Rotating vegetables is always recommended, but to do it properly, one needs to know which vegetables are in the same family. Related vegetables share disease problems, so a true rotation needs to be between vegetable families. Usually a 3-year rotation is advised, meaning that there will be 2 years of unrelated vegetables in the middle, between related vegetables.
Here are the most common vegetable, herb, and cover crop families:
FAMILY | MEMBER PLANTS |
Allium | chive, garlic, garlic chive, leek, onion, perennial onion, shallot |
Amaranth | amaranth |
Brassica | bok choi, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collard, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga, radish, turnip |
Composite | artichoke, chicory, endive, Jerusalem artichoke, lettuce, sunflower |
Curcurbit | cucumber, gourd, melon, pumpkin, squash (winter & summer), watermelon, zucchini |
Goosefoot | beet, chard, quinoa, spinach |
Grain | barley, corn, oats, rice, rye, wheat |
Legume | bean, clover, pea, vetch |
Lily | asparagus |
Mallow | okra |
Mint | basil, mint, oregano, sage |
Morning Glory |
sweet potato |
Nightshade | eggplant, ground cherry, pepper, potato, tomatillo, tomato |
Rose | strawberry |
Smartweed | buckwheat, rhubarb, sorrel |
Umbel | carrot, celeriac, celery, dill, fennel, lovage, parley, parsnip |
Jennifer Lerner
Senior Resource Educator
jjs95@cornell.edu
845-278-6738 ext. 216
Last updated February 2, 2024