Rotation of Crops

As discussed previously in this section, crop rotation can be an excellent natural way to reduce the number of plant pests and diseases. To create your own crop rotation system, you will need a minimum of four beds for growing plants in the following groups:

Legumes & Pod Crops

Broad beans
Dolichos beans
French beans
Okra
Peas
Runner beans

Brassicas

Brussels sprouts
Cabbages
Calabrese
Cauliflowers
Kales
Kohl rabi
Oriental mustards
Purple sprouting broccoli
Radishes
Swedes
Turnips

Alliums

Bulb onions
Garlic
Leeks
Shallots
Spring onions
Welsh onions

Solanaceous, Root & Tuberous Crops

Aubergines
Beetroot
Carrots
Celeriac
Celery
Cocoyams
Parsnips
Potatoes
Sweet peppers
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes

These groups should be grown in separate beds, moving them on to an adjacent bed the following year. In this way, each group will return to its original section every four years. Rotation prevents pests and diseases such as nematodes from becoming established in the soil, as regularly changing the planting location can break or limit the pest cycles.

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