The most basic crop rotation system is to split vegetables into 4 families: potato, root, legume, brassica. Using a 4 course system means that each type of crop is only grown in the same place every 4 years.
It is not always easy to get a good rotation going as different crops need different amounts of space e.g. more spce if often needed for brassicas. In small gardens it is also questionable whether rotations work as roots from different crops can spread into adjoining beds. The pragmatic approach is to try to rotate crops if possible and to avoid growing the same crop in the same place year after year.
The diagram and table below give basic information for a 4 course rotation. There are other rotations and the scheme can be modified to suit individual requirements.
| Spring/Summer | Soil Treatment | |||
| A | Early potatoes, potatoes, tomatoes | Apply manure in spring | ||
| B | Carrots, beetroot, parsnips, spinach, chard, lettuce | |||
| C | Overwintered onions*, garlic*, leeks* followed by peas and beans. | |||
| D | Summer cabbage, winter brassicas, spring cabbage, other brasicas | Apply compost in spring/summer | ||
| Autumn/Winter | ||||
| A | Grazing rye or phacelia | |||
| B | Autumn planted onions, leeks, garlic, leeks, green manure | |||
| C | Winter tares | Apply lime if needed | ||
| D | Winter brassicas | Apply leafmold | ||
| * planted in the previous year | ||||