[Kentish Karl]

I understand some of the principles of crop rotation, but I've got a few questions?

I'm dividing my planting area into 4 so that I can follow a 4 year rotation plan. In area 1 I will dig in manure/compost ready for potato's.

Q1. What else can I grow in the same "bed" with potatos.

Q2.
in the other area's

area 2 grow legumes

area 3 grow brasicca's

area 4 grow root crops

in year 2 should I move the spuds to area 4 and manure and compost. I know It will be four years before I can get a full rotation going to provide the best benefits.

The area I intend to use is currently lawn, I'm going to lift the turf and try and composte it in some way.

I'm open to suggestions on the best plan of approach.

[Val H]

This link may be of help Crop Rotation

[Kentish Karl]

Hi yes I'd already read that article. I know that in year 1 you grow spud's after manuring/composting the bed then the following year you plant legumes there then brasicca's then finally root crops before starting again but I want to know what to do in year 1 with the other remaining area's. I would like to utilise all of my available area in the first year rather than wait for year 4.

If I remember rightly legumes put nitrates in the ground which the following year the brasicca's feed off.

[milkman]

yes to question 2, your rotation matches my rotation.

re question 1, i don't grow anything actually with my potatoes but if not all of "potatoes" bed was going to be taken up with potatoes I would put in things like sweetcorn, leaf beet/swiss chard, courgettes, squashes and pumpkins as these tend to like the same manure/compost prep that you are planning for the potatoes.

[woodburner]

You start each bed at the appropriate place in the rotaion list. Just because potatoes is at the top doesn't mean you have to start every bed with them.

[Kentish Karl]

Which bed would I put beetroot and lettuce in respectively?

[MOLUSC]

i have got 8 raised beds in 2 rows of four and am using the crop rotation method from this site.

bed 1  early potatoes (accent)and mid early potatoes (kestrel)
bed 2 main crop potatoes (king edward or maris piper or cosmos)

bed 3 onions(red electric and radar) and garlic (province white and solent white)
bed 4 root vege inc beetroot (boltardy)carrots (autumn king and early nantes)and parsnips

bed 5 sprouts and turnips and maybe radish
bed 6 cauliflower(mayflower then clapton)cabbage and broccoli

bed 7 broad beans , then peas
bed 8 runner beans


i have a seperate bed for everything else that takes my fancy next year such as artichoke and sweetcorn.

[Aidy]

I dont think there is any hardend fast rules so long as the gaps are there, myself I use this rotation, Bed1 legumes, bed2 spuds, bed3 roots and bed4 brassica. This has always worked for me without problems, the brassicas make use of the nodules left by my beans and there is a two year gap between liming the brassica bed and my spuds.

[MOLUSC]

Exactly what Aidy said.

by the way you right "punk aint dead" , i was at Scumfest in London last Saturday! :twisted:

[Aidy]

Exactly what Aidy said.

by the way you right "punk aint dead" , i was at Scumfest in London last Saturday! :twisted:

I have managed to cacth up with a couple of those who giged before on the road, top night by the looks.