This is from my favorite gardening website, Pete’s Vegie Patch and one of the best examples of raised bed vegetable gardens and crop rotation.  I’ve seen a working model of these raised vegetable garden beds and they will definitely fit into a back yard, you could scale them to suit if you feel they would be too big.  At the size they are, you will be able to feed a family of four very, very well and even share with your neighbors too.

Pete’s Vegie Patch

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation means never growing the same thing nor its relatives in the same place two seasons in a row, as this can lead to pest and disease build up in the soil. By rotating crops, the pest or disease is deprived of its favourite host and serious infestations are avoided. As well different vegies have different nutrient requirements. Where possible green manure is sown after harvesting the tender vegies (autumn) and dug in winter to replenish nutrients and condition the soil. Sheep manure and compost are added when required.

Vegetable Planting
December Australia  = June USA

Bed 1  The Root bed  Growing on Carrot ‘Manchester Table’, ‘Majestic Red’ ‘Koroda’ and ‘Berlicum’, Parsnip ‘Yatesnip’, Swede ‘Champion Purple Top‘, Beetroot ‘Golden’ and ‘Bulls Blood’, Turnip ‘Early Purple’ and ‘Hakurei’

Bed 2  The Legume Bed   Growing on Climbing Peas ‘Yakumo’ and ‘Roi de Carouby’ and Bush Peas ‘Sugar Snap’ and ‘Kelvedon’. Cabbage ‘Green Gold’ and Kale ‘Red Russian’

Bed 3   The Onion Bed   LGrowing Garlic, Potato Onions and Shallots, Onion ‘Red Odourless’, ‘Cream Gold’ and ‘Brown’ and Leek ‘Blue’ and ‘Musselborough’

Bed 4  The Tomato Capsicum Bed   Growing on Tomato ‘Tigeralla’, ‘1st Prize’, ‘Patio Prize’, ‘Tommy Toe’, ‘Money Maker’, ‘Red Fig’, and ‘Black Russian’. Soon to plant capsicums and eggplants.

Bed 5   the Sweetcorn Bed  Growing on Sweetcorn ‘Honeysweet’, Pumpkin ‘Sugar Pie’, ‘Green Hubbard’, ‘Table King Acorn’ and ‘Waltham Butternut’. Zuccini ‘Rondo De Nice’

Bed 6   Potato Bed   This year we are growing 3 varieties – Kennebec, Pink Eye and Nicola.
Kennebec are slow to shoot and are just appearing above the soil surface.

March  Australia   September  USA

Bed 1 Root Bed

Growing on Carrot ‘Kuroda’ ‘Manchester Table’ ‘Majestic Red’ ‘Berlicum’, Beetroot ‘Golden’ and ‘Bulls Blood’, Turnip ‘Hakurei’ ‘Early Purple’ and Parsnip ‘Yatesnip’

Bed 2 Legume Bed

Growing on Bean ‘Purple Queen’ ‘Redlands’ ‘Zebra’ ‘Blue Lake’. Preparing bed for sowing spinach.

Bed 3 Onion Bed

Growing on Leek ‘Giant Musselborough’ Just sown Radish and Spring onions

Bed 4 Tomato / Capsicum Bed

Growing on Tomato ‘Money Maker’ ‘Red Fig’ ‘Black Russian’ ‘1st Prize’ ‘Tigerella’ ‘Tommy Toe’, Chilli ‘Super F1’, Capsicum ‘Lipstick’, Eggplant ‘Ping Tung’ and ‘Florida’
Bed 5 Sweetcorn / Pumpkin Bed

Getting ready to harvest pumpkins and remove finished sweetcorn. Then sow green manure.

Bed 6 Potato Bed

Growing crop of lettuces before sowing green manure crop

June Australia   December USA

Bed 1 Root Bed

Growing on Carrot ‘Kuroda’ ‘Manchester Table’ ‘Majestic Red’ ‘Berlicum’, Beetroot ‘Golden’ and ‘Bulls Blood’, Turnip ‘Hakurei’ ‘Early Purple’ and Parsnip ‘Yatesnip’

Bed 2 Legume Bed

Growing on Mizuna, Celery ‘Tendercrisp’, Spinach ‘American Curled’ and ‘English Giant’ Kohl Rabi ‘White and Purple Vienna’ and Broccoli ‘Green Dragon’

Bed 3 Onion Bed

Growing on Leek ‘Giant Musselborough’ Broad Beans ‘Aquadulce’ Spring Onions ‘Straightleaf’ and ‘Winter King’ and Asian Flat Chives

Bed 4 Tomato / Capisum Bed

Just planted Garlic, Potato onion, Spring onions, and onions

Bed 5 Sweetcorn / Pumpkin Bed

Green manure dug in and getting ready to plant out lettuce seedlings

Bed 6 Potato Bed

Getting ready to dig in crop of green manure consisting of Wheat, Oats, Sunflower, Mustard and Beans

September Australia   March USA

Bed 1 Root Bed

Green manure has now been dug in and we are preparing to sow seed of carrots, parsnips etc.
Bed 2 Legume bed

Growing Broad Bean ‘Early long Pod’. Just sown climbing peas ‘Yakumo’ and ‘Roi de Carouby’ and bush peas ‘Sugar Snap’ and ‘Kelvedon’
Bed 3 Onion Bed

Growing garlic, Potato onions and shallots, just planted onion seedlings of ‘Red Odourless’, ‘Cream Gold’ and ‘Brown’
Bed 4 Tomato / Capsicum Bed

Green manure has been dug in and now is breaking down in readiness for planting of tomatoes and capsicums
Bed 5 Brassica & Leafy Green Bed

Growing Broccoli ‘Green Dragon’ Rainbow Chard, Spinach ‘English’ and ‘Medania’
Bed 6 Potato Bed

This year we are growing 3 varieties – Kennebec, Pink Eye and Nicola

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