Garden

Crop rotation

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Credit: Carolyn Herriot

Crop rotation is one of the pillerstones of organic gardening and significantly reduces the chances of a buildup of pests and diseases that affect specific families of plants. Another advantage is that it prevents depleting the soil of nutrients, some plkants are heavy feeders and some are nitrogen fixers, making it available to following crops. Legume crops can be followed by heavy nitrogen feeders such as brassicas.

It also significantly reduces the chances of a buildup of pests and diseases that affect specific families of food plants and prevents depleting the soil of nutrients

Use this simple system by assigning vegetables to 4 groups to plan a 4 year crop rotation:

  • Brassicas – broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, cabbages, kohlrabi, pac choi
  • Root and solanaceous veggies- tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, beets, carrots, parsnips.
  • Legumes -beans, peas, okra
  • Alliums – Onions, scallions, leeks and garlic

Curcubits (squash) and corn are not included in this rotation. They can be added to one or more of the above groups and rotated accordingly.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Bed 1
Legumes
Brassicas
Alliums
Root crops
Repeat Year 1
Bed 2
Root crops
Legumes
Brassicas

Alliums

Bed 3
Alliums
Root crops
Legumes
Brassicas

Bed 4
Brassicas
Alliums
Root crops
Legumes

(Extracted from The Gardener’s Five Year Journal -John Ashton)

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