Kitchen Garden Forum

I am going to take up my new plot on the 1st and am very excited, I have planned the lay out and have made 5 bed for the practice of crop rotation, and there is the problem.....I have spoken to some people and they have said that I need to be careful when rotating as some crops can not be followed by others, the said people didnt give me any examples and I dont even know if this is true, can any one shed some light on the matter or recommend a book that will tell me what crops can follow other crops in the rotations. I am sure that there is some one out there that can help.
SK again!!

Here's the Dig for Victory plan - hope you can read it.

Great that looks good is that a book and is it called dig for victory?? SB

It is one of a series of leaflets published as part of the "Dig for Victory" campaign during WWII. I think I got it from here http://www.earthlypursuits.com/

Hi skinnybum. A 5-bed rotation seems fine and you can use an organic system, which identifies 5 categories by family:
Spuds and tomatoes
roots
beans
brassicas
aliums

My system goes: potatoes, beans, brassicas, roots, garlic. However, I use a 7-year rotation, keeping toms and spuds separate, interspersing with green manures and having a special bed for courgettes.

Also, don't forget to make space for perennials, like globe artichokes and the like.

If I had computer skills i'd send you my own plans for the last 3 years. let me assure you that I completely fail to stick to them, at least in detail.

mike

Hi Mike perennials, like globe artichokes and the like seem a good Idea, what else in the way of perennials do you have, and can any one sugget any good ones that are easy to keep as I have room and it would be good to incorp these into a bed some where.
SB

Well, Skinnybum, I grow Jerusalem Artichokes, Blackcurrants, gooseberries and strawberries. I've recently acquired a few gojiberry bushes too. Nine-star perennial broccoli is also a good idea, as is Skirret, if you can get hold of any [Organic Catalogue for example].

Of course, you could just put a few of these at the ends of your raised beds and rotate the other crops in the rest of the beds. Up to you.

Good luck

mike