Plan allotment rotation by crop family, not by the shape of the vegetable

A bed labelled "roots" can hide a rotation mistake: a turnip and a carrot are not in the same crop family. Start with what you actually intend to grow, then group the crops before drawing arrows between beds.

Understand what rotation is for

Rotation means moving groups of vegetables around the plot between years to reduce a build-up of crop-specific pest and disease problems. The RHS groups swedes, turnips and radishes with the brassicas rather than treating every underground harvest as one family.

Long-lived crops such as rhubarb and asparagus sit outside the annual rotation. Courgettes and other cucurbits, salads and sweetcorn are more flexible, though the RHS cautions against growing them too often in the same place. Check the RHS groups rather than sorting vegetables by appearance. For a simple four-group plan, see our crop rotation guide.

Draw the permanent features first

Mark paths, established perennial areas, structures and beds that are genuinely available for annual crops. Give each bed a stable name or number that will still make sense next year. "North Bed" is more useful than "Bean Bed" if the point is to move the beans elsewhere.

Write down what you know about last year's planting. If you have just taken on the plot, ask the previous grower or site manager, and label an unknown history honestly. A neat four-year chart can't create a missing record.

Match the plan to the crops you eat

Make a realistic list of intended crops and group it using the RHS guidance. Compare the space each group needs with the usable beds. Don't give four groups identical areas simply because the paper has four boxes.

Use the RHS three- or four-year examples as starting arrangements. If your crops don't fit, revise quantities or seek crop-specific advice rather than quietly shortening the gap before the same family returns.

Record second crops as well as first crops

Keep an entry for each planting, including follow-on crops. A bed can host more than one crop in a year, and a plan that records only the spring sowing loses useful history.

Bed	Crop and family	Sown or planted	Cleared	Known problems	Next proposed crop
North Bed	Fill in after choosing the crop	Actual date	Actual date	What you saw, not a guessed diagnosis	Check against the bed's history

This is a record template, not a prescribed planting sequence. If you identify a serious pest or disease, look for specific guidance: an ordinary rotation chart is not a guarantee of control.

Update the map with what actually grew, including substitutions. Next winter's plan then starts from evidence rather than last spring's intentions.

FAQs

Are turnips and swedes root crops for rotation?

They are grown for their roots, but the RHS puts them with the brassicas, along with radishes.

Do rhubarb and asparagus go in the rotation?

No. The RHS treats long-lived crops like these as outside the annual rotation.

Does rotation guarantee my crops won't get pests or diseases?

No. It reduces the build-up of crop-specific problems; it doesn't prevent every pest or disease.