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I have 3 raised beds in my backyard that I want to maximize use for. Does someone have an approximate calendar (does not have to be perfect) which outlines what activities (growing, harvesting and maintaining) should be during different months of the year and at the same time keeping the raised bed always producing rather than letting it idle. For example, grow root and leafy vegetables between November and February. I realize that there can be many different answers but any suggestions would be helpful. Right now, my main planting and harvesting is spring through fall and rest of the time it is idle or I grow cover crop (fava beans). I live in the San Francisco/Bay Area

Graham Chiu
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JStorage
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    Does this help http://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/Vegetable_Schedule_for_San_Francisco_-_San_Mateo_Counties/ – Graham Chiu Apr 16 '16 at 05:00
  • @GrahamChiu these links are very helpful. Why did you not include that as an answer? That is exactly what I was looking for so I can adapt as needed – JStorage Apr 27 '16 at 19:01
  • I didn't originally as it's highly specific .. but added now :) – Graham Chiu Apr 27 '16 at 21:18

2 Answers2

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Your idea of green manure in winter is a good one, beans help put some nitrogen back into the soil. Otherwise the most simple rule for rotation is to leave it a while between plantings of things in the same family. Some do yearly rotation, some do seasonal. I just have 2 beds for veggies, so my rotation this year looks something like this, I've also included a couple of the companion plants I've used.

First Bed:

Summer - Nightshades (Tomato,Peppers) + Basil

Autumn - Brassicas + Sage

Winter - Beans

Spring - Apiaceae + Onions

Second Bed:

Summer - 3 Sisters - Corn, Beans, Squash.

Autumn - Apiaceae + Onions

Winter - Asian Greens (Small quick growing brassicas) + Sage.

Spring - Asters - Lettuces + Jerusalem Artichokes (which I've heard also fix nitrogen)

And then the next year I would swap the beds.

Here's a short guide from Gardening Australia: http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/vegieguide/crop_rotation.htm

Ben Cannon
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As you say, planting calendars are highly localised as even in a smallish area there may exist microclimates. What you are looking for in San Francisco can be found here http://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/Vegetable_Schedule_for_San_Francisco_-_San_Mateo_Counties/

I use this one for NZ http://www.gardengrow.co.nz/ so everyone needs to search for the one that suits their location, either online or in books.

Graham Chiu
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