Crop Rotation in Small Vegetable Garden

How do you rotate crops in a small garden?
Do you need to rotate crops in a small garden?
What vegetables should be rotated?
Is crop rotation necessary in raised beds?
Where should you not plant tomatoes?
What happens if you don't rotate crops?
Can I plant tomatoes in the same spot every year?
What is a good crop to rotate with tomatoes?
What follows tomatoes in crop rotation?
Where should I plant my vegetable garden?
What is a good crop rotation?
How do I organize my vegetable garden?

How do you rotate crops in a small garden?

One approach to crop rotation is to divide your plants into these four basic groups: legumes, root crops, fruit crops, and leaf crops. Imagine your garden separated into four areas, as shown in the chart at the top of the page. Each successive year, you would move each group one spot clockwise.

Do you need to rotate crops in a small garden?

Rotation is critical in vegetable gardens. It helps to reduce diseases and balance nutrients. For instance, tomatoes are prone to one set of diseases and take up specific nutrients from the soil. ... Rotating your veggies helps to balance your garden system.

What vegetables should be rotated?

Crop Rotation Families

Alliums: Onions, shallots, leeks, and garlic.
Legumes: Green beans, green peas, southern peas, peanuts, soybeans. ...
Brassicas: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, turnip greens, radishes, collards, Chinese cabbage, mustard greens, and collards.

Is crop rotation necessary in raised beds?

Most gardeners would agree that crops should be rotated, but the reality is that this is not always necessary. If you have a small garden, it may even prove impossible. Think about it. If you are growing any perennial fruit, vegetables or herbs, you already have crops that aren't getting rotated.

Where should you not plant tomatoes?

Plants that should not share space with tomatoes include the Brassicas, such as broccoli and cabbage. Corn is another no-no, and tends to attract tomato fruit worm and/or corn ear worm. Kohlrabi thwarts the growth of tomatoes and planting tomatoes and potatoes increases the chance of potato blight disease.

What happens if you don't rotate crops?

If you don't rotate crops, the soil in that field will inevitably begin to lose the nutrients plants need to grow. You can avoid this by sowing crops that increase organic matter and nitrogen in the soil.

Can I plant tomatoes in the same spot every year?

Unlike most vegetables, tomatoes prefer to grow in the same place every year, so plant in the same spot unless you have had a disease problem. Companion planting can help tomatoes grow.

What is a good crop to rotate with tomatoes?

Any legume is a good crop to rotate with tomatoes. Legumes include peas, beans, peanuts, clover, and alfalfa. These crops will help to restore nitrogen to the soil when planted after tomatoes. You can also plan for a 3, 4, or 5 year crop rotation schedule to further reduce the risk of disease.

What follows tomatoes in crop rotation?

What to plant after tomatoes? Try beans. Legumes and then the cruciferous crops, including brassicas, are what to plant after tomatoes. Legumes are known to trap nitrogen in nodules that form on their roots, adding nitrogen to the soil.

Where should I plant my vegetable garden?

Follow a few simple rules when planning your raised bed.

Plant your climbing vegetables toward the back of the bed on a trellis. ...
Think of larger vegetables going down to smaller. ...
Allow for at least 18 inches of space between plants like tomatoes. ...
Peppers will grow tall, but not as tall as tomatoes.

What is a good crop rotation?

Crops should be rotated on at least a three to four year cycle. They should be rotated every year. So a crop of corn planted this year is not planted in the same field for the next two or three years.

How do I organize my vegetable garden?

Aim to plant crops in triangles rather than rows.

To get the maximum yields from each bed, pay attention to how you arrange your plants. Avoid planting in square patterns or rows. Instead, stagger the plants by planting in triangles. By doing so, you can fit 10 to 14% more plants in each bed.