In a rotation

	Being a gardener in Lubbock is a greater challenge than I imagined, but each year is getting better. Come follow my progress as I get my hands in Texas soil. Joy Blooms . . . with veggies, flowers, birds, butterflies, & creatures This page last updated: 05/08/2016 08:07 AM

Four Year Crop Rotation Chart

EDIT THIS INSERT My Lubbock 2013 Victory Garden --- Please e-Mail any ideas/comments
	Click on Bed # for List of Crops, etc
	Bed 1 Bed 2 Bed 3	Bed 4 Bed 5 Bed 6	Bed 7 Bed 8 Bed 9	Bed 10 Bed 11 Bed 12	Bed 13 Bed 14 Bed 15	Bed 16 Bed 17 Bed 18	Bed 19 Bed 20 Grapes
	Lubbock Victory Garden Layout Planting Calendar Crop Rotation Chart Jan's Victory Garden Journal-2013 Spring Planting Calendar Fall Garden Planting Calendar Month by Month Planting Schedule in Each Bed

2013

2014

2015

2016

1	1	1	1
2	6	7	10
3	3	3	3
4	4	4	4
5	5	5	5
6	8	9	16
7	17	8	19
8	2	18	15
9	19	14	17
10	18	19	2
11	11	11	11
12	12	12	12
13	13	13	13
14	14	14	14
15	10	16	9
16	11	6	19
17	7	8	14
18	15	2	6
19	9	15	8

After 2016 - Repeat 2013

Crop Rotation

It is recommended, by those in the know, that crops should be rotated according to families & veggies from the same family do not follow each other in the rotation. Following the advise leads to healthier plants. I didn't consider this rule in the chart above - so make your adjustment accordingly.

For example a garden with four vegetable families could follow this rotation:

1) sweet corn (grass family), followed by
2) blackeye peas and snap beans (pea family), followed by
3) cabbage, broccoli and radishes (mustard family), followed by
4) tomato, pepper and potato (nightshade family)

This list of Veggie Families is not complete, nor can I attest to its accuracy. This list below only includes veggies I grow.

Carrot Family (Umbelliferae): carrot, celery, parsley
Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae): beet, spinach
Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae): cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon
Grass Family (Poaceae): ornamental corn, popcorn, sweet corn
Mallow Family (Malvaceae): cotton, okra
Morning Glory Family (Convolvulaceae): sweet potato
Mustard Family (Cruciferae [Brassicaceae]): broccoli, Burssels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, radish, turnip
Nightshade Family (Solanaceae): eggplant, pepper, potato, tomato
Onion Family (Liliaceae): asparagus, chives, garlic, onion
Pea Family (Leguminosae): bush bean, kidney bean, lima bean, pea, pole bean, soybean
Sunflower Family (Compositae): endive, globe artichoke, lettuce, Sunflower

Planting Schedule

When I created my planting calendar, I scheduled seed sowing according to recommendation for Zone 7. Vegetables that were considered "hardy" were planted first and those considered "tender" were planted last.

The resources below were very helpful:

Cool season crops

Hardy:

asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts,
cabbage, collard, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek,
mustard, onion, pea, radish, rhubarb,
rutabaga, spinach, turnip

Half-hardy:

beet, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chard,
chinese cabbage, globe artichoke, Jerusalem
artichoke, lettuce, parsnip, potato

Warm Season Crops

Tender:

black-eye pea, snap bean, soybean,
sweet corn, tomato

Very Tender:

Cucumber, cantaloupe, eggplant, honeydew,
lima bean, okra, pepper, pumpkin, squash,
sweet potato, watermelon

Be Careful in Developing Neighborhoods (companion gardening)

I scatter Nasturtiums and Marigolds in most Veggie Beds. These two flowers are organic bug control. Bad bugs avoid them. Pollinators are draw to them and as long as they are in the neighborhood, they pollinate the veggies.

Planning, Preparation, Caring, Harvesting, Canning

Please e-Mail me your ideas or comments