A question for those in the know. When planning crop rotations, which matters more, time or # of crops in the interval.
Say for instance I use the same spot of land for more than one crop in a year, does simply having "x" number of different crops on that spot count? Or should I wait the recommended number of years? Growing say cabbage crops in a spot in spring of this year, then in the fall of next year. Assuming two-three crops per spot per year, it technically means 3 crops have been grown between cabbage plantings.
I suspect that there may be two separate issues involved, one of soil recharge which would be satisfied by a required number and type of crop in between, and a whole other matter altogether of diseases which I am guessing probably need the time between crops.
Am I off base?
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4 comments:
My biggest concern with rotations is desease and pest concentrations. I add enought compost and natural amendments to my soil throughout the year that I'm confident it will remain fertile. (one of the benefits of small scare AG.) If I keep the plants moving, and don't plant the same, or even similar plants(brocolli and Cabbage are both brassicas.) in the same area more than one year, I'm happy that I've rotated effectively. If they're in there in the spring, and then back in the fall, I would consider that one season over all. Particularly where you're at, the deep cold will kill off most pathogens I believe.
Best of luck.
P~
I've been wondering the same thing, whether it's time, or the amount of crops inbetween, said crop/plant family. I'd like to know too!
Hmmm, I never thought about the cold being helpful. I'll have to see if I can find someone at Cornell who might be able to shed some light on this.
I'm particularly concerned about two crops, potatoes and tomatoes, both of which are nightshades and can get the same diseases, do not like being in the same bed, and both of which I try to grow in large quantities.
I have 3 beds and should optimally have six in order to abide by the recommended rotations. I guess I am just looking to see if I can cheat the recommendations.
I add compost whenever possible too so its really a concern about diseases.
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2008/3-12/Diseasesurvival.html
I guess cold doesn't matter afterall.
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