Crop Rotation by Plant Families
Grouping by Plant Families
Rotating plants by family is a common and effective approach to crop rotation. While it works well, it can require meticulous tracking due to the diversity of plant families typically found in a vegetable garden. This method ensures that crops rotate regularly, helping maintain soil health and prevent the buildup of pests and diseases associated with specific plant families.
Grouping vegetables by their family offers a straightforward way to plan crop rotations. The key principle is to avoid growing the same crop or related plants in the same soil patch consecutively. Additionally, incorporating smart rotations—such as planting nitrogen-hungry brassicas followed by nitrogen-fixing legumes like peas and beans—can significantly improve soil quality over time.
To illustrate, consider this rotation plan:
Year 1: Brassicaceae (Cabbage family)—broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower.
Year 2: Fabaceae (Pea family)—peas, beans, soybeans.
Year 3: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)—spinach, Swiss chard, beets.
While this works effectively for many crops, some vegetables are less demanding. Leafy greens like lettuce, endive, and arugula, as well as root vegetables like radishes, are forgiving and can thrive with less strict rotation practices. However, crops like tomatoes (Solanaceae family), cucumbers (Cucurbitaceae family), and cabbages (Brassicaceae family) require consistent rotation to prevent soil nutrient depletion and disease buildup.
Here’s a detailed look at common plant families found in vegetable gardens and their members, with some additional examples:
Alliaceae (Onion family): Onions, leeks, shallots, chives, garlic. Example: Garlic planted in Year 1 can be followed by carrots (Apiaceae family) in Year 2 to diversify soil nutrient use.
Apiaceae (Carrot family): Carrots, parsnips, celery, celeriac, parsley. Example: Parsley and carrots can be rotated with brassicas to reduce pest pressure.
Asteraceae (Sunflower family): Lettuce, endive. Example: Lettuce is ideal for the “fallow” year in rotation cycles as it’s less demanding on soil.
Brassicaceae (Cabbage family): Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, mustard, radishes, kale, turnips. Example: After broccoli is harvested, planting beans (Fabaceae family) helps replenish nitrogen in the soil.
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family): Spinach, Swiss chard, beets. Example: Spinach can be rotated with squash (Cucurbitaceae family) to balance nutrient demands.
Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family): Cucumbers, squash, melons. Example: Squash planted one year can be rotated with potatoes (Solanaceae family) the next.
Fabaceae (Pea family): Peas, beans, soybeans. Example: Beans can precede heavy feeders like cabbages to prepare the soil with nitrogen.
Solanaceae (Nightshade family): Tomatoes, peppers, potatoes. Example: Tomatoes should follow a nutrient-light crop like lettuce (Asteraceae family).
Rotating by plant families can seem overwhelming at first, but a simple planting chart or garden planner can make the process manageable. For example, marking planting dates and families on a garden map each year ensures that rotations are followed accurately and consistently.
Feeling unsure? No need to worry—we’ve got you covered! Below, you’ll find two visual examples illustrating how Crop Rotation by Plant Families works. The first example demonstrates the process over consecutive years, while the second breaks it down bed by bed for a garden with a total of four beds. We hope this clears things up!
Crop Rotation by Plant Families
Year 1: Fabaceae (Pea family)
Start with peas or beans to enrich the soil with nitrogen.
Year 2: Brassicaceae (Cabbage family)
Move on to heavy feeders like cabbage or kale to utilize the nitrogen fixed by the previous crop.
Year 3: Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)
Follow with cucumbers, squash, or melons, which benefit from the nutrient balance left by the brassicas.
Year 4: Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Plant tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes, which need rich soil but shouldn't follow their own family to avoid pests and diseases.
Year 5: Alliaceae (Onion family)
Introduce onions, garlic, or leeks as they are relatively light feeders and won't compete heavily for nutrients.
Year 6: Apiaceae (Carrot family)
Grow carrots, parsley, or celery, which don't require high nitrogen levels.
Year 7: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
Switch to spinach, Swiss chard, or beets, which also benefit from moderate nutrient levels.
Year 8: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
End with lettuce or endive, which are forgiving and adapt well to less nutrient-dense soil before restarting the cycle.
Crop Rotation by Plant Families on an Example of 4 Beds
Bed 1
Fabaceae (Pea family): Plant peas or beans at the start of the season to fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for subsequent crops.
Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family): Add cucumbers or squash, which pair well with peas and bean and improve crop yields. Legumes improve soil fertility, while the sprawling vines of cucurbits provide ground cover, reducing weed competition and conserving soil moisture.
Bed 2
Brassicaceae (Cabbage family): Rotate to nitrogen-hungry brassicas like broccoli or kale.
Solanaceae (Nightshade family): Plant tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, or potatoes. These heavy feeders will thrive in the nutrient-rich soil from the previous year’s rotation. Tomatoes repel the caterpillars that chew on cabbage leaves, making it a perfect pairing!
Bed 3
Apiaceae (Carrot family): Add carrots or parsley, as they have low nitrogen requirements and complement the legumes well.
Alliaceae (Onion family): Include onions or garlic to provide natural pest control by deterring carrot flies. To avoid conflicts, as garlic and onions don’t grow well near peas and beans, plant them at opposite ends of the bed.
Bed 4
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family): Continue with spinach, Swiss chard, or beets to further improve soil organic matter and balance nutrient use.
Asteraceae (Sunflower family): Include lettuce or endive as light feeders that complement amaranth crops. Deep-rooted vegetables from the Amaranth family (like beets) work well alongside shallow-rooted Sunflower family (like lettuce). This pairing minimizes competition for nutrients and water.
Caution: Both families include vegetables that need ample water and sunlight, so make sure they are not overcrowded.
General Note on Successions:
If space permits, consider incorporating a "fallow" patch or planting a cover crop like clover or rye in one corner of a bed each year. This practice can help restore nutrients, prevent soil erosion, and enhance long-term soil health.
4 Year Rotation Plan
Year 1
Bed 1: Fabaceae (Pea family), Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)
Bed 2: Brassicaceae (Cabbage family), Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Bed 3: Apiaceae (Carrot family, Alliaceae (Onion family)
Bed 4: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family), Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Year 2 (Rotate Beds Forward)
Bed 1: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family), Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Bed 2: Fabaceae (Pea family), Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)
Bed 3: Brassicaceae (Cabbage family), Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Bed 4: Apiaceae (Carrot family, Alliaceae (Onion family)
Year 3
Bed 1: Apiaceae (Carrot family, Alliaceae (Onion family)
Bed 2: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family), Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Bed 3: Fabaceae (Pea family), Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)
Bed 4: Brassicaceae (Cabbage family), Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Year 4
Bed 1: Brassicaceae (Cabbage family), Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
Bed 2: Apiaceae (Carrot family, Alliaceae (Onion family)
Bed 3: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family), Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Bed 4: Fabaceae (Pea family), Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)