[Arls0308]

Hi,

I've recently managed to get some beds dug and cleared in my new plot and was desperate to get some stuff planted and have just added rows of various stuff to each bed, some seeds and some small seedlings. I want to carry on this year, but my colleagues say I should only plant certain things in each bed to help keep down disease next year. I understand that beds need to be rotated, but will it matter just for this first year if I plant a little of a lot of things? I'm just so excited I want to try a bit of everything. I will rotate properly next year and have kept a book noting where I've planted stuff. The plot was neglected for the past 2 years, so there was nothing in it (well apart from crouch grass, thistle, dandilions, nettles and bramble) when I took it over.

Cheers,
Arls

[compostqueen]

that's fine. Just make sure you plant sommat different in the beds next time. I don't get hung up on rotation cos the idea of it sends me to sleep.  I am useless at remembering what went where and when so I take photos (regularly) and I mark the spuds and onions with a piece of 1 x 1 timber or some such and write on it in black permanent marker. You could find something more subtle or tasteful which serves the same purpose perhaps    I use smaller labels etc but invariably they get hoiked out by pigeons and blackbirds

[Arls0308]

Thanks for this,

I've planted  a single row of each row of onions, garlic, beetroot, radishes and peas (all seeds) and then someone gave me some sprout seedlings and broccoli seedlings so I popped them in the same (large) bed. In another bed I'm slowly clearing I've popped some more broccoli seedlings and some savoy cabbage plants. My friend said I shouldn't plant anything other than brassicas in that plot, but I don't want to plant any more (there's only so much a girl can eat or give away!) and want to plant some other seeds (broad beans, peas etc).

How much does rotation matter. As I mentioned above, I will rotate and be more organised next year, but at the moment I just want to plant lots of things and see how they go (it is my first year - well first 2 months!). If next year I re-plant radishes say, in the same plot will it be that devistating?

Cheers,
Arls

[compostqueen]

You don't want too much of the same thing I agree, unless you're a market gardener o'course     Rotation is done to prevent build ups of pests and disease and soils getting robbed of nutrients, by planting the same thing in the same place year after year. If you make a conscious effort from next year to rotate your crops you'll be fine.  No it won't be devastating to sow radish in the same spot twice