Cabbage is one of the most common and unpretentious vegetable crops, but it also requires a change of place. And then the question arises: what can be planted after cabbage next year?
Crop rotation helps control pests, prevents soil depletion and allows you to use the resulting properties for the benefit of the future harvest. Every experienced gardener knows that in order to get a rich harvest, one must not neglect the rules of crop rotation.
The impact of cabbage on the soil
First you need to find out what the plant takes from the soil and in what condition the area remains after harvesting the heads of cabbage.
- For normal development, cabbage needs nitrogen, which it takes from the soil in large quantities.
- Cultivation is accompanied by regular feeding of the plant with manure and compost.
- The plant has a highly developed root system. The main root goes deep up to 40 cm, and the lateral shoots can go 1 m into the ground. Therefore, cabbage leaves behind the soil depleted to the entire depth of germination.
- One should not neglect the fact that cabbage is susceptible to a number of diseases, the pathogens of which remain in the soil even after wintering. This means that follower plants will be immediately attacked by harmful bacteria.
- Also, we should not forget about the “enemies”: cabbage butterflies, cabbage aphids, leaf beetles. Having survived the winter, hungry pests will attack new plantings with appetite.
Having considered all the facts, it becomes clear why it is not recommended to grow cabbage in the same place for several years.
Plants that should not be planted after cabbage
Even after thoroughly cleaning and preparing the soil for the next planting season, it should be remembered that it is undesirable to plant some types of vegetables in a depleted area:
- turnip,
- radish,
- radish,
- swede,
- watercress,
- horseradish,
- rape,
- leaf mustard.
What can you plant after cabbage?
At the same time, the bed, which last year boasted orderly rows of tight heads of cabbage, can become a comfortable habitat for many other vegetable crops. Therefore, it is not difficult to choose a vegetable that will feel great as a “cabbage substitute.”
- One of the best options would be cucumbers. They can also be good neighbors for cabbage.
- White cabbage and cauliflower remove excess acid from the soil, making it most suitable for growing tomatoes in open ground.
- Vegetables grown with organic fertilizers become good precursors for onions and garlic. Onions can be grown for three to four years without changing the planting location, but garlic should be moved every two years to avoid contamination of the soil by stem nematode.
- If you plant eggplants after cabbage, you can get an excellent harvest. Before planting, the soil has time to rest and fertilizers are evenly distributed, which has a beneficial effect on the development and fertility of plants.
- You can also plant carrots, they will feel good and have enough nutrients for full development. But we must remember that both vegetables can be affected by the same diseases and pests. That is why carrots are considered a dangerous neighbor for cabbage.
- It is also common to plant celery, parsley, spinach, dill or lettuce in former cabbage beds.
Where to plant cabbage
Good precursors for cabbage are cucumbers, onions, grains, legumes and root vegetables. After these plantings, enough nutrients remain in the soil, so the plant will feel quite comfortable.
Garden neighborhood
The mixed planting method allows you to more effectively combat plant diseases and pests. This method consists of choosing ideal neighbors for the plants in the garden.
- Potatoes and cabbage get along well next door: they protect each other from diseases and pests, and also feed each other with secretions from the root system.
- Chamomile, sage, and peppermint are great at repelling cabbage butterflies.
- Marigolds and marigolds planted between rows will repel aphids and flies.
- Leeks will protect you from the voracious caterpillars of the cutworm butterfly.
- Dill not only repels caterpillars and aphids, but also improves the taste of the vegetable.
- The salad will help protect against flea beetles.
Cabbage is a fairly friendly neighbor, but it does not get along with all crops. It is strictly forbidden to plant future heads of cabbage next to or mixed with other cruciferous vegetables, as they are susceptible to the same diseases and pests. You should not plant celery next to the heads of cabbage, as it attracts white butterflies.
Many people wonder whether it is possible to plant strawberries, or garden strawberries, in close proximity to heads of cabbage, but there is no consensus on this matter. Some people believe that the proximity to strawberries is quite harmonious. Others are convinced that it is undesirable to plant strawberries next to cabbage, because they oppress each other, which will undoubtedly affect the harvest.
Crop rotation will provide the harvest and relieve you from unnecessary worries, and the reminder table will help you not to lose sight of anything:
Plant | Predecessors | Neighbours | Followers | Enemies |
Cabbage | Cucumbers, onions, grains, legumes and root vegetables | Potatoes, chamomile, sage, peppermint, marigolds and marigolds, leeks, dill, lettuce | Cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, eggplants, zucchini, squash, carrots, celery, parsley, spinach, dill, lettuce | All cruciferous vegetables, celery, carrots, strawberries |