[Truffle]

Hi, this will be my first full proper year on the allotment, so have finished playing around and decided that its time to start getting organized.

I have read many different books/websites about crop rotation. All agree that Brassicas are to follow Legumes, but the other choices of Root, Onion and Potatoes appear in different order depending on author.

I have plans to do a 5 year rotation due to space remaining after permanent beds are sorted.  Bed 1: Brassicas, Bed 2 Legumes, Bed 3 Onions, Bed 4 Potatoes and Bed 5 Roots.

Which order should I do them, what follows what? All suggestions welcome

[mumofstig]

This is one example
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/crop-rotation/five-year-crop-rotation.php

[sunshineband]

I tend to include onions with roots otherwise I have too much root space, and do a four year rotation on 2 sets of beds and a five on the other. The fifth includes the sweetcorn and pumpkin.

Roots & Onions - (Sweetcorn & Squash) - Brassicas - Legumes - Potatoes


As you say, a range of patterns depending on author. This one werks fer me and I can remember it 

[TerryB]

Hi Truffle
I don't think you need to get too hung up on what follows what, as long as you do rotate.
I  use a 4 year plan with Brassicas following Potatoes because Brassicas like lime and Potatoes don't.

Potatoes - Brassicas - Onions & Squash - Legumes & Sweetcorn.

I have 3No 4ft x 15ft beds for each type so put the sqash in one of the beds for onions and the sweetcorn in one of the beds for the legumes.
 
At the back of the plot I have a further 4 beds 4ft x 8ft which are also rotated with 1 used for carrots, 1 for leeks, 1 for PSB and 1 for Broad Beans.

I sometimes mix up some of the groups.
ie Parsnips planted between the rows of Legumes

[emptydraw]

Very interesting to hear you ask this quesiton. I too have a 5yr crop rotation set up. Lots of people plant onions and roots together, but I find spring onions/garlic/leeks and onion make the onion bed the most utilised on the plot!

1 - Legumes, Peas & Beans
2 - Brassicas
3 - Onions
4 - Roots
5 - Potatoes

We have 5 beds each approx 24ftx4ft. We tend to mix sweetcorn and squashes(inc courgettes)  in amongst the 5 beds depending how well things are growing. Normally sweetcorn ends up with the roots, courgettes under the french beans.

Finally, I agree with all of the comments, you dont have to follow in a set order, as long as you rotate the crops yearly. However if theres a small benefit of growing the brassicas after the legumes, why wouldnt you? A bit of planning doesnt cost much but can save a lot!

Cheers Empty

[crh75]

I have a four year rotation:  Potatoes - Alliums/roots - Brassicas - Squash/sweetcorn/legumes. 
I think one very important thing to consider is what happens to the beds over winter and when beds will be available for the next crop.

For example, the brassica bed will be in use for over a year, ie in spring you will be planting the summer brassicas while the spring brassicas are being harvested from last years bed.  It then follows that parts of this bed will have little time for manure etc to be applied.

Also, the alliums bed can be in use for a long time if you overwinter garlic/and onions and then plant leeks later on in summer.

Lastly,  ideally you want to manure the bed for potatoes in Autumn but this is difficult if you have brassicas, roots or leeks still in the ground.  This is why it follows squash in my plan.

All agree that Brassicas are to follow Legumes

One reason for this is becasue you can lime before legumes and apparantly research has suggested that liming two years before brassicas is more benificial than just before planting.

In summary - as has been mentioned some rotation is important, the exact details are dictated by your personal situation (veg types/soil/space/time).

[Living in Hope]

No metric measurements on allottments?!

[mumofstig]

No metric measurements on allottments?!

some of us didn't grow up with metric, so still find feet and inches easier 

[sunshineband]

No metric measurements on allottments?!

some of us didn't grow up with metric, so still find feet and inches easier 

I have a mix muddle of both 

Werks fer me 

[shokkyy]

I have a mix muddle of both 

Werks fer me 

Me too. My raised beds are 1.2 X 2.4 metres, and 6 inches high

[stompy]

I was braught/dragged up with both and use both like you do shokkyy