Planting other vegetable crops after carrots requires knowledge of crop rotation, which is the main agrotechnical rule used for alternating various garden plants.
Planting other vegetable crops after carrots requires knowledge of crop rotation (Photo used under standard license ©ogorodnye-shpargalki.ru)
Why are crop rotation rules so important?
To obtain good harvests, it is necessary not only to ensure that the plants have enough nutrients and are not bothered by diseases and pests, but also to take into account which crops to plant after. Let’s take a closer look at why you need to adhere to the rules of crop rotation (alternating planting of different crops).
Main reasons:
- When growing one monoculture, the same pests and pathogenic microorganisms accumulate in the soil, capable of infecting plants of the same species.
- The same vegetable crops absorb certain nutrients from the soil. The removal of the same microelements from the soil greatly depletes it. But this problem can be solved by applying organic and mineral fertilizers.
- If crop rotation is not observed, harmful substances released by plant roots also accumulate in the soil. And if a crop is grown in one place for several years in a row, then the concentration of toxins will be high and will have a negative impact on the planted crops.
How to choose neighbors for carrots
We figured out what crops carrots can be planted after, but we also need to figure it out with our neighbors. A garden neighborhood can be both very dangerous and useful. This also applies to carrots.
Planting carrots and onions
The best neighbor for a healthy vegetable is onion. The smell of onions will effectively repel carrot flies, which often attack root crops. Onions also prevent root mites from multiplying.
Gardeners use a special method of planting these crops. They are planted with seeds in rows, alternating crops. If you are planting onion sets, then first you need to plant carrots in the garden bed, and then plant the sets a few weeks later. Onions and carrots grow well if you plant them in a row or two.
Important! We must not forget that growing tomatoes next to onions is prohibited, but they grow wonderfully next to carrots.
Helpful neighbors
- Next to legumes, carrots grow tasty and juicy. To do this, you can plant beans or peas nearby.
- Growing next to sage, spinach or lettuce is beneficial for carrots.
- To protect the carrot bed from the proliferation of pests, it is useful to plant marigold or marigold flowers along the edge of the bed.
Dangerous neighbors for carrots
- It is necessary to avoid the proximity of carrots to celery. Unlike some other herbs, celery attracts annoying insects and only threatens the normal development of the root crop.
- Carrots should not be planted next to dill and other spices.
- If horseradish or beets grow together with carrots, they will fight for the nutrients that are in the soil. Gardeners will not expect a good harvest from any of the crops.
- In the garden, it is better to plant carrot beds away from apple trees. The close proximity of crops will worsen the taste of apples and carrots.
What is planted after beets: crop rotation table
Crop rotation is the alternation of crops at one planting site; to obtain a high-quality harvest, the correct scheme is needed. To compose it correctly, you just need to know the basic principles that explain which vegetables are planted after which ones.
Please note: It is not recommended to plant crops of the same family in one place, but there are exceptions. It is also undesirable to plant first the crops that are most demanding of nutrients ahead of those that need them less.
All crops are divided according to their nutrient requirements into the following levels:
- High - potatoes, cabbage, zucchini, celery, spinach, pumpkin. Potatoes and cabbage are a feature of crop rotation - they are planted in one place for several years in a row.
- Medium - melon, cucumber, eggplant, radish, beets, tomato, carrots.
- Low - onions, bush beans, lettuce, radishes.
Crop rotation table
Therefore, what can be planted next to beets can be easily calculated thanks to this list.
What soil and conditions are needed for pepper?
Pepper is a heat-loving crop, but it is successfully grown in open ground by summer residents of the Urals and Siberia. The crops they manage to grow are amazing. Not everyone can boast of the results, but only those who know what kind of soil is needed for a capricious plant and what conditions pepper needs for flowering and fruit set.
The roots of the plant are located close to the surface, most of them are concentrated at a depth of 15-30 cm. In order for the pepper to form a powerful root system before fruiting, it must be planted in soil with a high humus content, low salt content, normal acidity level, optimal pH values 6.0-7.0. You can find out whether the soil in your garden is suitable for growing peppers from the table.
Soil type | Not really) |
black soil | Yes |
podzolic, sod-podzolic | No |
meadow (chernozem, turf) | Yes |
salt marshes | No |
forest gray | Yes |
peat bog | No |
Peppers growing on soil suitable for its structure and fertility are distinguished by a powerful above-ground and underground part. The bushes grow strong, bloom and bear fruit abundantly. All thanks to strong roots, the yield depends on them.
It is necessary to determine the acidity of the soil for peppers. Litmus paper will do if you don’t want to spend money on a special device. A soil sample should be taken at a depth of 20 cm. Ways to reduce acidity:
- Lime-Gumi is added at 200 g/sq.m. m;
- add ash - 1.5 kg/sq. m;
- use dolomite flour 500 g/sq.m. m.
High-moor peat is added to soil that has an alkaline reaction - 1 kg/sq. m or ammonium sulfate - 40 g/sq. m.
Even on fertile soil, peppers can be harmful: they lose color and ovaries. Such vagaries occur among gardeners who water peppers incorrectly.
- Pepper does not respond well to heavy moisture.
- Due to lack of oxygen, his development slows down.
- Dry soil causes fallen ovaries.
For normal fruiting of peppers, it is necessary to maintain soil moisture of 80-90%.
Advice! Buy a special tester with two functions: measuring humidity and determining acidity. Having such a device, you can count on good harvests.
To ensure that the soil is loose and allows moisture and air to pass through well, when digging, add the following:
- sand in clay and loamy soil;
- peat, humus, compost in sandy soil.
Soil fertility is increased with the help of organic fertilizers: sapropel, compost, humus, rotted sawdust. The main thing to remember is that when growing peppers, do not add fresh manure to the soil!
The best predecessors for carrots in open ground
Although there are many tables that list good and bad predecessors, you should also rely on your own experience, make your own notes and notes, since information on the Internet can be contradictory. If you are a beginner gardener, here are some examples.
Suitable predecessors for carrots:
- nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes or physalis);
- pumpkin, cucumbers, watermelons and zucchini;
- cabbage and strawberries;
- spicy herbs (basil, savory, tarragon);
- greens (lettuce, spinach, chard);
- legumes, onions and garlic are also acceptable precursors.
The worst predecessors of carrots are parsley, caraway seeds and dill. These crops have a lot in common: diseases, pests and consumables, so it is not recommended to alternate planting them. For the same reason, celery should also be excluded. Root vegetables should also not be planted after beets.
A few words about crop rotation
Changing plants in the beds is crop rotation. It is significant because
- reduces soil contamination by weeds, diseases and pests;
- improves the structure of the earth;
- provides future crops with the necessary nutrients.
The main conditions for proper crop rotation are annuality and rotation of crops from different families. This means that the same crop is not planted in the same place for two or more years in a row, and the selection of the following plants for planting is made taking into account the following principles:
- after breeding plants with deep roots, crops with a superficial root system are planted;
- take into account the susceptibility to diseases and parasites. After plants susceptible to specific infections and insects, you should always plant vegetables that are resistant to their influence;
- the need for nutritional substances of predecessors and successors.
What to plant after beets next year?
It’s worth noting right away that in any case, the soil needs to rest and be properly fertilized. This crop belongs to the goosefoot family, is unpretentious and grows well in mineral-rich soils. The main requirement is abundant watering.
Potato
Potatoes
You can plant potatoes after beets, which grow quite well in any climate zone. For a better harvest, potatoes are planted in loose soil that is sufficiently moist.
Garlic
Garlic also grows well after beets, but it loves light very much - this must be taken into account. It is mainly grown on separate ridges, but if there is little space it can be combined with many crops.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
It is good to plant tomatoes after beets. Before planting, the soil is well prepared and fertilized. The best feeding is considered to be humus or peat.
Carrot
Carrots
You can plant beets after carrots - and vice versa. This culture loves sun and moisture, but in moderation.
Eggplant
Eggplants
Eggplants grow well in those ridges where beets previously grew.
Pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini
Watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini
All these unique vegetables will grow absolutely well after beets, but you must first fertilize the soil well.
Please note: To get a good harvest, you need to draw up a table where the garden is divided into sectors with the names of the crops, and next year use this plan for the next plantings.
After what crops is it not recommended to plant sweet peppers?
It is not advisable to plant sweet peppers after the following vegetables:
- Physalis;
- Eggplant;
- Potato;
- Tomatoes;
- Tobacco
Before planting, the soil must be cleared of weeds and fertilized. It is better to plant seedlings in warm weather and well-warmed soil. Dry yeast can be used as a top dressing . Dissolve a packet of dry yeast and 2 tbsp in a bucket of water. spoons of sugar. Leave the mixture for 2 hours, then water the planted plants with it.
Bell pepper seedling
Is it possible to plant beets after carrots?
Since carrots and beets are planted every year, they can be easily replaced with each other according to the seasons. In general, the best predecessors for carrots are cucumbers, onions, garlic, as well as cabbage and zucchini.
The general principle of alternating plantings is to replace the “tops” and “roots” and it is best not to plant beets after beets for two years in a row, but to use crop rotation.
After carrots, cucumbers do well; they need to be thoroughly fertilized with manure before planting. Vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, and mustard will help you relax and accumulate nutrients after planting carrots.
Please note: You should not plant carrots in one place for two years in a row, otherwise the harvest will be poor. And since root crops take up a lot of nutrients, it will take at least two seasons for the soil to recover.
Why do you need crop rotation at your dacha?
Crop rotation (rotation) in the area of fruit and vegetable crops is an effective technology for vegetable growing. Crop rotation helps maintain soil fertility, reducing the number of diseases and pests in the garden beds.
Various fruit and vegetable crops require a predominance of various macroelements in the soil for development and growth. Root crops need phosphorus in large quantities, green and cruciferous crops require nitrogen, and fruit crops cannot do without potassium.
Annual planting of one type of crop in one place depletes the land, leading to a deficiency of certain elements. To prevent this from happening, crop rotation of plants in the beds is practiced. At the same time, certain crops are selected annually to replace lost nutrients in the soil.
In addition, plants attract diseases and harmful insects, and if crops from the same family are planted and sown in the same place, they begin to get sick, become weak and produce a meager harvest. To prevent them from harming plants next year, a change in planting sites is required. Not finding a nutrient medium, pests and diseases leave the beds or die.
What is better to plant after carrots next year?
To adhere to the rules of crop rotation, you need to know not only what to sow carrots after, but also what to plant after this root crop. The vegetable greatly depletes the soil; for this reason, after it it is desirable to plant crops that have a shallow root system and an “above-ground” harvest.
Important! Carrots can be returned to their original place no earlier than after 2-3 years.
- The following vegetables and fruits will feel good after carrots:
- nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, sweet potatoes and physalis);
- various varieties of pepper;
- cabbage, mustard and early radish;
- legumes (peas, beans and beans);
- berry crops such as strawberries and wild strawberries.
- Will grow poorly after carrots:
- melons (watermelons, melons, zucchini);
- onion and garlic;
- greens and herbs;
- celery, spinach and chard.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Based on classical techniques, many experienced gardeners give useful recommendations:
- In the beds after the carrots, it is good to plant strawberry and wild strawberry bushes.
- To protect against carrot flies, it is advisable to plant calendula or marigolds along the perimeter of the bed, and use alternating rows of onions and carrots.
- Experienced vegetable growers advise planting carrots after beans.
- It is recommended to exclude salad as a precursor due to the same diseases.
- A good neighbor is the leek.
- You can’t sow the root crop after sweet pepper; the taste may change.
- You can grow beets next to carrots; they protect against diseases.
- Carrot beds should not be placed next to an apple tree; the taste of both plants will deteriorate.
- The root crop does not grow well in soil saturated with manure; it is better to plant potatoes, cabbage, and cucumbers in such beds. And next year - carrots.
- If parsley grew on the site, then it is strictly forbidden to plant carrots in this place. When there is no other area, dig up the soil and treat it with potassium permanganate.
- Perennial berry bushes can be planted in carrot beds.
The rules of crop rotation are simple; even a novice gardener can easily understand them.
By following these rules and taking into account the advice of experienced vegetable growers, you will reap an excellent carrot harvest. Good luck to everyone at the dachas!