Hi
I read this from Thompson and Morgan site, and below was crop rotation guide from Steve partridges site.
just wondered which i should do, i know Steve has great knowledge, so any ideas what majority do.
Thompson and |Morgan
Potatoes grow best in rich soil containing plenty of well rotted manure or compost (do not use fresh compost to minimise keeled slug problems) and do not lime the soil to minimise scab blemishes on developing tubers.
Crop rotaion guide
ROOTS
Beetroot, Carrot, Jerusalem Artichoke, Parsnip, Potato, Salsify & Scorzonera.
DO NOT MANURE, DO NOT LIME, RAKE IN GROWMORE 2 WEEKS BEFORE SOWING OR PLANTING.
I may be wrong but i think that the crop rotation guide i.e not manuring the roots, is less to do with potatoes and more to do with the fact that manure can cause forking in things like carrots and parsnips. personally i would always manure the potato bed with well rotted manure. i am sure Steve Partridge does too, though obviously i stand to be corrected. :D
yes spuds love manure but they are included in the roots group cos that's what they are obviously but regards their requirements it is best to keep them separate in the crop rotation guide, e.g.
spuds - lots of manure, followed by brassicas, followed by more roots (not spuds), and finally legumes as this makes best use of the manure as it breaks down
However some people prefer to have the legumes coming before brassicas so as to fix nitrogen, so in this rotation you would have spuds - lots of manure, then, legumes, brassicas, roots (not spuds)
clear as mud ::) personally there comes a time when I just cram in wherever there's space
thanks from a rookie