Crop rotation explained — why gardeners move their crops each year

Crop rotation is the practice of growing different groups of vegetables in different areas of a garden or allotment each year, in a planned sequence. It is one of the oldest and most important principles of productive vegetable growing.

Why it matters

• Pest and disease control: soil-borne pests and diseases specific to a plant family build up if the same crop grows in the same spot repeatedly. Moving crops breaks the cycle.
• Nutrient balance: different crops use and contribute different nutrients. Legumes (peas, beans) fix nitrogen, which benefits the leafy crops that follow.
• Soil structure: deep-rooted and shallow-rooted crops affect soil differently; rotation maintains balance.

The standard four-year rotation

The four main groups are rotated through four beds: (1) Legumes (peas, beans), (2) Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale), (3) Roots (carrots, beetroot, parsnips), (4) Potatoes and onions. Each group moves to the next bed each year, returning to the original bed after four years. Use our free allotment planner to track rotation.