Plan crop rotation in your vegetable garden
Crop rotation tracks what grows on the same ground over time. Record plant families and previous crops. Alternating nutrient-demand groups alone does not account for family relationships or disease history.
Crop rotation table: recognise plant families
| Family | Examples | Next-year check |
|---|---|---|
| Brassicaceae | Cabbage, kohlrabi, radish | These crops share a family. |
| Solanaceae | Tomato, potato, pepper | Different harvested parts do not mean different families. |
| Fabaceae | Pea, bean | Include early and late crops in the record. |
| Apiaceae | Carrot, celery, parsley | Include related herbs too. |
Put your plan into practice
Write the crop history
Record previous years and short intermediate crops; mark missing history as unknown.
Separate succession from rotation
Check both crops within a year and the families grown in previous years.
Keep the plan current
Plan across several beds, then update after planting and harvest. The source illustrates a five-year rotation; suitable intervals depend on the crop and situation.
Limits and local conditions
No single interval fits every crop or disease. Nutrient groups are a guide; family, disease history, variety and site remain important.