PLAN A CROP ROTATION

ere are many bene ts of rotating crops each season (i.e. not growing the same crops in the same soil every year) and it can certainly help to prevent a build-up of pests and diseases in the soil. With a four-year rotation, each plot is composted or manured every other year which keeps the soil in good condition.

A four-year rotation consists of four beds, but if growing on a large plot or allotment, you can divide the area into four sections. Beds are used to grow legumes, root-crops, onions and brassicas and the crops rotate clockwise a bed each year, meaning it’s four years before the same crops are grown in that bed again. For crops that don’t t into the rotation such as salads, courgettes and sweetcorn, simply plant them in one of the other beds where there is space. e brassica bed follows on from legumes and they can take advantage of the nitrogen xing nodules left in the soil from peas and beans. e bed is dug over in late winter, with no added compost or manure. After digging, garden lime is applied to maintain alkaline conditions and allowed to wash in naturally. General fertiliser such as Growmore or blood, sh and bone is applied before planting. Onions, including garlic, shallots and leeks follow on from the brassicas and take advantage of the

Do iT now

lime residue. is bed is composted or manured when it’s dug and in spring it receives a dressing of general fertiliser to give the onions a good start. Root vegetables such as early potatoes, carrots, parsnips follow on from the onion bed. e soil is dug over in winter and left until spring when it’s raked down and general fertiliser is applied a week or so before sowing or planting. No compost or manure is used in this bed.

e legume bed where peas and beans are grown follows roots and is dug in late winter, composted or manured and fertiliser is applied in spring to supply additional nutrients.

■ Cold frames that are used to overwinter plants or that will be needed in spring can be given a good wash down to clean the glass and wash off algae

■ Carry on digging the veg plot when conditions are suitable. The golden rule is never dig in very wet conditions as it puddles the ground, or when it is frozen solid.

■ As the new seed catalogues arrive, spend a little time looking though them and decide what varieties you want to grow this year and get them ordered as soon as possible.

■ Check vegetables and fruit in store as by this time of the some of them will be starting to show signs of rot. Any that are spoiling need removing as using straight away.

■ On wet days when you can’t garden, give the shed a good sweep out and clean your tools to get them ready for spring.