Cucurbits - to rotate or not to rotate?

[Snoop Puss]

Yet again, I'm rethinking my main veg patch, this time because I'm going to get a drip irrigation system going next year. At the moment I have (in theory, anyway) 12 beds that run for 12 metres east to west, each one around 80 cm wide. The raised walls are made of raked-up earth. This is fine, except for the cucurbits, as they trail into the paths and other beds.

So, I'm wondering: do I really need to include them in a rotation plan? I could turn the end two beds and the path between them into one large bed and send the cucurbit vines out into where I used to have fruit trees (rather than back into the rest of the plot). I'd hope to be able to use this large bed every year for the cucurbits.

I have loads of muck (sheep and goat) and hardwood ash and I also use a granular fertiliser from time to time. So I don't think nutrient deficiency would be a problem.

Anyone got any views or can think of any pros or cons to this?

[Thelma Sanders]

IMO no need for rotation - just making sure you don't plant next year's plants in exactly the same position as this year's, works for me
I put canes in each position and leave them there until I'm putting manure/fertiliser in the planting pocket for the next lot, so I can see where to avoid!

[roitelet]

I grow them in the same place each year. I take put a trench and fill it with veg matter and rabbit hutch cleanings and the put the soil back and plant on top. No problems!

[Small pumpkin]

I don't know of any reason why you couldn't have them in a permanent spot. Personally I'd keep them as part of the rotation.
Mine can do what they like as long as they stay in their own bed. A small amount of path exploration is aloud, but no getting into anyone else's bed! If that happens they get trained back into their own bed.

[Snoop Puss]

Brilliant, just what I wanted to hear! I'd rather get them off to the side, that way they can roam to their heart's content and there's less likelihood of them getting trampled by Mr Snoop and the dogs or other visitors. I lost a few squash last year to that...

[Small pumpkin]

Brilliant, just what I wanted to hear! I'd rather get them off to the side, that way they can roam to their heart's content and there's less likelihood of them getting trampled by Mr Snoop and the dogs or other visitors. I lost a few squash last year to that...

In that case, I would ban Mr Snoop & the visitors . Then train the dog...... But I know from experience this isn't easy. My gardeners little helper is more of a gardeners helps himself to anything that's bl@@dy ripe

[Snoop Puss]

I grow them in the same place each year. I take put a trench and fill it with veg matter and rabbit hutch cleanings and the put the soil back and plant on top. No problems!

Roitelet, that sounds a bit like a bean trench. When do you put in the veg matter and hutch cleanings? Early on or just before planting. And is it all well rotted down already or fairly raw?

(Guys, you've made my life so much easier. This latest plan could be the last... )

[roitelet]

It is like a bean trench and at planting time the veg matter is still fairly fresh. Doesn't seem to make any difference.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, roitelet.

I've been out pacing and measuring this morning. And everything fits in. Brilliant.

[roitelet]

My main object in the trench is to hold moisture as my ground drains quickly and we have a shortage of rain. A quick dose of manure tea when I think about works well.

[Snoop Puss]

Our soil is clay, so it doesn't drain quickly, but it does tend to turn to terracotta before you know it in summer. Anything that will act as a moisture pocket is a good idea. Thanks.

I saw on a previous post of yours that you get 550 mm of rainfall a year. Rainfall here varies drastically. On average, apparently, we get 508 mm. But a couple of years back it was just 150 mm and last year wasn't much better. The year before that was a flood year. This year is on course for another very low year.

[roitelet]

That post must have been old. Like you we have just had two very dry years and it looks as if this one will be the same. We are on clay but the sort that they make bricks from and it sounds strange but it dries out very quickly.

[Snoop Puss]

Yes, if I recall rightly, I think you posted this in 2007. I found it by looking up Montreuil l'Argille and rainfall in Google. You were number 5 or so on the first page of hits. I was surprised to see you have so little rain being so far north.

Out of interest, how do you water your veg patch? I'm in the throes of turning over to drip irrigation and soaker hose. I have visions of actually getting carrots to reliably germinate!

[roitelet]

I try not to water unless it's absolutely necessary. I use a heavy mulch of straw and soaker pots then if things get really desperate a hose on selected crops only. I hate watering!!!!!!

However next year I am considering a pourous hose on one bed which is very dry so that I can give it a good soak now and again. I am in the throes of trench composting that bed to get as much humus in as possible. I also use the no dig method and 'chop and drop' for the winter.