We strive to practice rotation and companion planting in even the smallest garden. Rotation planting will enhance the fertility of your garden and help reduce disease and pest problems.
There are many 'programs' for rotation, but all are based on plant families and the observed benefits of various combinations of plants. There are general rules and some practical experience to follow....here's our version!
So what's first?
Beans: bush beans, pole beans, long purple beans, flat Italian beans, lima beans, pinto beans, (hint: skip the beans if you planted beets) then
Tomatoes follow beans... think about what you want in a tomato. Sauce? Slicing? Odd heritage tomatoes? Tiny salad tomatoes? Purple, yellow, white, green tomatoes? Some of each!
Then it's time to rest...
Peas renew the bed in early spring and fall, or this bed will get a cover crop for the summer, then...
Brassicas/Cabbages: Seasonal choices of kale, green cabbage, purple cabbage, Chinese cabbage, bok choi, other oriental greens and now..
Fruit crops: Does it bear 'fruit'? It's here. Corn, okra, eggplant, peppers both sweet and hot. Leafy greens go here too, such as spinach, mustard greens, lettuces
Potatoes: Late and early, storage or "eat 'em now" fingerlings. You'll be hooked on these, you never knew a potato could taste so good! And surprise, sweet potatoes aren't included here!
Fallow/Cover Crop: Clover, Buckwheat, Peas, Small Grains (depending on season)
Squash: A cleaning crop, they are supposed to help reduce weeds. This includes all your typical summer squashes, as well as the world of winter/storage squashes like acorn, hubbard, and, our favorite, butternut.
Root crops: Roots and more! Baby turnip greens and beet greens are a lovely addition to summer salads. Then you get to enjoy the other goodness...carrots, beets of all colors, diakon radishes, turnips and rutabagas.
And sweet potatoes! These are a great crop if you have room for the sprawling vines..and store well for sweet vegetable goodness all winter long
There are many 'programs' for rotation, but all are based on plant families and the observed benefits of various combinations of plants. There are general rules and some practical experience to follow....here's our version!
So what's first?
Beans: bush beans, pole beans, long purple beans, flat Italian beans, lima beans, pinto beans, (hint: skip the beans if you planted beets) then
Tomatoes follow beans... think about what you want in a tomato. Sauce? Slicing? Odd heritage tomatoes? Tiny salad tomatoes? Purple, yellow, white, green tomatoes? Some of each!
Then it's time to rest...
Peas renew the bed in early spring and fall, or this bed will get a cover crop for the summer, then...
Brassicas/Cabbages: Seasonal choices of kale, green cabbage, purple cabbage, Chinese cabbage, bok choi, other oriental greens and now..
Fruit crops: Does it bear 'fruit'? It's here. Corn, okra, eggplant, peppers both sweet and hot. Leafy greens go here too, such as spinach, mustard greens, lettuces
Potatoes: Late and early, storage or "eat 'em now" fingerlings. You'll be hooked on these, you never knew a potato could taste so good! And surprise, sweet potatoes aren't included here!
Fallow/Cover Crop: Clover, Buckwheat, Peas, Small Grains (depending on season)
Squash: A cleaning crop, they are supposed to help reduce weeds. This includes all your typical summer squashes, as well as the world of winter/storage squashes like acorn, hubbard, and, our favorite, butternut.
Root crops: Roots and more! Baby turnip greens and beet greens are a lovely addition to summer salads. Then you get to enjoy the other goodness...carrots, beets of all colors, diakon radishes, turnips and rutabagas.
And sweet potatoes! These are a great crop if you have room for the sprawling vines..and store well for sweet vegetable goodness all winter long
The short and sweet version for smaller gardens?
Leaf crops .. lettuce, spinach, cabbages
Fruit crops... tomatoes, peppers, okra
Root crops...radishes, carrots, beets
Legumes...peas, beans
Potatoes don't make it into the small garden. If you really want them, we can go vertical!
Leaf crops .. lettuce, spinach, cabbages
Fruit crops... tomatoes, peppers, okra
Root crops...radishes, carrots, beets
Legumes...peas, beans
Potatoes don't make it into the small garden. If you really want them, we can go vertical!
Companion planting is used
- to attract pollinating and beneficial insects
- to repel unwanted insects or lure them somewhere else
- to suppress weeds, as with rye cover cropping
- to increase yields by planting two crops together, corn and squash is a traditional example.
As with rotation planting, we'll recommend and use companion planting in the planning and planting of your garden. You may notice at times that we have left space in your garden. This may be for succession planting, or for interplanting of companions.
Rotation & Companion Planting
"Planned Planting"
"Planned Planting"
