Don't forget to rotate!

One thing that Texas and Oregon have in common is that there is no end to the blights, wilts, molds, cankers, and other sort of plant pathogens that can build up in the soil and infect plants. One way that you can combat these problems without resorting to chemicals is to rotate your crops.

Rotate? Are you kidding me? I barely have enough room as it is! I know, I know, but it really isn't that big of a deal. You don't need 40 acres to move your crops around in. You can change things up by planting in different rows, different pots, and even in different holes.

The Travis County Master Gardener Association publishes the Garden Guide for Austin and Vicinity, and they have a handy chart on how to choose the right rotations. They list plants by family group:

1. Composite: Lettuce, chicory, endive, escarole, salsify, dandelion, Jersusalem artichoke (I love these, pretty flowers and great tubers that aren't as starchy as a potato.)

2. Goosefoot: Swiss chard, beets, spinach.

3. Grass: Corn of all types.

4. Legumes: Peas and beans of all types.

5. Lily: Onions, garlic, leek.

6. Mustard: Cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, rutabaga, kale, turnip, mustard, radish, collard. (See, I never remember that radishes are in the same group and have ended up with pest problems as a result.)

7. Nightshade: Tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper, tomatillo. (I always forget about the tomato-eggplant rotation too.)

8. Parsley: Carrot, parsley, parsnips.

9. Squash: Watermelon, cucumber, squash, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pumpkin. (These are the hardest for me to rotate because there are so few places in the garden that I have room to put them. I finally gave up and started planting them in the flower beds. Turned out great! The growing fruit were like having gazing balls scattered around.)

Spend a little time and think about your last garden as you plan your vegetables for fall. Rotating gives you healthier plants and a fresh outlook. Sort of like moving the furniture around in the living room!