To move or to stay put - (not me)

[ancee]

So, I've been watching and reading loads about potagers. I had the idea and also the advice of not planting the same rows of veg in the same beds together. Rather, put a few of everything in different beds. The idea is that if you have a pest it can just go from row to row to row of your plants and infest them all as you have handily planted them in rows for their ease!
Then a friend said it's not a good idea to intersperse them as you have to remember where you have planted stuff and not plant the same stuff there next year or you'll get soil diseases and club root etc. So you should have a bean bed, a potato bed etc and rotate yearly. Hmmmm What to do? Any ideas and advice? Cheers-me-dears

[bearded bloke]

You could try "square foot gardening",then rotate the squares in the manner you normally rotate beds.




^^ sort of thing

[veggiechicken]

That's darned clever BB ^^^^

[bearded bloke]

Cheers VC,shows what I meant better than I could explain it

Where is the thread on it ? think it was started by BM


*BB toddles off on a thread hunt


EDIT : N.B the image was pinched from .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_foot_gardening ... lots to read there as well

[VirginVegGrower]

I rotate and have the plot split into beds to make it easier. You can draw a plan each year to keep track of what's gone where.

[bearded bloke]

Ere we go .......... http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html

[veggiechicken]

Cheers VC,shows what I meant better than I could explain it

Where is the thread on it ? think it was started by BM


*BB toddles off on a thread hunt

Yep, called Square foot gardening - but since you're looking.......... Stickied too

[veggiechicken]

Or, if you want to be really confused, you could try http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eme_63459.html
Here you plant in rows but each neighbouring row acts as a sort of companion plant to deter pests. Rotation is achieved by moving each plot (50cms - I think) each year.

[Two_Sheds]

you have to remember where you have planted stuff and not plant the same stuff there next year or you'll get soil diseases and club root

Actually, the theory behind rotation is to avoid soil depletion, more than diseases. (I can't think of ANY soil diseases off the top of my head).
Greedy feeders like brassicas will take a lot of goodness out of the soil: grow them in the same spot every year, and the soil will be very poor very quickly.

I don't rotate very much any more. I have permanent beds for my onions and potatoes (I know! heresy!)
Roots, legumes and brassicas get moved on each year, but you'll see from my photos (links below) that I tend to plant things in any space that becomes available

[ancee]

Thanks for all the advice folks x