On another post I placed about onions Stonehead detailed his rotation.
Im just about to sit down today and decide what im planting next year and where (i hope to get some onions and garlic in this year for next year harvesting.
Its my first attempt on planning a rotation and I just wondered what everyone else did (including how they manure / feed the beds and which ones they leave out feeding)
Any info would be very helpful (although Stoney's rotation looks fab).
MEW x
Whats your rotation....???
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Millymollymandy
- A selfsufficientish Regular
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It's quite a difficult thing to get right I think! I spent hours trying to work it all out on paper at first. I don't do any liming and I manure everything except the bed that the root veg are going into, cos I've got very sandy soil that is extremely free draining, and I need to improve it's water rentention qualities.
Sometimes it isn't possible to get everything in the right place as often there are extra leeks that have to be fitted in somewhere, and this year the problem is the curly kale - the space allotted for them got taken up by butternut that emerged from the compost which I allowed to grow, so the kale has had to be slotted in here and there where we've found space!
Generally I just move everything along a plot each year but probably don't have things following which are the 'right' thing, but when I was researching I came across so many schools of thought I just gave up on what was supposed to be correct or not.
Sometimes it isn't possible to get everything in the right place as often there are extra leeks that have to be fitted in somewhere, and this year the problem is the curly kale - the space allotted for them got taken up by butternut that emerged from the compost which I allowed to grow, so the kale has had to be slotted in here and there where we've found space!
Generally I just move everything along a plot each year but probably don't have things following which are the 'right' thing, but when I was researching I came across so many schools of thought I just gave up on what was supposed to be correct or not.
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Peggy Sue
- A selfsufficientish Regular
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- Location: Godmanchester, Cambs, UK
I spent hours on paper too, tried to combine companion and rotation which was even harder to work out. Soemone helpfully said, it's good not to plant things int he same place twice, but don't be a slave to it.
It's true there is always something to 'fit in'. Someone gave us some leek plants a few weeks ago and they just had to squeeze in between the broccoli or else they would ahve gone to waste.
My plan is to manure everything, I have a horse so why not!! It always helps to add good structure and nutrients. the ground around here doesn't need lime and it's quite well draining- but to be fair the clay in my garden gets the same treatment!
I originally planned for a rotation that had a rest patch, but now I just can't fit everything in so tough!!
The other thing is having nely taken on both allotment patches I only know what has been grown this year, so you have to start from scratch. Fun planning in the quiet moments of life- make that quiet few seconds!
It's true there is always something to 'fit in'. Someone gave us some leek plants a few weeks ago and they just had to squeeze in between the broccoli or else they would ahve gone to waste.
My plan is to manure everything, I have a horse so why not!! It always helps to add good structure and nutrients. the ground around here doesn't need lime and it's quite well draining- but to be fair the clay in my garden gets the same treatment!
I originally planned for a rotation that had a rest patch, but now I just can't fit everything in so tough!!
The other thing is having nely taken on both allotment patches I only know what has been grown this year, so you have to start from scratch. Fun planning in the quiet moments of life- make that quiet few seconds!
Just Do It!