[Spudman]

I have just bought a book about allotment growing, and in the chapter on crop rotation it says that tomatoes can be grown year after year in the same soil, not needing to be rotated. Does anyone have any differing views on this, and is there no chance of building up diseases? Other crops it says dont need to be rotated are: marrows and courgettes, aubergines and capsicums. The writer groups them together as ''specialist crops''.

thanks

Spudman

[mumofstig]

I think that you don't have to have them in order in a strict rotation plan like you do for brassicas, potatoes and onions, as they don't seem to have specific soil diseases, although they do require a rich soil or a lot of feeding.

BUT I think everything is better off being moved around the plot, if at all possible, just that these crops..along with peas and beans, can be fitted in anywhere there is room.

That's my take on it anyway

[Spudman]

Thanks mum, thats what I was thinking.....but I was hoping that it was true, as I was thinking of devoting a permanent bed to tomatoes, and building a permanent wooden frame to support them.

S

[mumofstig]

You can have a 'permanent bed' for tomatoes.........cos that's what I do in the greenhouse border. But 'rotate the soil' instead 

I just remove a bucketful of earth, from where each tomato root was and replace with soil from another part of the garden, or growbag compost. Easy peasy

[Spudman]

Now why didnt I think of that?! You can tell I'm a new gardener!
Would adding manure/compost and growing green manure at the end of the growing season help in reviving the soil and killing any soil borne pests?

S

[Yorkie]

Now why didnt I think of that?! You can tell I'm a new gardener!
Would adding manure/compost and growing green manure at the end of the growing season help in reviving the soil and killing any soil borne pests?

S

They won't kill existing pests or diseases, simply improve the soil structure.

[Spudman]

Yep, point taken.

Thanks Yorkie

S

[Mash Mad]

Ive grown tomatoes in the greenhouse border soil for a few years now and (touch wood) have'nt had any problems with pests or diseases.

But i think next year im going to do what mum said just to be on the safe side