Do legumes need to be rotated?

13 years ago

I want to plant pole beans where I'm just now taking out fava beans. Will growing them in the same place twice in quick succession be a problem? I hate to put the beans elsewhere.

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

vtguitargirl
13 years ago
A lot of people plant beans to replace their pooped out peas. I've never grown Fava beans, but I think you will be fine.
jimster
13 years ago
A good argument can be made for planting the same kind of beans in the same location year after year. The bacteria which make the nitrogen fixing nodules on the roots becomes established in the soil. When you remove the favas leave the roots in the soil. They have the nodules on them and will return it to the soil. The roots also contribute organic material to the soil.

Beans don't harbor diseases which would necessitate crop rotation as some vegetables do.

Jim
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Donna
13 years ago
I'm not an expert, but from the reading I have done, I think you'd be alright to plant beans in the same place. On the other hand, my reading tells me that legumes are very advantageous to other crops since they fix nitrogen in the soil. Pam Baggett writes in "Warm Climate Gardening", "if you have to cheat on rotations (of tomatoes, squash, etc), plant a legume as insurance".
cyrus_gardner
13 years ago
As Jim said, rotation is not always necessary.
One reason for crop rotation is disease prevention and the other is soil chemistry.
While some plants such up all the nutrients, others is to provide more nutrients by nitrogen fixing and maybe other chemical changes.
Forgetting the disease issue, you can plant the same crop in the same spot for ever,
AS LONG AS you supplement the nutrients.
promethean_spark
13 years ago
I plant fava beans in any un-used beds I have over the winter. I've never had any issues with them other than bean weevils.
digit
13 years ago
vtguitargirl: "A lot of people plant beans to replace their pooped out peas. . ."

Exactly what I do.

digitSteve

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Do legumes need to be rotated?

Comments (6)

vtguitargirl

jimster

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Donna

cyrus_gardner

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digit

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