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A Handy Guide to Crop Rotation on Your Allotment

If you have an allotment or veg patch, you’ve probably heard of crop rotation—but do you know the benefits of it? It can boost your harvests, improve your soil, and reduce pests and diseases naturally? This simple, yet effective technique has been used by growers for centuries and is just as relevant today, where changing seasons and soil health are key to a successful allotment.

Whether you’re an experienced allotment holder or just starting out, understanding crop rotation can make your growing space more productive and sustainable.

What is Crop Rotation?

Crop rotation is the practice of changing where you grow different types of vegetables each year. Instead of planting the same crops in the same beds year after year, you move them around in a planned sequence. This helps maintain soil fertility, control pests, and prevent soil bourne diseases such as brassica Clubroot, Onion White Rot, or Blight in potatoes and tomatoes. Crops should be rotated on a 4 year cycle.

A Simple Four-Bed Crop Rotation Plan

Most allotment growers use a four-year rotation cycle, which divides crops into four main groups:

1. Legumes (Beans & Peas)– These plants add nitrogen to the soil, improving fertility for the next crop.
2. Brassicas (Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, Brussels Sprouts)– Heavy feeders that thrive in nitrogen-rich soil.
3. Potatoes & Fruiting Vegetables (Potatoes, Tomatoes, Courgettes, Squash, Sweetcorn)– Need well-fed soil but prefer a spot where brassicas grew before.
4. Root Vegetables & Alliums (Carrots, Parsnips, Fennel, Celeriac, Beetroot, Leeks, Garlic, Onions)– Help break up the soil but don’t like too much nitrogen.

Each year, crops move to the next bed, ensuring the soil remains nutrient-rich and balanced while minimising disease and pest problems. If you have a smaller plot, you may prefer to use a 3 year plan. In which case, ensure brassicas and root veg are always in different beds.

The Benefits of Crop Rotation for Your Allotment

Healthier Soil = Bigger Crops - Different plants take (or give) different nutrients to the soil. Legumes like peas and beans add nitrogen, which leafy crops like cabbage love. Meanwhile, root crops help break up compacted earth, improving drainage and structure.

Natural Pest & Disease Control - If you grow brassicas (e.g. cabbage) in the same bed year after year, you’ll likely get clubroot, a nasty soil-borne disease. Likewise, potatoes left in the same spot can attract blight. Rotating crops breaks the cycle of pests and diseases, making your allotment healthier.

Fewer Weeds, Less Work - Certain crops, like potatoes and squashes, spread their leaves and shade the ground, suppressing weeds naturally. By rotating crops, you can manage weed growth and spend less time weeding!

Natural fertiliser - Since each plant group has different nutrient needs, crop rotation helps maintain soil fertility naturally, reducing the need for artificial fertilizers.

How to Plan Your Crop Rotation

Draw a Simple Map– draw your allotment layout and divide it into 4 sections. Label them based on the crop groups above. Take note that you’ll need to plan accordingly for perennial vegetables such as asparagus or rhubarb as you won’t be able to move these each year.

Plan Ahead– Before planting, decide where each crop will go this year, and where they’ll move next year. 

Keep a Record– Write a list of what you plant in each bed. This helps you stick to a consistent rotation each year without having to remember which bed has what vegetables growing in it the previous year. 

Extra Handy Tips 

Some beds may spend months empty after harvesting. Try successional sowing so you can harvest crops regularly and limit the empty spaces. You can also grow green manures such as clover or mustard in empty beds over winter to improve soil fertility.

Use companion planting—marigolds can deter pests from your brassicas, while garlic and onions help keep carrot fly at bay.

Although rotating your crops can naturally fertilise the soil, you will still need to fertilise and feed plants as required—Potatoes can deplete the soil of nutrients quickly. Feed crops regularly to maximise the growing potential.

Crop rotation is an important factor for allotment growers in the UK. It’s a simple yet powerful way to improve soil health, reduce pests, and grow bigger, better vegetables year after year. By planning ahead and keeping track of your plantings, you’ll create a successful, sustainable allotment that produces delicious homegrown food for seasons to come.

Are you ready to start rotating your crops? Grab a pen and paper and start planning your plot!