Growing a vegetable garden has become a popular hobby over the years. In fact, over 35% of U.S. households are growing food at home or on community lots. Many do this to save money on groceries, while others enjoy working outdoors. If you want to start your own garden at home, one important aspect to consider is crop rotation. Keep reading to understand how this practice can help plants thrive.

What Is Crop Rotation?

Crop rotation is an ancient practice that been around since at least 6000 BC. It involves moving different vegetables to various spots around the garden each season. The idea is to plant vegetables from different “families” together.

For example, peas and edamame are both part of the legume family. Similarly, you should plant spinach, lettuce, and other leafy greens together. Fruits like tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers all belong together, as do root vegetables like carrots and onions.  

If similar crops are planted in the same place every year, they start to deplete the soil of the vital nutrients it needs to grow plants, like phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Some crops can deplete these nutrients at a faster rate. By moving ones with lower consumption rates to areas with higher soil fertility, and vice versa, you can keep everything growing at an even pace.

What Are the Benefits of Crop Rotation?

Some crops help build up nutrients in the soil. They include peas, beans, and clovers. If your garden is big enough, move these crops around to areas that had high-consumption crops, like lettuce, tomatoes, beets, and cabbage, to replenish the soil. 

Rotation can also help ward off crop diseases, like verticillium wilt, as well as repelling harmful pests, like tomato hornworms and cucumber beetles. By disrupting their natural feeding process through rotation, you may make it harder for them to survive and deter them from sticking around.

When you need garden supplies for your plants, turn to P & M Garden Services in Eagle River, AK. For nearly 40 years, this locally owned business has offered everything you need from outdoor and house plants to handy accessories, like fertilizer. To see how they can help with your garden, visit them online or call (907) 694-9293.