Crop rotation advice please

[sophy]

I have divided the veg garden into four beds. One for the perennials (asparagus and artichokes) and three to be rotated between annuals. Last year I grew: potatoes in bed 1, legumes in bed 2, and everything else (carrots, salad crops, courgettes, sweetcorn, chard) in bed 3. I do not grow brassicas any more as I can't be arsed with the caterpillars.

So my question is which way to rotate the crops this year? Should I move the spuds to where I grew the legumes, or vice versa. Have searched online and in my gardening books but cannot find any rotation plans which match up with my system, as most of them include brassicas or are for more than a 3-year system.

Please will some knowledgeable gardening mumsnetter come to my rescue!!!

[snorkle]

I'd go for potatoes, then legumes, then the rest and back to spuds again. This is because I think the rest will benefit from the nitrogen left by the legumes more than the spuds. I'm not an expert though and some beans don't fix much nitrogen anyway.

[sophy]

Thanks snorkle, I think that's what i'll go for.

sarah Raven's book says peas can follow potatoes but not vice versa.

[WishIWasAWalton]

I think Snorkle's advice is spot on, the thing to bear in mind with rotation is just not to grow the same thing in the same place directly after itself. IYKWIM.

The legumes benefit from the fairly recent manuring of the potatoe crop, whereas root veg may fork in it.

Have you room for rhubarb and raspberries in you perennial bed? I can highly recommend them.

[sophy]

Would love to have rhubarb and raspberries but no space left. Also gooseberries. Might have to dig up some of the lawn.

[WishIWasAWalton]

Lawn? No room? Get it dug up girl, now! You'll have raspberries this summer and rhubarb next spring. DigDigDig.