three year rotation

In this scheme the vegetable land is divided up into three areas for:

for root crops (carrots, parsnips, beetroot, salsify etc.)

for brassicas (cabbage, savoys, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts, turnips)

for everything else (potatoes, celery, leeks etc.)

So plot 1 has root crops growing on it the first year, brassicas in the second year, and everything else growing on it the third year. The simple plan below shows the idea.

First year planting

In this way crops that need similar treatment and have the same kind of requirements have been grouped together. In addition deep rooting crops alternate with shallow rooting vegetables. As far as possible crop "families" are kept together. For this reason we put turnips in with the cabbage family, as they are closely related and get the same diseases and pests - notably club root.

A three-course rotation is simple to use, but it is not very easy to fit in all crops. Growers are apt to wonder where to put such things as celery and leeks, for instance, but these can be used as dividing lines between the areas if necessary - and so can runner beans or peas, if desired. In some ways, a four-course rotation has its advantages.