Rotating the plants in my garden question?

Getting spring fever, and planning my strategy. I know you can't plant tomatoes in the same area year after year, but I have ran out of space. Can I go every third year or do I need to make my garden bigger? Thanks!

Rotating the plants in my garden question?
Actually, it depends on how many years you have planted the tomatoes in the same area. You can send a soil sample to your local county extension agency and have it analyzed (do it soon, spring is upon us:) If you amend your soil every year and it's for your own home use, you're fine, you don't even need a third year interlude if the soil analysis comes back in order.
Reply:Yeah, that is a problem. One plant pathologist I know suggested super sulfuring an area with suspected verticillium in the soil. That is at the end of the season, remove the plants, add sulfur in a heavy dose, water well thru winter. Of course I wouldn't do that with an acidic soil, you'd just make it more acidic.





Planting marigolds and such won't work. Instead plant disease resistant varieties, that's all you can really do.......other than keep a good organic component in the soil, plenty of compost and active biological activity.
Reply:I don't know about tomatoes, but you do need to rotate your crops. I would call my local county agriculture agents to ask for their expert gardening advice. Here in TX, we have an excellent system. We also have many good sources of seed and advice.
Reply:Hi Ayla, if making the garden bigger is an option...then it is your best option for sure. Amending the soil is doable, but one thing that has to be taken into consideration is the fact that not only diseases, but the insect pests of a plant will winter over in the soil...where that plant grew. So if you plant the same plant inthe same spot year after year, the larval forms of the pests are in the ground waiting for their favorite food to planted right there, for them, again. Rotation is an important part of IPM- integrated pest management. It just makes sense to do it whenever possible.


Another note* not only tomatoes, but anything in the nightshade family (peppers, eggplants, etc.) will likley share the same disease and pest problems. If you are enlarging it, but do not want to fill it all, you can plant a green cover crop( in the uplanted or "resting" portion) to choke back weeds and then to be tilled under to provide nutrients to the soil.


I like the idea of a bigger garden :-) it seems like such a pleasant choice for a gardener.