4 plot crop rotation

[calendula]

it might help to view crop rotation from a point of view as to how you've fed the land (or not, whichever is the case)

with spuds - you'd nearly always manure and these could be followed by either brassicas or legumes and then roots - this way the manure value goes where it should, i.e. most to the spuds and least to the roots

so the equation choice would be: spuds - brassicas - legumes - roots

or

spuds - legumes - brassicas - roots (in this version the brassicas get the value of legume roots)

clear as mud  ;D

[calendula]

[powerspade]

I use a Six year rotation:-
Onion/Shallots, Legumes, Brassicas, Roots, Spuds, Green Manure,

[flowerlady]

.................
I do 4 bed rotation. I count the potatoes as one quarter because they take up a lot of space, then follow with roots including alliums, then  legumes and then brassica..............

I'm with you on this one grwrc  :D... and the order in my mind is determined by the needs of the plants .........
spuds are heavily manured so will have some goodies left for the onions to start off with and can then be top dressed later
legums go next ... they actually put goodies INTO the soil ... which the brassicas that follow will thoroughly enjoy ...........  ;D

QED  ;)

[davee52uk]

Thank you all for a massive response. Looking at all the possibilities I like the one that has Beans - Brassicas - Roots - Spuds/Tomatoes. This suits what I grow which is very few pots and loads of beans and as much cabbage as possible. The main problem I have is with cabbages not getting enough goodness and growing too small. I think this should sort it.

Under this scheme I would put loads of manure on Year 1 and then a little bit on Year 2.

I keep track of what bed is what crop by having painted marker sticks on them with one to four red lines against a white background. (1 line = year 1 etc) I need this as there are 2 sets of four beds in rotation.

Could I also mention that I prefer the strangely named but beautiful Mountgay rum.

[ninnyscrops]

Bras, legs, pots and roots for me and cram the rest in!