3 Year Crop Rotation - Help Please

CandyB101_2

Hi, I've been lucky enough to aquire 4 raised beds free of charge :-) 1 for use by my daughter for flowers, and 3 for me, each around 8'0x 3'0.
i understand the idea of rotating the beds each year, but can't seem to get my head around it, due to fact of not wanting to grow brassics .... only broccoli ... one i plan on doing potatoes/root veg, and practically everything else seems to go in the other bed ... how do I rotate if no brassics ???

Funky_Bold_Ribena

One - put the spuds In a bed of their own.
Two - roots often contain brassicas, swedes, turnips, kohl rabis etc. So the brassicas do add up. Once you have your brassicas sorted, you can add in others like all the roots to that bed.
Three - use for everything else, like courgettes, corn, salads etc.

Once you have your crop list for each bed, rotate the spuds round each year, you will find the roots and brassicas stay in the ground longer so just put the fresh stuff in their new bed every year and the rest, put it in after the last frost date. Just don't mix up the list each year. It's most important to rotate the crop you have most of. In your case, spuds.

RAS

Remember that brassicas include kohlrabi, radish, swede, turnip, rocket, mustard greens, mizuna, bok choy and other oriental greens, as well as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts etc.

With respect to broccoli, it is worth growing a summer/autumn variety and one or two that produce in spring.

wellused

I wouldn't grow potatoes in these beds use some compost bags and grow them like that, use the beds for beans, peas, salads, carrots, etc.

CandyB101_2

Thank you for your replies.


I don't really have an issue on space, as these are extra beds to the ones that I have at home.


One bed is definitely going to contain potatoes.


2nd bed - I will try and grow some broccoli, radishes and the rocket ... as for the other suggestions we wouldn't eat them.
So it would be OK to add carrots and parsnips to this bed? Beetroot ... ???


3rd bed - Peas, French beans, courgette, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, pepper (could any of these go elsewhere).


Sorry ... the more I think about it, the more confused I get!!

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Yes. See post number 2.