Healthy vegetables start with healthy soil. One of the most important principles in organic gardening is crop rotation - a simple system that helps replenish nutrients naturally while reducing pests and disease.
What is crop rotation?
Pavilion Organic Horticulturist, Andrew Murtagh explains, "Different vegetables use different nutrients from the soil. If you grow the same crops in the same place every year, the soil becomes depleted and diseases can build up over time. Crop rotation prevents this by moving plant families around the garden each season."
Legumes are nature’s fertiliser
Legumes like peas and beans naturally feed nitrogen back into the soil. This makes them ideal crops to grow before brassicas like:
• Broccoli
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
Brassicas are heavy feeders and require lots of nitrogen to thrive.
Why rotation matters
Some soil diseases can remain in the ground for years. Rotating crops helps prevent these diseases from becoming established.
A common rotation includes:
1. Legumes
2. Brassicas
3. Alliums (onions and garlic)
4. Solanaceae (tomatoes and potatoes)
This creates a healthier, more sustainable growing system.
Growing in the long term
Organic gardening is about building healthy soil year after year and in turn, good soil means healthier plants, fewer problems and better flavour.