Why Use Crop Rotation?
Growing vegetables in the same spot every year can lead to a build up of contamination by soil borne pests and diseases and lead to a depletion of minerals and nutrients. Following a crop rotation system, vegetables in the same family are grown in a different part of the plot each year, this can help improve soil structure and fertility and help control pests and diseases that affect a specific plant family.
Some vegetables, such as brassicas are heavy feeders and deplete a lot of the soil's minerals, while others such as carrots are light feeders and use up fewer nutrients. Plants such as beans and peas actually improve the soil by adding nutrients such as nitrogen. By alternating the planting of these types of crops soil health can be maintained.
There are many interpretations of crop rotation but the one thing common to all is never grow brassicas in the same spot each year. This will help avoid the fungal infection clubroot which can remain in the soil for up to twenty years!
Any area not being used for an overwintering crop can be utilised by sowing a Green Manure which will suppress weeds, protect from soil erosion and leaching of nutrients by winter rain or snow and add structure to the soil.
Keep it Simple
If your garden is small you can still use the principles behind crop rotation to improve your soil and yields. Dividing a small plot into three or four smaller beds will allow a simple crop rotation. The basic rule to remember is never plant the same crop in the same place two years in a row.
To make the most of a small space interplant slow maturing crops with fast growers such as salads, oriental veg, radish and spinach, that way you can get two crops from the same amount of space.
Some vegetables are not prone to soil-borne disease so don't need to be part of your rotation so if you have empty spaces plant non-rotation crops such as lettuce, sweetcorn, spinach and courgette.
Crop Rotation at a Glance
- Plant brassicas after legumes - sow crops such as cabbage, cauliflower and kale in beds previously used for beans and peas as these fix nitrogen in the soil and the brassicas benefit from the nutrient-rich conditions created.
- Avoid planting root vegetables on areas which have been heavily fertilised, this causes lush foliage at the expense of the roots and parsnips and carrots will fork if grown in too rich a soil. Sow these in an area which has grown heavy feeders (such as brassicas) the previous season.
- Grow veg from different groups together if they require the same conditions.
- Alternate root vegetables and vegetables with shallow roots to help improve soil structure.
- Interplant slower growing varieties with salads and other quick grow crops to maximise production.
If you have any questions or comments please use the form below.