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What To Plant After Potatoes?

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One year after potatoes are planted in your garden, you might want to consider another crop. It can be difficult as the best option must be chosen carefully and with the following considerations; what will grow well alongside existing plants, which will take up minimal space while still providing nutrients back into the soil.

If you are confused about “what to plant after potatoes,” we have the best resolution. The answer is linked with potato crop rotation that you can do in a variety of ways. Continue reading to know all about potato crop rotation and what to plant after potatoes.

Understanding Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is a practice that has been used for centuries to improve soil health, retain nutrients in the soil, and control pest. By planting various crops sequentially on one area, you can achieve all three goals, which will lead to an abundant harvest with no side effects!

It is a very simple and effective way to:

  • Reduce the buildup of crop-specific pest or disease problems
  • Organize groups according to their cultivation needs
  • Increase soil productivity

A simple crop rotation may have two or three crops, but more complex has 12 different plant types. It helps the system be effective and sustainable over time- with all these changes are happening at prescribed intervals.

Crop Rotation What To Plant After Potatoes
Crop Rotation via Wikimedia

Advantages of Crop Rotation

The crop rotation process holds the following benefits.

1. Fertilizes Soil

Rotating your crops can help balance the nutrients in the soil and avoid certain problems. Different plants have different nutrient needs. So, changing what your plant every year or two ensures that these elements are well balanced over time. Plus, a more diverse diet boosts overall resilience.

2. Controls Weeds

Another benefit of crop rotation includes weed control and decreased pest populations. Some plants repel pests while others physically eliminate them (potatoes are great at this). As a result, the yield is increased when weeds aren’t competing with other crops for nutrients or water.

3. Controls Pests/Diseases

Crop rotation can be a great way to reduce pest and disease numbers. It allows pests that attack specific plant families a chance to decline in number when they aren’t around anymore.

Thus, rotating crops between sites help reduce the buildup of damaging populations.

4. Nitrogen Fixation

The benefits of crop rotation are not limited to pest and disease control. It can be a great way to turn your soil in the best direction for growth. The legume family, which includes beans and lentils, can fix atmospheric nitrogen into organic compounds. It feeds plants’ roots with essential nutrients, i.e., phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and chlorine.

5. Increases The Overall Yield

The main aim of crop rotation is to plant different types of crops every year. It helps keep fields from wearing down too fast and growing more than one vegetable at once without overworking them. In addition, planting more crops will result in an increased yield.


Crop Rotation of Potatoes

Crop rotation is essential for a variety of reasons. Potato crop rotation can be done easily and doesn’t take long. In addition, it results in the following advantages.

Rotating Potatoes With Other Crops Retains Nutrients

If soil is over-farmed for one plant like a potato, it might not have enough resources to sustain another variety of vegetables. Even if it shares similar needs in terms of fertilizer and water supply, it won’t get enough nutrients from the soil.

Rotating potatoes with vegetables having distinct nutritional needs, i.e., cabbage, can help the soil retain its nutrients. While potatoes are heavy feeders, growing vegetables that don’t require as much fertilizer or care is easy. Light/medium-fed ones like Broccoli will help make up part of this deficit.

Potato Crop Rotation Fixes Nitrogen into The Soil

Potato crop rotation is a great way to keep your soil healthy and enriched. You don’t have as much work with fertilizers or other legumes that tend to fix nitrogen and phosphorus.

Prevent Soil Pests And Diseases

To avoid the spread of disease, you should not regrow potatoes after a diseased potato yield (harvest disaster). Instead, it would be best to follow a crop rotation system where other crops like tomatoes or corn are planted in their place. Consequently, there will be less risk for infestation.

Those vegetables pose different pest problems that won’t match the already present hosts, i.e., bacteria, fungi, or other pests in the soil.


What To Plant After Potatoes?

One of the best ways to improve your soil and increase crop yield is following a potato crop rotation. This method lets you keep nutrients in soil so that they’re available for future plant growth. Let’s look at the plants which can grow best after potatoes.

  1. Peas

You can grow peas after potatoes as they will help the soil replenish its nitrogen level (phosphorus and potassium) taken up by potatoes.

  1. Dill

Dill is a light feeder in contrast to potatoes which is a heavy feeder. So, it would be best to grow it after potato yield.

  1. Parsnips

Like potatoes, parsnips grow best in sandy soil, so it is best to grow after potatoes.

  1. Carrot

Carrots are another suitable veggie to plant after potatoes. It grows best in sandy and loamy soil.

  1. Cabbage Family Crops

A potato plot often makes a great place to grow cabbage family crops for falls like cabbage, collards, or kale.

  1. Onion

Onion can grow well in any soil type, and it can be the best option to grow after potatoes.

Furthermore, you can grow the following plants after potatoes:

  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Garlic
  • Cucumbers
  • Beans
  • Beets and turnips
  • Squash and pumpkin

Conclusion

Rotating your potatoes with other crops can help you retain nutrients and prevents rotting. Crop rotation is an ancient practice growing in popularity that helps to increase yield and much more. There is a lot of information on potato crop rotation that helps you determine what to grow after potatoes.

  • Considering potato rotation, you can grow peas, radish, spinach, onions, garlic, cucumbers, cabbage, beets, turnips, squash, and pumpkin after potatoes.
  • Potatoes are heavy feeders, so it is best to plant light or medium feeder plants that retain soil fertility.

What vegetables would work best in your potato crop rotation? Share with us below – thanks and happy gardening!