Companion planting or true crop rotation, which do you do?

**zazen999** · 02-08-2012, 05:54 PM

I rotate the spuds, and everything else goes in as a mix.

Apart from the Gertrude Franck bed this year [companions carefully matched and moved], and the permaculture bed also started this year [everything all in].

**kathyd** · 02-08-2012, 07:23 PM

I started off with good intentions by trying to group plants with a view to rotating them, but somehow it seems to be slipping... every time I have something new to plant, it just has to go in where there's space rather than as part of a plan. And the calendula and nasturtians have kind of taken over like the phacelia, and I don't have the heart to move them really because they're so bright and pretty and they make me happy (big ahh

) ... And my organised 'plans' for winter planting are already falling to bits as I'm trying to squeeze some green manure in some beds. And.... so it goes on! So I'm planning on moving things round regularly, and having a 'basic' plan but being prepared to deviate from it as often as I like without feeling guilty

.

**Barking Postlethwaite** · 02-08-2012, 08:21 PM

An organised three-fold rotation system on the allotment is going to be beyond me, but next year's planning scheme will definitely swap the peas/beans with the potatoes/tomatoes and ensure that brassicas in particular aren't planted on the same ground as a basic precaution against build-up of soil-borne diseases and premature soil exhaustion.

I'm a sceptic when it comes to companion planting; all a bit "new age" for me, I'm afraid. I might give a little thought to what I plant next to each other, but it's not going to be a major consideration.

**Bigmallly** · 02-08-2012, 08:59 PM

I started off this year with a 4 year planned rotation plus a Square Foot Bed. As the SFB was a raging success, next year I am going to have 2 x SFB's (incorporating alliums into it) then just have a 3 bed rotation of spuds, legumes & brassicas.

**Bren In Pots** · 02-08-2012, 10:11 PM

On paper it seemed a good idea but my beds are different sizes so as long as my brassicas get moved about I'm OK with that.

**solway cropper** · 02-08-2012, 10:23 PM

The only things I move about are potatoes and brassicas because I grow a lot of them. Everything else is block planted wherever the space allows. I sometimes wish crop rotation didn't exist because it causes a lot of confusion for beginners and isn't that critical on the scale that most of us grow our veg. I can understand its importance to commercial growers but it's not something I'm going to get hung up on.

**Gemmalaveen** · 03-08-2012, 06:55 AM

I started with good intentions but my veg garden is looking a little haphazard now... but for the mot part I am trying to stick to the plan.

**Gemmalaveen** · 03-08-2012, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by Barking Postlethwaite View Post

I'm a sceptic when it comes to companion planting; all a bit "new age" for me, I'm afraid.

I tend to question these things too but one bit of evidence I have seen is the way nasturtiums attract blackfly. I planted a few nasturtiums near broad beans this year - the broad beans were clear and the nasturtiums were covered in black critters... amazing. I also planted them near the cabbages to deter caterpillars but the slugs got there first.

**thegreatcob** · 04-08-2012, 09:28 PM

I usually plant my broad bean a long way from my nasturtiums. So black fly don't get even close to my broad beans. I also plant leaf lettuce,radish and cabbage like I saw in old ww2
Era garden book.

**VirginVegGrower** · 05-08-2012, 10:37 AM

I always rotate to keep clubroot away in the main, but I also plant sacrificial plants such as nasturtiums. Marigolds for pest control, etc.

**Leeds_lad** · 05-08-2012, 03:07 PM

Realise I never actually put what I do =p
I use companion planting but rotate every companion set to a new bed each year. They usual tomatoes,peppers, carrots, sunflowers, onions in one bed etc.

**Alison** · 05-08-2012, 03:26 PM

I do a reasonably strict rotation otherwise I forget where I am but I do interplant with companion plants as well and rotate them round also.

**Farmer_Gyles** · 05-08-2012, 05:35 PM

i've been using 3-bed rotation for years .... one bed of spuds, one of "salads" (peas / beans / sweetcorn / lettuce etc) and one bed of brassicas .... i have a separate "bed" for onions .... carrots / beetroot etc are grown in troughs

i'm now growing all year round and using loads of pots ... guessing about 100 large pots / buckets .... i'll have toms in the buckets in summer, brassicas in the winter .... the compost in the buckets tends to get emptied out into sacks .... i can "rest" the compost each year as i have so much of it .... and then i can mix in with some of my home made compost too ....

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Companion planting or true crop rotation, which do you do?

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