How to Practice Crop Rotation (Garden Benefits Explained)

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Last Updated on August 9 , 2023

Have you heard about craw gyration , but are n’t trusted what it ’s all about ? Or , wondering if it ’s something you should be doing ? Then you ’ve come to the good berth . This article will give you the flying - and - dirty on crop rotation : what it is , the benefits it can provide to plant and the surround , and how to practice it in your garden . I ’ll play up and ply examples of using the 4 - class cycle per second or “ 4 harvest rotation ” method specifically . To be honest , we are n’t perfect in harvest rotary motion efforts in our garden – but it ’s something we do test to be mindful of !

A row of red and green cabbage are growing in a raised bed. A row of fava beans are growing up behind the row of cabbage.

What is Crop Rotation?

Crop rotation is the pattern of interchange or switching the crops that are mature in a particular location ( for example a field , plot or garden bed ) every time of year . In other Scripture , it ’s when a husbandman or gardener makes a concerted endeavour to avoid growing the same family unit of vegetables in the same stain year after year . It is an essential component in regenerative andsustainableagriculture organisation , alongside goodmulch , garden companion planting , andno - till or no - digpractices .

Crop revolution can be as simple as change over between two different harvest families , or developing a contrive sequence of up to a 12 crops . Allowing discipline to fallow ( go unplanted ) or utilizing cover crops between season can also be part of a crop rotation routine .

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A graphic that illustrates the basics of crop rotation and the order in which different crops should be planted in different beds.

Why Crop Rotation is Important

There are numerous welfare to crop rotation . First , practicing craw rotation can naturallyenhance soil fertilityand reduce the demand for chemic fertilizer stimulation . Even better , researchindicates that crop production can be 10 to 25 % greater when crop revolution is used in comparison to monoculture polish !

Crop revolution can also aid break the Hz ofpests , disease , and weed , thereby decreasing the motive for pesticide . The use of cover crop in crop rotation improves soil health while also minimize soil corrosion and runoff .

The Rodale Instituteexplains that harvest rotation can ameliorate grime health and organic matter “ by increasing biomass from dissimilar crops ’ root structures ” while increase overallbiodiversityamong the grime and farm . Below ground , microorganisms and other members of the filth food web naturally fly high with kind – as do the beneficial worm , pollinator , and wildlife above ground !

A bee is collecting pollen from the inside of a fava bean flower. Fava beans are a great plant for crop rotation as they affix nitrogen into the soil.

Now let ’s take a deeper smell at a duet of these welfare .

How crop rotation improves soil fertility

Each character of flora draw slightly different nutrients from the soil . For example , tomatoes , leafy greens and Zea mays require a honest amount ofnitrogen . On the other hand , legume such as pea and beans fix N from the atmosphere and retrovert nitrogen to the soil as they grow ! Continuously planting the same crop ( or members of the same plant life home ) in one localization will easily lead to nutrient depletion or imbalance . In contrast , craw rotation allows the grunge to rest , resile , and retrieve Libra the Balance between seasons .

This conception extends beyond macronutrients like atomic number 7 , phosphorus , and potassium ( NPK ) tomicronutrients , minerals , and even microorganisms as well . The ‘ soil food web ’ is a active community of bacterium , fungus , protozoa , nematodes and other critters that dwell in the dirt . They ’re all intimately involved in nourishing cycling , chemical decomposition reaction , disease inhibition , and overall grease wellness .

The more diverse planting we bring home the bacon ( include through crop rotation ) , the more the soil food web thrives – as do our plants !

A graphic of the soil food web illustrating how organic matter, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, anthropods, birds, and animals interact with each other to form a symbiotic relationship.

How rotating crops reduces pests and disease

Crop rotary motion can break the cps of disease or pests byremoving the preferred host plantfrom the sphere . Once establish during the grow time of year , disease - causing fungal spore or soil - dwell organisms like cutworms , root - knot nematodes , orcurl grubscan overwinter in the territory – ready and wait to pounce on their favorite victim the following time of year ! Growing a different or less susceptible harvest in that location instead can abridge or reject the plague / diseases power to procreate or survive .

Considerpowdery mildewfor example ( aka PM , a common fungal disease in our garden ) . If ourzucchiniplants were importantly infect with powdery mold during the grow season , I ’d seek to plant something less susceptible to mold in that placement next . ( Such as radish , Piper nigrum , fava bean , onions , cultivated cabbage , or Brassica oleracea botrytis . ) It ’d be wise to to deflect growing other PM - prone crop like Lycopersicon esculentum , noodle , or more squash in that smirch for a time of year or two . They would only encourage the fungal spore to proliferate .

Is crop rotation necessary in raised beds or home gardens?

Yes and no . Maybe so ? Practicing craw rotation is an splendid goal in any scope , including kindle garden bed or small-scale plot ! Home gardeners can reap many of the same benefit as turgid farm . Rotating crops in raised bed can be specially utilitarian for cut the prevalence of persistent diseases and plague .

However , us house gardener already grow far more variety in our garden than most larger operations . Many of us practicepolyculture , or planting a mix of several types of crop in one minuscule growing outer space or bed . I do n’t know many nurseryman that grow justonething in the same bed year after class … do you ? That said , crop rotation propose thelargest impactand environmental benefits when used as an counterpoison or alternative to large - plate monoculture ( the finish of a single harvest ) – which is commonly practice in big ag , not at home .

what is more , it is admittedly more difficult for a home gardener to practice “ perfect ” crop rotation , specially with circumscribed growing space ! We often ca n’t afford to give up an entire bottom to fallow or grow cover crops every season . If you have several raised garden beds , it ’s idealistic if you’re able to rotate crop amongst different bed each season . However , even the wide-eyed human activity of planting crops in alternating ending or side of one bed is better than nothing !

The roots of a fava bean plant are shown, many nitrogen nodules which look like white balls are affixed to the roots themselves.

Just remember : perfection is not the destination . taste your best with the outer space you have . And do n’t leave to addcompanion plantsto promote your harvest revolution efforts !

How to Practice Crop Rotation

In the most basic crop gyration drill , plainly seek to rise different plant families in your bed or rows every other season . More complex rotations may span several twelvemonth and affect importantly more crop , planning , and strategy . vulgar crop revolution schedule for large farms admit cycle between corn , wheat , legume , and other crops .

Small farm and serious home base gardeners can consider practice afour - yr crop gyration cycles/second , switch between :

select any of the highlighted veg above to see our correspondinggrow guide !

A large squash plant growing in a raised garden bed, there is borage, calendula, and basil growing amongst the squash. Beyond, there are two raised beds with onions, collard greens, beans and various flowers growing in and around the vegetables.

In a four - year crop rotation , when you lead off the cycle does n’t count , but theorderdoes .

Thelegumesfix nitrogen from the atmosphere , adding to the ground . Thegreens and brassicasthat observe then utilize a lot of nitrogen to support their leafy increase . By using up some nitrogen , the greens are also preparing the ground for the next group . Next , fruiting vegetablesneed sizable Lucifer to develop flush and fruit ( and will focalise too much on leafy green outgrowth rather of fruit if they ’re leave too much nitrogen ) . eventually , theroot veggiesare the least arduous feeder , but perform best with more potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen . Then the cps starts all over again with nitrogen - repair legumes .

How to Keep Track of Crop Rotation

The most difficult part of do craw revolution can be go along track ! apply aplanner , spreadsheet or chartto keep cut of what you ’re arise in each bed every time of year . Then you’re able to front back at previous years and also plan ahead for the future . We like to utilise ourHomestead and Chill patch plansto map out our garden each planting time of year . In addition to serving as a great computer address for years to come , they facilitate me plan how many seeds to start and maketransplanting daymuch more tranquil and organized !

Some organize nurseryman ( and serious crop rotators ) move their crops from bed to bedin sequencewith the four - yr crop rotary motion cycle . See the model below . We’ve never had enough elbow room to keep up a model quite like this in the past . But now that we have more raised bed in our young garden , we may give it a try ! However there are other variable we postulate to consider too , such as which seam receive the best Lord’s Day for the heat - sleep together crop versus others where more nuance - large-minded plants may thrive .

Do I still need to fertilize if I practice crop rotation?

While it ’s outstanding for the grime , you may not be able to rely on crop rotation alone to adequately nourish your plant . We recommend amending garden beds with agedcompostand a top - dressing of meek , slow - release , well - balancedorganic fertilizereach season . Throughout the growing season , we also like to water our garden beds withaerated compost tea – which provides easy food and boosts good microorganism . you’re able to get our full garden bottom amendment routinehere .

And that’s the 411 on crop rotation.

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A raised garden bed garden with various annual flowers of yellow, purple, orange, and red growing amongst squash, tomatoes, beans, and herbs. The background is a fence lined with many green vines.

A 4 year crop rotation illustration that shows the order in which different plants should be grown in a specific bed and which order they should be planted out. It starts with legumes to greens/brassics to fruiting vegetables to root vegetables before going back to legumes.

A sheet from the Garden Planning Toolkit that is the “My Garden Plot Plan” section. Deanna has illustrated each bed with letters that correspond to the key on the bottom of the page. Different vegetables and flowers are assigned to each of the garden beds.