What? Where? When?

I'm trying to read up & get to grips with crop rotation. As I understand it at present....roots, then brassicas, then legumes. But what about onions??? :-/

 

Hi jj28,
this is a rough translation, but I hope that it will give you an idea. There are two ways...
FIRST METHOD


1ST GROUP significant consumers of nutrients:

cabbage (all types except for the kohlrabi)
cucumbers
salads
eggplant
melons
potatoes
pepperoni
tomatoes
celery and celeriac
spinach
pumpkins and zucchini.

2ND GROUPaverage consumers of nutrients:

garlic
red beards
chard
kale
carrots
chicory
onions
herbs
fennel
leeks
chicory
radishes
arugula
salsify.

3RD GROUP weak consumer of nutrients:

beans and green beans
fave
peas
parsley.

divide garden in three sectors (sectors 1, 2 and 3).
Suppose we start the cultivation of vegetables: in
sector 1 will be cultivated vegetables in the first group (high consumers), in
sector 2 will be cultivated vegetables belonging to the group of average consumers and in sector 3 vegetables of group 3.

In the next cycle,
in the
second sector you will sow vegetables of the 2ND group that will be able to exploit the residual fertility, later there will cultivate those in the 3RD group, the less demanding (most of which belongs to the family Leguminosae) that will then secure the atmospheric nitrogen thereby enriching the soil of useful organic substances, making it suitable for the subsequent cultivation of plants of the 1ST group, those more demanding.

SECOND METHOD
In the first year we proceed like this>

sector 1: potatoes
Sector 2: legumes and cabbage
Domain 3: Root Vegetables
field 4: Leafy vegetables.
Second year:

sector 1: Leafy vegetables
sector 2: root vegetables
Domain 3: legumes and cabbage
field 4: potatoes.
Third year:

sector 1: legumes and cabbage
sector 2: Leafy vegetables
Domain 3: potatoes
field 4: root vegetables.
Fourth year:

sector 1: root vegetables
sector 2: potatoes
Domain 3: Leafy vegetables
field 4: legumes and cabbage.

When the rotation is finished, fertilize the ground and restart the cycle.

 

Thank you for very detailed reply. I didn't realise potatoes could go in with cabbages. I don't really eat potatoes but like to have as many butternut squash as possible to store for the winter. Also eat lots of peas and beans. The logistics of rotation are confusing, as I seem to need bigger section for some classifications than others....but for rotation to be possible they all need to be the same size. I'm thinking could fill spaces in any sector with lettuces?

 

of course in an ideal world you rotate, but, failing that, you can add nutrients to the soil or natural fertilizers.

 

I'd like to try rotation, haven't had enough space to even consider it before. This may mean I have some empty spaces for a season. Will also try additional butternuts in large pots with space to wander onto patio area.

 

Planting for crop rotation was quite simple last year. Now's the time it could go wrong. I'm thinking - where there were butternut squash last year, put onions, kale, sprouts this year. Where runner beans, peas last year, put butternut squash. Where there were onions, kale, sprouts, put runner beans, peas. I'd really appreciate comments on whether this sounds ok please.....

 

A newbie to gardening and this site so I hope I’m doing this correctly!

Today I dug out all remaining potatoes from a small 6x4 section of my veg garden, weeded and then topped with garden compost, with the intention of sowing onion in October. I’ve since read it’s not a good idea to follow potatoes with onion so if I don’t plant anything is it ok to cover the bed now with black weed suppress fabric until the spring?

 

Muriel, I planted onions in the same space as my potatoes last year and they were fine. I've done the same this year too, I have read you should follow spuds with leeks.. my thinking was onions and leeks are same family so what's the harm. As for covering the ground with weed suppressant, yes go for it if your not growing anything over winter. Might be wise to turn it over first and add bit of well rotted manure, remember you still have weed seeds dormant that will pop up next year mind!
Another good option is to use "green manure" such as blue lupins (I used last year, things have been growing great). I'd not worry too much though, as your space is quite small. Maybe try some broad beans over winter, alongside the onions, if you like them

 

Many thanks I think I’ll go ahead with the onion, the family doesn’t like broad beans!