As it's my first year on a plot that hasn't been used in 6 years should I be worrying too much about where everything goes? At the moment I am trying to get beds dug so that I can keep brassicas in one bed, roots in another etc, would you do the same or would you just bung it all in together and worry about separate beds next year?

I have to admit that I din't worry too much my first year ... but I think I would keep the beds as you suggested not hotch potch

except ...
beans can go amongst brassicas for the added nitrogen from the bean root nodules
lettuces can go underneath the runners cos they like shade
3 sisters - sweet corn climbing beans up maize and pumpkins romping underneath
salads can be interplanted with winter greens cos they haven't grown too big yet!

etc ...

... it might be easier to say what you want to plant and we can have a go at your list !!


My rotation goes:

spuds followed by legumes (they get the goodies from the maunure that the spusds were given)

legumes followed by brassicas as they get the goodies left by the roots of the beans - whiich you can leave in the soil incidentally, especially for sprouts after brussels - gives nice firm soil too)

brassicas followed by roots as they don't like manure and will enjoy the lime if you had to do so for the brassicas

roots includes onions and the rest - to top up the goodies I use chicken manure pellets to give them a boost

... by that time the soil is shot and you start again with the manure !!

Don't bother this year I don't worry about rotation at all. If you don't plant the same thing twice in succession you'll be fine. I keep photos to remind me