Do you NEED to Rotate Your Crops?

We've all heard you need to rotate your crops for a healthy organic vegetable garden. How do you rotate your crops?
Do you need to practice crop rotation for success? Or is there another easier way. Easy crop rotation? No crop rotation? In this video I'll explain what crop rotation is, show you two different methods and show you what I do instead of rotating my crops every year.

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Hey Guys, I’m Brian from Next Level Gardening

Welcome to our online community! A place to be educated, inspired and hopefully entertained at the same time! A place where you can learn to grow your own food and become a better organic gardener. At the same time, a place to grow the beauty around you and stretch that imagination (that sometimes lies dormant, deep inside) through gardening.

I’m so glad you’re here!

WHERE TO FIND ME (Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we'll receive a small commission that helps support our channel, but the price remains the same, or better for you!)

[Gardeninginpearls]

Thank you, this was informative but not confusing. I am on year four of raised bed gardening and am having some of the issues you described. I just ordered your book. I am having so much fun in the garden at 61 years old following in my grandparents traditions.

[JS-jlyj]

I am saving this video to remind myself to watch it again next year, before planning. I do very little crop rotation in my small but sunny garden, due to the fact that most of my beds have permanent trellises for vertical growing that I don't want to move around, with the exception of one larger bed that is large enough to hold two temporary cold frames side by side. Last year, I had powdery mildew on my zucchini. I had to cut out the effected leaves almost daily. (Naturally, I threw them in the garbage. Not in my compost bin.) This year, I bought seeds for a different variety of zucchini, planted them in the other half of the same bed, and they are staying perfectly healthy. I clean up my beds, pull out every bit of weeds and only then, turn the soil over in the Fall. In the Spring, I weed again and then dig in my matured compost in the top layer of the beds. I also spread and rake in a bit of all purpose fertilizer at planting time. This routine has worked for me for over 40 years in the same veggie garden. In our zone 5 (by US zoning standards), our Canadian winters are pretty cold. Our ground frost is deep. I am guessing that some of the diseases that tend to be perpetual in your much warmer climate, may get killed by our deep frost. If that happens to be true, then that may be one of the very few advantages that we Canadian gardeners have. I have to admit that every Spring, while I am impatiently waiting for our last frost date, I am pretty jealous of you when I watch you planting far ahead of me.

[aprilmortensen]

Omg, this could NOT have come at a better time!! I always thought crop rotation was about the nutrients in the soil being depleted. I had watched many gardeners saying that's necessary for large industry farms but isn't necessary for small gardeners because they can just amend the soil. More recently, I read how crops, especially night shades and cucurbits, should be rotated due to disease pressure. I was immediately freaked out because I have designated spaces for things, permanent trellising for tomatoes, for example. I immediately thought of you and your trellis and wondered how that works then. I can't imagine you'd move your trellis annually. I can't, and replacing the soil just seemed like a monumental task I had no interest in. So, yeah, I'm so happy you made this video right at the peak of my anxiety over this. Amending soil and using a thick layer of compost makes this solution doable. The added testament that it is a proven method for you makes this a big fat sigh of relief. Thank you SO MUCH!!

[karenburrell]

Thank you for the info. I have the worst time planning my garden and really don’t have room to really rotate anyways.

[spaztick]

I just started watching the video, but thumbs up immediately, based on the shirt alone!

[Aries]

Goonies never say die! Happy Gardening from Amy in San Diego 🌱

[phenixwars]

I'm with you on the non-complicated approach. I have health issues, money issues, and time issues and your channel was the only one that helped me not give up when I first started. Some people overcomplicate everything. Plants grow in between cracks in the sidewalk, so I'm not gonna baby mine. I'll do my best and give them what they need and they will grow. My favorites are peppers cause they're just so easy going. Thanks Brian 👍🏼😊

[deecooper]

Thanks Brain for the refresher course ❤. Always listen to ya. 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[djnana]

I just told Acre Homestead to visit your channel you'll tell her everything she needs to know on how to help her garden! And get your book it has helped me out a lot.. Thanks for all your hard work teaching us about gardening!!

[fliebold]

Thank you, Brian, for this easy to digest info on crop rotation. I'm a new gardener, and this is the info I needed to rotate the crops in my Greenstalks and raised beds.

[RJ-mhbu]

SUGGESTION: When you say you amend soil and fertile, could you go into a little more detail as to what one should/could use. Things you may use besides just compost, like azomite or cascade minerals, alfalfa pellets, humic acid, worm casting etc and how much. I think there are many new Gardners that could really benefit from this info. I use Trifeca for main fertilizer but then switch up in growing season. Thank you for this informative video as this year I have been struggling with this issue.

[MPOULL]

In the recent generations of my family the "growing bug" has multiplied exponentially! Both my paternal and maternal grandparents raised veggies, chickens, cattle, ducks, fruit trees. I (at 65 yrs) am growing a raised bed garden, first time in four yrs. So far, great success! My youngest daughter is in Colorado growing in a green house (very short growing season in SW Colorado) She is also having great succes! The information you shared today is invaluable. Thank you

[rhuffstedtler]

I didn’t know that hairy vetch was a legume. I learned something today. Thanks, Brian!

[patkrueger]

Wow thank you very much. Im a crop rotater with my raised beds. But ill have to remember this. I have an 8 x 4 bed which i multi plant with veggies and herbs flowers.

[jpage]

Thank you for making things so much simpler!! 💯 My 2nd year and I’m so overwhelmed in confused information, I was about ready to throw my hands in the air 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️💯😂❤️❤️❤️

[Eric-gikg]

I've tried the rotation method, too.. it doesn't work in my small system. I even tried a modified version.. nope.
Because of the beds having a dedicated spot for each type, I will remove the top 4 - 6 inches of "spent" compost and put it into my composting bins. I have learned that this rejuvenates the soil. I also add a quality potting soil mix, along with the appropriate fertilizer.
So far, so good.
This year, I have added your way of trellising tomatoes and cucumbers.
I am also learning that I have more available room for companion planting.
Always look forward to the next video.. Thanks a Bunch for your years of knowledge.

[joannagel]

Thanks for sharing, that’s a great way to rotate garden crops❤️

[pjsviking]

Mannnn, what a great informative, concise video, and sooo timely for me. I've been wrestling with this conundrum for several years with a relatively small 300 sq ft plot, in some of which I'd like to grow more flowers - who doesn't want more flowers for pollinators and the kitchen table! As a Ruth Stout fan compost and mulch are givens. You've released me of all this time, effort, fretting and unsuccessful efforts to do the rotation by the book. Thanks again and take care as always. Look forward to companion video next week. It's OK, got it covered with the notification bell :O)

[Mariposa_]

Great ideas in this show. And I can't wait for the show on biofumigation!

[brianbarker]

Good information. I particularly like the comments on taking advantage of nitrogen fixing legumes.