2nd cropping of the same vegetable onto the same bed?

[Karen]

Hey Charles,

Is it advisable to have a 2nd cropping (maybe even 3) of lettuces onto the same exact bed once the 1st cropping is done? I will be adding a thick layer of animal manure compost onto the bed first before planting again.

I do believe that perhaps it isn’t advisable for brassicas. I guess this topic is related to crop rotation.

The main reason am asking this is because of the blistering heat and sun. I have 2 beds located in a half shaded area and I have observed that I don’t have to water them like crazy as opposed to the beds that are receiving the sun and heat all day. I am just worried that I won´t have the time to water in time. And in general just wondering if it is ok to have a 2nd cropping onto the same bed.

I am thinking of planting lettuces into the very same bed again. I have read in the past that lettuces aren’t exactly part of the crop rotation vegetable families.

Would love to hear your thoughts and experience.

ps: btw, just harvested another 10kg of salad leaves from the very same bed that is in the half shaded area today 🙂

[charles]

You are right, lettuce clearly don’t mind shade.
Its up to you whether you rotate or not. See p 171 of New Veg Garden. We are cropping abundant lettuce after autumn lettuce last year.
I don’t add any compost in summer, find that the 2 inch winter mulch serves for double cropping.

[Karen]

Ok Thanks Charles. Just read the page. Another crop of lettuce it is in the same bed.

I will most likely then add compost after this 2nd cropping and then let this bed ´rest´ over the winter period and crop again next Spring as we don´t need that much salads over the winter period.

I might just experiment and do another year of 2 lettuce croppings and a ´rest´ period and see if there´s any adverse results from pest buildup etc.

[Author]

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