Size of rotation beds

[Kendy]

Got my half plot and working on the digging and preparing of the 4 rotation beds.  To maximise my plot I am looking at each bed being capable of 2 rows of potatoes as they rotate.

I am thinking that, allowing for late spuds requiring largest gap, that I would have 75cm between the rows and 25 cms each side to allow for hilling up making a total bed size of 1.25metres.  This would also allow for easy working from the path which will be each side of a bed (thinking 30-40cm for the path).

Does that thinking sound right ?

[Kendy]

[Barnowl]

My main beds are 4 ft wide.  Seems to work for everything except sprouts and PSB

[Tee Gee]

I'm not sure what you mean Kendy.

You mention 'half plot' but how big is that?

This is how I layout my five foot wide beds and 18" footpaths;



The top left is 8ft wide for my Corn, Beans & Peas

[Kendy]

Half as long as a normal plot - total 6.5m x 11.5m.

It is the individual bed depths I am querying.  On my plot the plan is to have them 1.25m x 6.5m  - I should then get 4 in plus paths between and have a bit left over for compost bins and rhubarb/rasberry bush.

The question is, therefore, is 1.25m a good enough width for the 2 rows of main spuds (plus OK for all other crops) ?

[allaboutliverpool]

YES!

I would add that potato tops are pretty big and fall around over the paths but unless you are worried about looks, so what? A nice narrow bed allows you to kneel down and push your fingers under the soil until you find a spud. Continue and hey presto! you have a meal of the most exquisite flavour if you cook within an hour.

My beds are 1.2m wide and 2.4m long. I plant 2 rows of five large potatoes or wo rows of 7 small ones such as charlotte, or pink fir apple.

see

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments2_my_allotment_in_liverpool.html

Good luck, George

[Tee Gee]

I would add that potato tops are pretty big and fall around over the paths

Not half a.a.l

Kendy have a look at how potatoes grow in relations to paths here http://tinyurl.com/3dpucl

Let me put a couple of things to you;

1) Have you considered growing your potatoes across the bed as I do ?

This releases ground much faster for 'catch crops'(see June & August in slide show)

The other thing is;  I guess you are contemplating a four year rotation programme, why not a three year one?

By using either end of the bed as part of your rotation plan you can actually have a six year plan with careful planning!

Think about it!!

Then you can have three beds 1.66 m (5'-6")wide with half metre paths.

I have found out by trial & error, this is a good width as it fits in with planting centres for so many things

Note; Your paths need to be at least the width as the distance from your knees to the soles of your feet so that you can kneel down to weed without interfering with the adjacent bed.