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Crop Rotation: What's The Deal?
Crop Rotation: What's The Deal?
Crop rotation despite what my non-gardening mates believe, is NOT the twisting of sunflowers to
chase the sun (although, they do have a point they are crops, and they are rotating!). Crop rotation
is in fact a method of managing plantings, both on a small (vegie patch) and large (farm) scale to
minimise the risk of pests and diseases, and maximise the yield and productivity of crops. Yup, it all
sounds terribly technical, but I promise you its not! Hey, if I can manage it, I reckon just about
anyone can!
The Solanaceae Family includes potatoes, tomatoes, capsicums, chilis and eggplants.
The Brassiaceae Family includes Asian greens, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower,
turnips, mustard and radishes
The Apiaceae Family includes carrots, coriander, parsley, parsnip, dill and caraway.
The Fabaceae Family includes peas, beans and other legumes.
The Cucurbitaceae Family includes pumpkin, zucchini and cucumbers.
The Amaranthaceae Family includes spinach and silverbeet
The Asteraceae Family includes lettuce and artichokes
The Chenopodiaceae Family includes beetroot and quinoa
The Poaceae Family includes sweetcorn and maize
The Alliaceae Family includes onions, chives and leeks
The principle is that one family member shouldnt be followed by another family member in
consecutive seasons. For example, once the tomatoes, members of the Solanaceae family, have
finished fruiting and been removed, this area should be planted up with a member of another family
such as a peas from the Fabaceae family.
There is another reason for this type of planting sequence as well. We know that some plants are
referred to as heavy feeders, while others are light feeders. By introducing a crop rotation
system, we can estimate the potential levels of soil nutrients remaining in the plot and plant up
accordingly. For example, the Brassiaceae family are mainly heavy feeders and will take a lot of
nutrients from your soil. However the Alliaceae family are light feeders and will not do well in a rich
soil. Therefore it makes sense to plants onions after cabbages! Sounds complicated? I promise, its
not! Just think logically and you cant go wrong!
With these principles in mind, a suitable four-bed crop rotation may look like this:
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four
Bed One
Legume
Heavy Feeder
Light Feeder
Green Manure
Bed Two
Heavy Feeder
Light Feeder
Green Manure
Legume
Bed Three
Light Feeder
Green Manure
Legume
Heavy Feeder
Bed Four
Green Manure
Legume
Heavy Feeder
Light Feeder
Heavy Feeders include potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, sweet corn, lettuce,
cucumbers, zucchini, spinach, lettuce and Asian greens.
Light Feeders include onions, leeks, garlic, beetroot, carrots, parsnips and silverbeet
Legumes include peas, snow peas, broad beans, runner beans, snake beans and okra.
Green Manure Crops are crops grown, not to be harvested, but to be worked back into the soil.
These are generally comprised of thickly sown annual grasses and/or legumes, that are tilled back
into the soil before they flower or form seed heads. They add nutrients during their growing period
and organic matter to soil in vegie patches, perfect for getting the next seasons edible crop off to a
good start! Many nurseries (especially SGA certified garden centres) stock pre-packaged green
manure seeds.