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Garden Bed Rotation Planner — Crop Rotation Schedule
Plan crop rotation across your garden beds to maintain soil health and reduce disease.
Separate beds/sections to rotate across — ideally one per crop family, so each family returns to a bed only every few years
Length of each bed in metres (used to work out bed area for seed/plant quantities)
Width of each bed — UK raised beds are typically 1.2 m so you can reach the centre from both sides
How many seasons of schedule to generate — a full cycle equals the number of crop families
Which families to rotate. The classic UK plan uses 4 (brassicas, legumes, solanaceae, roots); more families means a longer gap before any one returns
Minimum years before replanting the same family in a bed
Add green manure to one bed per year
How We Calculate This
This planner assigns crop families to beds in a rotating sequence, shifting each family one bed forward each year.
It checks rotation gaps against the minimum rest period and suggests companion planting based on which families benefit each other.
Optional cover crop inclusion adds green manure to one bed per year in the rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rotating crops prevents soil-borne disease building up, balances nutrient depletion, and breaks pest cycles. Growing the same family in the same spot year after year leads to declining yields and increasing problems.
Ideally as many beds as crop families you grow. Four beds is the classic UK rotation: brassicas, legumes, roots, and potatoes/solanaceae. Three beds works for smaller gardens.
Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale), Legumes (peas, beans), Solanaceae (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers), Roots (carrots, parsnips, beetroot), Alliums (onions, garlic, leeks), Cucurbits (courgettes, squash, cucumbers).
At least 3 years for brassicas and potatoes, 2 years for most other families. Longer gaps reduce disease risk further.
Cover crops (green manures) are grown to improve soil between main crops. Clover fixes nitrogen, phacelia attracts pollinators, and field beans add organic matter. Dig in before they set seed.
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Last updated: March 2026
All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.