Changing planting locations

logonfire · May 8, 2013

This is my first post and I am becoming serious about tomato growing. I have three raised beds and I have been told that I should rotate plantings each year in order to avoid pests in the soil. Can anyone give me guidance on this matter? How many years in a row can I use one bed for tomatoes - I use the others for other food crops so I don't use more than one for tomatoes. Thanks in advance for any help you are able to give.

dipchip2000 · May 8, 2013

Many viewpoints on that subject both pro and con. Myself I use the same beds every year for tomatoes and amend the soil with compost and manure every year.
Some years diseases are rampant and others are non existent. I suspect the people who rotate every year probably experience the same diseases on intermittent basis.
JMHO

ron

Tom A To · May 9, 2013

If I planted in a different place every year, I would have to move the fencing I use to keep deer out to the new location as well. That's not gonna happen since the fence posts are set in concrete. I've been waiting for 12 years, using this current tomato garden location, to see if rotation is as necessary as some say. So far, it isn't...

bughunter99 · May 9, 2013

If your plants are not having disease issues, it is less important so long as your are amending the soil each fall and spring.

If rotating, its a good idea to follow a tomato year in a bed with nitrogen fixers like beans and peas if you are able.

May 8, 2013	#1
logonfire Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Hamilton ON Canada Posts: 1	Changing planting locations This is my first post and I am becoming serious about tomato growing. I have three raised beds and I have been told that I should rotate plantings each year in order to avoid pests in the soil. Can anyone give me guidance on this matter? How many years in a row can I use one bed for tomatoes - I use the others for other food crops so I don't use more than one for tomatoes. Thanks in advance for any help you are able to give.

May 9, 2013	#3
Tom A To Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pilot Hill, Ca. Posts: 307	If I planted in a different place every year, I would have to move the fencing I use to keep deer out to the new location as well. That's not gonna happen since the fence posts are set in concrete. I've been waiting for 12 years, using this current tomato garden location, to see if rotation is as necessary as some say. So far, it isn't... __________________ -Dennis Audios, Tomatoville. Posted my final post and time to move on.

May 8, 2013	#2
dipchip2000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 664	Many viewpoints on that subject both pro and con. Myself I use the same beds every year for tomatoes and amend the soil with compost and manure every year. Some years diseases are rampant and others are non existent. I suspect the people who rotate every year probably experience the same diseases on intermittent basis. JMHO ron

May 9, 2013	#4
bughunter99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: zone 5 Posts: 821	If your plants are not having disease issues, it is less important so long as your are amending the soil each fall and spring. If rotating, its a good idea to follow a tomato year in a bed with nitrogen fixers like beans and peas if you are able.