Bed MemoryCrop rotation in raised beds
In raised beds, rotate plant families between beds, keeping each family out of a bed for about 3 years. Name your beds and log what grew in each season.
With only 2 or 3 beds, a fixed plan rarely fits, so check each bed before you plant. Check a bed below.
Check one bed
This check keeps nothing. The bed log on the home page keeps your beds in this browser.
Does rotation matter in raised beds?
Yes. The soil in a raised bed carries over from year to year, and so do pests and diseases tied to a plant family. Topping up with compost helps the soil but does not replace rotation.
A worked example
You have three 4 by 8 foot beds. Bed 1 grew peppers last year and kale the year before. Tomatoes should not go there this year; beans or squash can. Put tomatoes in the bed with no nightshade in the last 2 years.
Questions gardeners ask next
How do you rotate crops in a small garden?
Name each bed, write down what grew there each season, and keep each family out of a bed for 2 years before it returns.
Should I replace raised bed soil instead of rotating?
Replacing all the soil is costly and rarely needed. Rotation and compost are the usual approach.
Can I rotate within one bed?
In a large bed you can move families from one end to the other, but pests travel short distances, so separate beds work better.