Crop rotation
Variety is essential
Cultivated plants that remain in the same location for a long time extract the same nutrients from the soil over many years. This leads to long-term soil depletion. The result: animal pests, fungi and pathogens can spread and weeds proliferate. A proven remedy for tired soil is crop rotation: the sequential planting of different crops on the same plot of land.
Crop rotation in practice
Even medieval three-field crop rotation made beneficial use of crop rotation. Over time, this principle has been further refined. Modern agriculture focuses on maximum diversity in the selection of plants. The cultivation of incompatible crops is interrupted by the longest possible periods and the intercropping of recovery crops.
3-year crop rotation – how it works
Divide your garden beds into quarters:
In the first year:
The first quarter belongs to the food-hungry heavy feeders.
The second quarter belongs to the medium feeders.
The third quarter belongs to the modest light feeders.
The fourth quarter belongs to the “regulars”.
In the second year:
The medium consumers move to the former bed of the heavy consumers,
the light consumers move to the quarter of the medium consumers,
the heavy consumers move to the former bed of the light consumers.
In the third year:
All move on to the next bed again.
Draw a plan of your garden, marking the three quarters, the crops planted and the year. This will help you avoid confusing the beds next year.
Exceptions:
- Tomatoes can be grown in the same bed for two years in a row.
- Strawberries can remain in the same bed for three years.
- Green asparagus requires its quarter for 8–10 years.
- Rhubarb can remain in the same location for years.
When is crop rotation advisable?
- Brassicas, leeks, onions, carrots, peas, potatoes, parsley
- If certain diseases occur, a longer break from cultivation is necessary, as the pathogens can survive in the soil for years.
- Cabbage varieties: In the event of infestation, observe a multi-year crop rotation (possibly more than 7 years) without cruciferous vegetables.
- Potatoes: In the event of nematode infestation, observe a break in cultivation for several years.
4-year crop rotation
We recommend a 3-year crop rotation. Alternatively, a 4-year crop rotation is also possible. The garden is also divided into 4 quarters, three of which are planted with heavy, medium and light feeders, and the 4th quarter is sown with green manure. In the 2nd year, the heavy feeders are then placed on the fertile green manure bed. The rest follow in turn.
Which vegetables need how many nutrients?
Crop rotation is based on very specific observations of nature, such as nutrient requirements. Vegetable plants extract different amounts of nutrients from the soil, so they are divided into heavy feeders, medium feeders and light feeders, and crop rotation is adjusted accordingly.
You can find out which varieties belong to which category in the chapter “Kitchen garden”.
| Heavy feeders | Medium feeders | Light feeders |
|---|---|---|
| Cabbage varieties such as red cabbage, white cabbage savoy cabbage cauliflower Brussels sprouts Chinese cabbage Cucumbers Potatoes Leeks Celery Pumpkin Courgettes Tomatoes Rhubarb |
Onions Garlic Carrots Beetroot Fennel Lettuce varieties Spinach Salsify Radishes Kohlrabi Peppers Melons |
Beans (legumes) Peas (legumes) Herbs |