal system in the polytunnel which ensures that crops do not follow from the same family which can be difficult but I can just about manage it in a way that was never possible in my small greenhouse as there simply wasn't the space.

[solway cropper]

The only thing I really rotate is potatoes. I use block planting rather than rows and just put things where there's a space. As one crop is lifted I put another, different one, in its place so I suppose it's a sort of rotation.