Ashleigh Smith
What is Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is the practice of planting a different family of crops in a given location from year to year. Vegetables can be grouped into families that share similar characteristics. For example, onions, garlic, chives, and leeks are all part of the Alliaceae family and share similar growth habits, growing conditions, susceptibility to pests, and purpose as companion plants. Crop rotation is common for large-scale farming but also for the home gardener. If you have ever had recurring issues with caterpillars, beetles, and nematodes, among other pests, then cover crops may help you avoid infestations from year to year. Utilizing crop rotation doesn’t take a lot of effort. Simply create a strategic plan ahead of time for where you will grow each crop. Then, rotate your planting location for each crop from year to year.
Why Is Crop Rotation Beneficial
The benefits of using crop rotation are seen in two areas - pest or disease control and balancing soil nutrients. Utilizing crop rotation causes a disruption in pest life cycles by physically moving the crops a given pest feeds on. When the dormant larvae emerge from the soil in the spring, they are left to find a completely different crop that they likely won’t feed on. Instead, this generation of pests die without reproducing. If you continue to grow the same crops in the same location from year to year, you will find that your pest problems begin quickly and early, causing greater damage to your crops.
Crop rotation can also help you balance the way nutrients are used and deposited in a beneficial manner. Different crop families use different nutrients at different rates. Solanaceae plants like tomatoes or Brassicas like cabbage and kale are heavy feeders requiring plenty of nutrients for foliage and fruit development. Other families, like Fabaceae, are legumes that transfer nitrogen from the air into a usable form within the soil. By strategically organizing your crops into a rotation schedule, you can prepare a bed for heavy feeders the year before by growing a family that is a light feeder or nutrient supplier.
Crop Rotation Frequency
It is best to create a plan that takes 3-4 years for any one plant family to return to its initial starting bed. This is because of the time it can take to completely disrupt pest life cycles. The more time you can put between planting the same crop in the same location it was in before, the better. If you aren’t working in a large enough space to put 3-4 years between locations, start with rotating where possible. Just changing “planting zones” is better than continuing to grow the same crops in the same spot each year.
Crop Family Groups
Brassicaceae
*Heavy Feeders
About the Author
I'm Ashleigh Smith, a native to Northern Utah. I first gained a love of gardening with my grandmother as I helped her each summer. I decided to make a career of it and have recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. My studies have focused on plant production while I also have experience in Nursery & Garden Center Operations.
Become a True Leaf Market Brand Ambassador! You’ll enjoy awesome perks, free products and exclusive swag & offers! Help us create a gardening revolution and help others experience the joy of growing!
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
2 comments
Danielle Romero
This is my first year growing, this was such a helpful article
Jes BT
I love this article. We have 6 plots and 5 beds in each plot. We keep written notes every year to keep it all sorted. Thank you for the information.
Further Reading
Alice Waters: Cultivating the Farm-To-Table Movement
Written By Lara Wadsworth The farmers grow the food, the people eat the food. That’s how it goes, right? Well, that’s how it is supposed to be. What really happens is the farmers grow the food, the suppliers buy the food, then store it, and then ship i...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-05-136 min read010 California Natives for Organic Pest Control
Written By Lara Wadsworth Whether you call California home or not, we can all agree it is a beautiful state. From the alluring coastline to the towering redwoods, the natural meadows, and rugged mountains, California is a place all its own. How can you...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-05-066 min read1Growing Love This Mother's Day: Activities and Gift Ideas
Mother’s Day is celebrated with a variety of heartfelt traditions, from giving flowers and cards to giving service and more. In its roots, Mother’s Day goes back to ancient spring festivals relating to maternal goddesses. Mothers and motherly bonds may...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-04-304 min read0Grow Your Garden Anywhere: Finding Container-Friendly Plants
Looking for varieties that are container-growable? It is easier than ever to find garden seeds that can be grown in tight spaces like patios and balconies! True Leaf Market has added an identifying icon that appears as a dark green circle with a white ...
Ashleigh Smith
2024-04-302 min read0