On the move

What goes around . . . crop rotation pays dividends

Rotating crops in the vegetable garden is good practice. Not only will you be giving your soil a breather because successive plantings of the same crop (or its relatives) will demand the same nutrients, but by changing things up you will help prevent disease and thwart pests from accumulating in one area.

In traditional crop rotation, plants are grouped according to their requirements and the pests that are attracted to them.

Crop rotation also prepares the soil for the next veg to follow. Most run on three or fouryear cycles — the time it takes for diseases and pests to decline. It is a logical approach and can be as easy or as complex as you want it to be, depending upon your enthusiasm and garden space.

HOW IT WORKS

Take root crops as an example in season one. They are light feeders, so dislike soil that is too rich (it forks the ends of the carrots and results in lush foliage at the expense of the edible base).

Their soil needs to be sandy and well broken

up. After harvesting the root crops, compost your soil and plant legumes (peas and beans). They will fix nitrogen into the soil.

The next season, nitrogen-hungry lettuces and brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cavolo nero etc) will get the benefit if planted in the same spot. Potatoes also love nitrogen-rich soil, but they should not be planted alongside brassicas as they like different pH levels.

When the brassicas have been harvested, it’s time to plant alliums (the onion family). Alliums don’t like soil that’s too rich but they do like soil that’s been broken up – the brassicas and their sturdy roots will already have done that for them.

Now come the root crops again and it’s back to the beginning.

Planting-groups aside, you do need to think of the space you have in the garden along with which parts are sunny or windy. And don’t plant what you don’t like to eat.

FRIENDLY GROUPS

Not all vege groupings need to be separated. Some will grow harmoniously together:

Brassicas are companion plants for alliums (onions, leeks, garlic) and will grow alongside salad leaves — mizuna, lettuce and rocket — and beside dill, mint, rosemary, sage or chamomile.

Alliums grow well with spinach and silverbeet and don’t mind being neighbours with root crops (carrots, beetroots, turnips). Carrots and leeks planted together will repel insects drawn to the other.

Cucurbits (pumpkins, cucumbers, courgettes) will grow alongside both roots and legumes (peas and beans) but bear in mind when planting that courgettes and pumpkins need a lot of space so they will be better planted at the edge of the garden where they can spread out.