Space Problem

[Kimbo]

I have ripped out my pea and broadbean plants which were ruined by the rain and snails. I have replacements ready to go in -can I put them in the same beds? or should I plant somewhere else (which could cause problems with rotation next year as I am short on space)?

[SimonCole]

Rotation is very highly rated and indeed it should be on large agricultural-scale fields. But on a small bed such fears can seem exaggerated. Beans are leguminous and suffer few effects of nutrient shortage. I also find the pests and diseases spread just as quickly between beds that sit next to one-another. On the other hand, if you can imagine the distance that a pest/disease must travel between fields then you can see the agricultural justification.
I would agree that repeat crops of tomatoes could lead to potash shortage and that an element of rotation is important over any plot, but muddling things a bit should cause few problems.

[SarzWix]

I would think they'd be ok to go in the same beds... If they'd died off due to some nasty pest or disease, then they would have to go somewhere else, but snails/slugs and rain don't really leave anything nasty behind. (Except slime... Ugh!) You'll probably have to add some chicken manure pellets, or some well rotted compost/manure to the soil to replace nutrients, and if drainage has been a problem (clay soil), I'd add some horticultural grit or fine gravel to the soil too. Your rotation will then be the same as you'd planned for next year.

[sewer rat]

They are okay to go in the same beds this year so go ahead and replant at will
The problem with tomatoes is not so much a potash shortage although this will occur naturally as potash is very easily leached from soil. Most people feed potash to their toms anyway in the form of Tomorite or similar. The prob with tomatoes is a build up of disease or soil sickness therefore three years is the most you should grow toms in the same soil ie greenhouse border. Then either change the soil or use growbags.

[Snadger]

Some people practice an annual rotation Rather than a crop rotation per se. In this scheme legumes could follow legumes as lomg as it's in the same year. Likewise with other categories.
Not a type of crop rotation I use myself, but quite popular!

[blackcatlois]

crop rotation

Snadger, So ok to put another brassica (I'm short on space too) where I've pulled some cauli's out? I always wondered whether rotation was just a yearly thing (i.e. two of the same within one year if you can manage it) or if you couldn't put the same crop type in immediately after another? I was worried that the nosey (but very nice) man on the next plot to me would make comment if I replaced the cauli's with some cabbages or turnips - he means well but it does feel like I have an audience sometimes!