It has probably been the same for you: in the spring you stood in front of the vegetable patch and had to think for a long time about where the radishes, carrots, lettuce and tomatoes were the year before. To prevent this from happening again, it makes sense to create a cultivation plan for the vegetable garden, based on crop rotation and mixed cultivation.
Planting mixed cultures protects the vegetable patch from pests
Step 1: Which Vegetables Would You Like to Grow?
Not everyone loves green beans or peeling beets. Therefore, the first step in the growing plan is to consider which types of vegetables to plant in the coming year.
Also include the size of the bed in this planning. It makes more sense to grow fewer varieties, but enough of them for family needs.
Step 2: Observe crop rotation
Crop rotation is crucial if you don't want to unnecessarily deplete the soil. Therefore, divide the planned plants into the following groups:
- heavy feeder
- medium eater
- weak feeder.
The heavy feeders
These have a particularly high nitrogen requirement. As a rule, these are summer vegetables such as peppers, cabbage or tomatoes.
The middle eaters
They have a medium nutrient requirement and are planted in the second year in the place where the heavy feeders were cultivated in the previous year. Medium eaters are, for example, spinach, garlic or onions.
The Weak Eaters
These require relatively few nutrients or even partially supply the soil with nitrogen again in the third year. They ensure that the substrate can recover. They include many herbs, but also beans and peas.
green manure
Green manure is often neglected in the vegetable garden because there is not enough space. However, it makes sense as it attracts beneficial insects such as bees, bumblebees, butterflies and other insects.
Note mixed cultures
Consider sensible mixed cultures when drawing the cultivation plan. Certain vegetables grown side-by-side support each other's growth and reward your gardening effort with higher yields.
tips
If you are unsure about the soil quality in your vegetable garden, it may make sense to have a soil sample examined. You then know exactly which trace elements are missing and can fertilize in a very targeted manner.