In commercial cultivation, the principle of temporal crop rotation used to be known as three-field farming, which, when put into practice, meant nothing more than that one field was tilled with winter rye, for example, and a second one with barley, millet or oats. The third remained fallow or was at best used as pasture for the breeding animals. A year later, the cultures changed, whereby it was always considered that first heavy feeders and then medium or weak feeders come into the soil.

Cabbage is a typical heavy feeder

Large parts of the agricultural sector have turned away from these principles, which have been tried and tested over centuries, as a result of partially incorrect state subsidies. The visible consequences include the corn fields cultivated in monocultures, which we, as nature-conscious leisure gardeners, should better not take for example. One of the most important basic rules in the home garden is that the different species and cultures should change their place as often as possible.

Optimum crop rotation in the allotment garden

Where appropriate, soil fertility can be increased by leaving a bed dormant for a whole year or by cultivating it with peas or lupins. The smaller the garden, the more difficult the planning will be, which becomes even more complicated when certain vegetables are preferred for reasons of personal taste. In such cases, it helps if you work with different types of fertilizers that enable a healthy soil structure and meet the different nutrient requirements of the plants. Another positive side effect of considering periodic crop rotation is the reduction or spread of pests, as we know them from cabbage plants, for example. Spores of fungal pathogens usually remain in the soil and would massively endanger the next harvest if more daisy family plants are planted.

Plants have different nutritional requirements

The nutrient requirement, which should be used as the basis for optimal garden planning, has a significant influence on the crop rotation and the optimal creation of mixed cultures on the beds. Some examples of this:

  • Weak consumers (low nutrient requirement): peas, beans, beetroot and herbs:
  • Medium eaters (average nutritional requirement): various types of lettuce, radishes, peppers, onions, spinach, carrots, salsify and kohlrabi;
  • Heavy eaters (very high nutrient requirements): many types of cabbage, including cauliflower, brussels, white and savoy cabbage as well as tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, celery, leeks and courgettes;

Since fruit trees also have a massive consumption of nutrients, heavy consumers should under no circumstances be grown in the immediate vicinity of the trees and shrubs. The following constellations could result as possible crop rotations:

  • Plan A (1st, 2nd and 3rd year): potatoes, beets, legumes (e.g.: kidney or soybeans, chickpeas, vetches, alfalfa);
  • Plan B (1st, 2nd and 3rd year): cabbage, onions, legumes (e.g.: lima beans, lentils, sunflowers, canola, clover);

The best planting partners for your vegetables

Good neighbors, bad neighbors: We not only know them from our own living environment, they are at least as important for a house garden that is as profitable as possible. We have summarized the most important facts for you and a detailed database is also available in our garden journal.

vegetable type Good neighbors Bad neighbors More companion plants
broccoli Leek, spinach, lettuce, carrots, chard, peas various types of cabbage, radish, garlic, onions Marigold, Marigold
peas Radishes, radishes, lettuce and lettuce, carrots Onions, leeks and garlic Chamomile, fennel and calendula
cabbages Spinach, leeks, chard, parsnips Onions, garlic and spinach Coriander, dill, chamomile, celery, marigold
carrots Garlic, onions, tomatoes, peas, leeks parsnips dill, chives
leek Radish, carrots, lettuce, radishes, kohlrabi Beets, Onions, Peas Chamomile, fennel, parsley
beans Lettuce and lettuce, kohlrabi, cabbage Onions, leeks, garlic, peas Oats (as green manure and animal feed)
radish Swiss chard, lettuce, onions, carrots, peas cabbage and kohlrabi parsley and chervil
spinach Cabbage, beans, radish, radishes, kohlrabi Beetroot dill and strawberries
Beetroot Lettuce, onions, garlic, kohlrabi spinach and chard Savory, fennel and dill
onions Kohlrabi, spinach, lettuce, beetroot, carrots Cabbage, leek, garlic Marjoram, dill, chamomile and strawberries

Our tip: What was the name of this particularly tender radish variety and which tasty type of carrot was on the bed in front of the fence? It is best to make a few notes every year, which you record in a garden diary together with smartphone photos you have taken yourself. Also make a note of the yields or less successful cultures so that you can plan your next garden easier and better.

Category:

Garden design