Rotation - misapprehension?

[Barnowl]

Just did a search checking that courgettes can be planted anywhere in a rotation plan (just about to plant some more out in case of an indian summer) and was pleased to get confirmation from this RHS page

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1200/crop_rotation.asp

then noticed that it looks as if they put the legumes after the brassica and before the potatoes, whereas my plan is the opposite: spuds then legumes then brassica. As Bob F. said on GQT....

" # The important thing is to make sure the same plant isn't in the same place two years running. Then the pests and diseases that over winter in the soil aren't there for the next crop. It isn't so important what you rotate with what, the first and most important thing is that you rotate.

# The next thing is, some plants are more susceptible to pests and diseases than others. It's important to move carrots and parsnips so they don't get root fly the next year. And brassicas, so they don't get club root the following year. And onions, for onion fly.

# Brassicas like lime but potatoes don't like lime, so it makes a lot of sense to have them well apart in the rotation. Peas and beans also like lime, so it's common to add the lime when you have peas and beans. That leaves the soil rich, so then you plant your brassicas.

# After the brassicas the soil is quite firm, which is good for the onions. You don't even have to dig the soil, you can just put the onions where the brassicas were.

# After the onions, carrots come rather well. Because carrots are a root vegetable you break the soil up getting them out, which leaves the soil in lovely
condition for planting potatoes!

# The potatoes take a lot of goodness out of the soil, so I earth them up with grass clippings, which increases the humus content. At that point it's good to add lime so it's time for the peas and beans to come back again!"

I thought the sequence was pretty well agreed?

[Barnowl]

[cleo]

Mr Flowerdew has also said that rotation on a small scale is more to do with the nutrient requirements of the following crop than prevention of pests and diseases-given the distances involved.

My rotation is very haphazard-I tend to think about timing and what the soil wants rather than any plan

[Barnowl]

I like a plan - it requires less thought ;D

[Eristic]

it looks as if they put the legumes after the brassica and before the potatoes, whereas my plan is the opposite: spuds then legumes then brassica.

Surely this is the same thing but in the opposite direction?

[powerspade]

Because I have two plots I use a six year rotation for my vegetables, I basically used the same plan as Bob Flowerdew
Potatoes planted with rotten manure/compost in the trenches
followed by Legumes which leave the soil enriched with Nitrogen bearing roots.
Then Brassicas which feed off the nitrogen left behind by the legumes

[euronerd]

I like a plan for the same reason as you Barnowl, but I also agree with cleo. As allotment holders, our soil is not under the same pressure as agricultural land, and the consequences not so dire if something fails or underperforms. I always console myself with the thought that, I'll never know what would have happened if I'd done it a different way. Or the weather had been different. Or... etc. And of course as soon as I start thinking about companion planting, the best plan goes straight out the window. ;D

Geoff.

[Barnowl]

I must admit I usually end up squeezing things in wherever I can ;D

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

Mr Flowerdew is a fan of "no dig" growing, so his rotation plan is partly to help that

[mc55]

I don't really grow brassicas - have cabbage and cauliflowers for the first time this year, but next year will just grow cauliflowers, so my rotation is a little more restricted.  Trying to grow things like sweetcorn & squashes (which I understand can go anywhere in rotation) in the place of brassicas.

[kt.]

Got my rotation from The Allotment Handbook by Caroline Foley. My rotation is : Potato - Brassicas - Legumes - Roots.   Plus the "Anywhere Veg".

Will be interesting to see what others have.