Crop rotation of vegetables , i.e. planting different species of vegetable plants on the same plot, improves their growth and yield, and helps to avoid the transmission of diseases and pests. It is therefore worth knowingwhat vegetables to plantto keep them he althy and tasty. Here are 3 excellentexamples for crop rotation of vegetables in your plotLearn the secret of he althy vegetables from your own garden!
Crop rotation of vegetables on the plot. What vegetables to plant after yourself?
Fig. pixabay.com
Why is crop rotation so important?
"The benefits of crop rotation , i.e. the annual transfer of crops belonging to the same family to other places, were already known to the ancient Greeks and Romans.Crop rotation of vegetables on the plot prevents pests and disease-causing agents from accumulating in the soil, including those that must be avoided at all costs, such as root nematodes (especially affecting tomatoes and potatoes), cabbage syphilis, gangrene the base of the legume stalk or white rot of onion.The constant cultivation of the same species in one place also reduces the yield, because they one-sided exhaust the soil from the nutrients they need. And yet
vegetables have different nutritional requirements ! There are less and more voracious among them. In addition, different types of vegetables, depending on the size of their roots, benefit from the nutrients found in different layers of the soil. "
Remember!The principle of crop rotation on the plot is simple and logical.All vegetables belonging to the same family tend to suffer from the same diseases and are usually attacked by the same pests. The application of crop rotation is especially required by nightshade, legume, cruciferous and root vegetables.
How to use vegetable crop rotation on the plot?
Plants such as carrots, parsley and beetroot are characterized by a deep root system and absorb nutrients from the deeper layers of the soil, while lettuce or onions develop their roots just below the surface.
Vegetables that have a deeper root system and are less demandingare grown in the second or third year after the manureSo if we fertilize a part of our garden with manure every 2-3 years, in the part fertilized in autumn, we should grow vegetables in spring that require a high content of nutrients and humus in the soil.
The best crop rotation of vegetablesis obtained when we divide the vegetable garden into four equal parts and plant them according to the following rules: one bed with plants with high nutritional requirements, one with medium, one small and one deep rooting plants for green manure.
From year to year , the planting of beds should be changed , that is: medium-sized plants are placed on the field after plants with high requirements, in the next year with small ones, and in the fourth year, green fertilizers prepare the place for the next vegetable cultivation with high expectations.
Below you will findrules for the use of vegetable crop rotationon the plot for the first of our flower beds. On the second row, we start using it in the following year, on the third row in the third, and so on.
Crop rotation of vegetables on the plot - example 1
Year 1
In the bed we plant celery, the root system of which is strongly developed and reaches even 1.5 m deep into the ground. Before cultivation, fertilize the bed with manure. We grow celery from seedlings produced in a warm room. Due to the high heat requirements, you should not rush into planting celery on the bed. Too early cultivation can cause the plant to bloom prematurely.
Year 2
The following year, the same patch is planted with green manure plants, increasing the humus content and the amount of nutrients in the soil, as well as improving its structure.
Year 3
In the third year, we plant the same plot with lettuce, which has a poorly developed root system, but has high nutritional requirements. It works well after plants for green fertilizer, which will enrich the soil with nutrients.
Year 4
In the fourth year, we plant a leek on the bed, the root system of which is very strong and grows up to 50 cm, so the bed can be additionally covered with manure or other organic fertilizers.
Fig. © Joanna Białowąs
Crop rotation of vegetables on the plot - example 2
Year 1
"The bed is covered with manure for the cultivation of potatoes. They like fertile, slightly acidic soil. Potatoes are a traditional crop cleaning up neglected land. They grow lush and effectively drown out weeds.
"Year 2
The following year, the same patch is still fertile enough to grow root vegetables. These vegetables prefer a light, slightly alkaline soil, so if it is too acidic the soil should be limed.
Year 3 In the third year, we fertilize the same plot again, this time for legumes, e.g. beans. They take up atmospheric nitrogen and store it in their roots. After harvesting the crops, leave the remnants of vegetables in the ground, and the nitrogen released after their decomposition will be very useful for cruciferous vegetables.
Year 4
Cruciferous vegetables like to grow in compact soil, so let the soil settle well for the winter before planting it. Before that, lim it again (if necessary), because the worst enemy of these vegetables, i.e. cabbage syphilis, does not like alkaline soil.
Fig. © Joanna Białowąs
Crop rotation of vegetables on the plot - example 3
Year 1
The bed is covered with manure and we grow white cabbage on it. The root system of cabbage is very strong and grows quite deep into the soil.
Year 2
The next year, the same patch is planted with plants for green manure, e.g. lupine or vetch, which increase the humus content and the amount of nutrients in the soil.
Year 3
"In the third year, the same bed is planted with onion, which due to its shallow root system requires fertile, permeable soils with high water capacity. Therefore, it will be perfect for plants for green fertilizer that leave a clean stand behind.
"Year 4
In the last year, we sow spinach, which has average nutritional requirements. Sow vegetable spinach in rows every 20-25 cm from March to May.
Fig. © Joanna Białowąs
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
