Crop Rotation 🔁
Introduction
Each type of plant, sometimes require different levels of each type of nutrients. Furthermore, each plant also attracts different type of fungus, bacteria, pests, and insects. Therefore, if the same type of plant is repeatedly grown in the same location over time, a build up of ’negative things’ can accumulate and certain nutrients depleted. Therefore, we best rotate them crops.
Crop rotation:
- Minimizes the accumulation of certain pests/insects.
- Allows for certain nutrient cycling and healthy bacteria to re-balance/re-store.
- Minimizes the spread of plant diseases
- many more…
With that being said, Cornell 1 recommends a 2 year period before replanting the same family in the same location. See picture below where each crop represents a different family from the table below. Every year, each family is moved to a another location such that, crop 1 is planted in the same location after being “away” for two years.
Here are a list of some common veggie families to note.
Common vegetable family groups
| FAMILY | MEMBER PLANTS |
|---|---|
| 🧄Allium | chive, garlic, garlic chive, leek, onion, perennial onion, shallot |
| 🌿Amaranth | amaranth |
| 🥦Brassica | bok choi, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collard, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga, radish, turnip |
| 🌻Composite | artichoke, chicory, endive, Jerusalem artichoke, lettuce, sunflower |
| 🥒Curcurbit | cucumber, gourd, melon, pumpkin, squash (winter & summer), watermelon, zucchini |
| 🍃Goosefoot | beet, chard, quinoa, spinach |
| 🌾Grain | barley, corn, oats, rice, rye, wheat |
| 🍀Legume | bean, clover, pea, vetch |
| 🎍Lily | asparagus |
| 🌿Mallow | okra |
| 🌿 Mint | basil, mint, oregano, sage |
| 🥔Morning Glory | sweet potato |
| 🍆Nightshade | eggplant, ground cherry, pepper, potato, tomatillo, tomato |
| 🍓 Rose | strawberry |
| 🌾Smartweed | buckwheat, rhubarb, sorrel |
| 🥕 Umbel | carrot, celeriac, celery, dill, fennel, lovage, parley, parsnip |
References
LeafyVillage
Interests include gardening, organic fertilizers, researching, and cooking/grilling/baking.