Intercropping and Catch Cropping

[compothefirst]

I'd like to make full use of my allotment this year with no bare patches of ground towards the end of the year.  How do other people manage this, e.g. what do you put in the ground after potatoes and other crops without upsetting the rotation?

[compothefirst]

[pumkinlover]

Peas and french beans, lettuce and beetroot, spinach leefbeet.
None of these to best of my knowledge have any nasties that will cause problems so can be snook in anywhere.

[Digeroo]

My latest plan is putting squashes and pumpkins on the north side of a potato crop and as I gradually  lift the potatoes the squashes cover the space.  Its a bit of a race as to whether you can clear the spuds fast enough.  If you use Tromba D'Albenga they seem to be the exception and go north so go on the other side of the spuds.

I also put PSB along between the row of potatoes once they are earthed up.  But I am not sure what this has done to the rotation.  PSB is in such a long time it seems to mess up the rotation anyway. 

[plainleaf]

this set of links might be helpful.
Chapter XXII. Crop Rotation
http://bookdome.com/gardening/Vegetable-Gardening/Chapter-XXII-Crop-Rotation.html
Chapter XXIII. Succession And Companion Cropping
part 1
http://bookdome.com/gardening/Vegetable-Gardening/Chapter-XXIII-Succession-And-Companion-Cropping.html
Succession And Companion Cropping. Part 2
http://bookdome.com/gardening/Vegetable-Gardening/Succession-And-Companion-Cropping-Part-2.html
Succession And Companion Cropping. Part 3
http://bookdome.com/gardening/Vegetable-Gardening/Succession-And-Companion-Cropping-Part-3.html

[Ophi]

Last year I planted Chinese and Indian Mustards where I had a gap and am very pleased to have had enough this week for a Sag Aloo.  We have had a nice salad with the younger leaves as well.  We have been cropping slowly but it looks as if we will get a few more salads and another main dish or two from them before the end of winter.  I will definitely grow them again next year and am looking at the other green in snow.

The winter turnips I popped in a gap late in the season produced enough baby turnips for a dish based on turnips.  After a chat with some friends I might try one of the chinese radishes that over winter like the turnips.

Not a huge amount of extra food but the greens were very welcome this time of year and it is so nice to be able to crop some extra food when we go down for a potter.

[Deb P]

I used to do elaborate plans with month by month graphs so I knew what was following what....but I then realised once I had my basic group rotation worked out, it was just a case of having plants ready to follow on from harvested stuff and relaxed a bit. I now only grow early potatoes, so they will be out by July and have plants like squash, courgettes, salad, fennel, late flowers etc ready and waiting to go in. The trick is having stuff ready to follow on or fast maturing so they get established fast before the autumn cold. I only overwinter brassicas and alliums, so my rotation makes sure those areas are cleared of crops so the overwintered garlic and shallots can go straight in in October.

[compothefirst]

Thank you all for these replies.  It has given me a lot to think about - and read.

[Ophi]

I had a look at those links but I think they are more for commercial growers.

[green lily]

if you don't want very early ones [I don't] leeks fit in after most things and are hardy in most places. Curly Kale is another of our favourites.Plenty of things fit in after the spuds and tomatoes are out- even winter caulies.

[cambourne7]

Have you considered 3 sisters planting for your pumpkins??

When i had the allotment i did look at inter cropping and catch cropping but as i had so much space to fill I found it was a waste of time. My neighbour did try it the year before he quit as he wanted to maximise his potato growing space.

Now I am going veg in my back garden in just 3 beds i have to be much more focused i am looking more at catch cropping and inter cropping so will be interesting reading the links and other posts.

I also have the space for my greenhouse which as its unlikly i will get the greenhouse this year i am going to be devoting this to a massive 3 sisters bed :) Woo Hoo Just arranging for some nice well rotted manure so i can dig this in next month and get the bed ready...