February gardening jobs: Plan crop rotation

Sowing Seeds

(Image credit: Fred DIDIER)

published 9 February 2014

Vegetable growers have been rotating their crops for centuries-and with good reason. It makes the most of soil fertility and, most importantly, minimises the risk of soil-borne diseases such as the dreaded club root.

Draw up a list of crops and put each into one of four groups: brassicas, legumes, onions and roots. This is a simplified list, but it can be refined over time. The important point is that vegetables in each group should not be grown on the same soil for the next three years. A simple sketch plan drawn up each year will help.

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