Knowing what to plant after potatoes is one of the smartest moves you can make for your garden’s health. This simple practice, called crop rotation, prevents disease, manages pests, and keeps your soil fertile. Let’s look at how to choose the best followers for your potato patch and turn that empty space into a productive, thriving part of your garden.
What To Plant After Potatoes
After you harvest your potatoes, you have a golden opportunity. The soil is loose from all that digging, but it’s also been depleted of specific nutrients potatoes love. The key is to plant crops that have different needs and that can benefit from the conditions left behind.
Why Rotating Your Crops Matters
Potatoes are part of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). They are heavy feeders, drawing lots of nutrients like nitrogen and potassium from the soil. They are also susceptible to certain diseases and pests, such as blight and Colorado potato beetles.
If you plant potatoes, or their relatives like tomatoes or peppers, in the same spot year after year, several problems can occur:
- Soil-borne diseases build up in the bed.
- Pests that target that plant family establish a permanent home.
- The soil becomes imbalanced, lacking the specific nutrients that family needs most.
By rotating to a different plant family, you break these cycles. You give the soil a chance to recover and you starve out lingering pests.
The Best Plant Families to Follow Potatoes
Your goal is to choose plants from a completely different botanical family. Here are the top contenders.
1. Legumes (Beans and Peas)
This is often the number one recommendation. Legumes have a superpower: they fix nitrogen from the air into the soil with the help of rhizobia bacteria in their root nodules. Since potatoes use up a lot of nitrogen, planting beans or peas afterwards helps to replenish it naturally.
- Bush Beans: Fast-growing and perfect for a quick summer or early fall crop.
- Pole Beans: Great for vertical gardening if you have a trellis.
- Peas: Ideal for a late summer planting for a fall harvest in cooler climates.
2. Brassicas (Cabbage Family)
Plants like broccoli, kale, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are excellent followers. They have different nutrient demands and are not affected by the same diseases as potatoes. They also benefit from the deeper, loosened soil for their root systems.
Just remember, brassicas are also heavy feeders. It’s a good idea to add some compost or a balanced organic fertilizer to the bed before planting them to ensure they have enough food.
3. Root Vegetables (Non-Nightshade)
This group includes carrots, parsnips, beets, and radishes. They are light to moderate feeders and their main growth is below ground, but they are from different families (Apiaceae and Amaranthaceae). They appreciate the soft, stone-free soil left after potato harvesting.
Radishes are a particularly quick option, providing a harvest in just a few weeks.
4. Leafy Greens
Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and other greens are fantastic for a quick, nutrient-dense crop. They have shallow roots and modest nutrient needs, making them a low-stress choice for the recovering bed. You can often get several cuttings from them before the season ends.
What You Should Avoid Planting
Steer clear of other members of the nightshade family for at least three years. This includes:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers (bell and hot)
- Eggplant
- More potatoes
Planting these too soon risks passing on diseases like verticillium wilt or early blight. It also guarantees that any potato beetle larvae in the soil will have an immediate feast.
Step-by-Step: Preparing Your Bed After Harvest
Don’t just pull up potatoes and stick something new in. A little prep makes a huge difference.
- Clear the Bed Thoroughly: Dig carefully to remove all potato tubers, even the tiny missed ones. Any left behind can sprout as “volunteers” next year and disrupt your rotation plan. They can also harbor disease.
- Add Organic Matter: Work in a 2-3 inch layer of well-rotted compost or aged manure. This replaces organic material, improves soil structure, and adds a slow-release nutrient boost.
- Test Your Soil (Optional but Helpful): A simple soil test can tell you if your pH is off or if you have a major nutrient deficiency. Potatoes can acidify soil slightly, so knowing your pH helps you choose the right follow-up crop.
- Loosen the Soil: Even though it’s loose from harvesting, give it a gentle turning with a fork to aerate it and mix in the compost.
- Water Well: Moisten the bed thoroughly before planting your new seeds or seedlings. This gives them a great head start.
Planning for the Next Season
Think beyond just the next crop. A classic four-year rotation plan is very effective for home gardens. Here’s a simple example:
- Year 1: Potatoes (Nightshades)
- Year 2: Beans or Peas (Legumes)
- Year 3: Cabbage or Kale (Brassicas)
- Year 4: Lettuce or Carrots (Greens/Roots)
Then you can return to potatoes in Year 5. This cycle keeps your soil healthy and your plants vigorous. Drawing a simple map of your garden each year is the easiest way to track this.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Can I plant garlic or onions after potatoes?
Yes, absolutely. Alliums like garlic, onions, and leeks are a good choice. They are light feeders and have natural antifungal properties that can benefit the soil. They are from a completely different family (Amaryllidaceae) so there’s no conflict.
What is a good cover crop to plant after potatoes?
If you don’t want another vegetable crop right away, sowing a cover crop is a brilliant idea. Winter rye or clover can be sown in fall. They protect the soil from erosion, suppress weeds, and when turned under in spring, they add valuable organic matter and nutrients.
How long should I wait before planting potatoes again?
A minimum three-year rotation is recommended. This means three full growing seasons should pass before potatoes go back into that same ground. This gives time for any disease pathogens to die off and for the soil to fully rebalance.
My potatoes had blight. What should I do?
If your potatoes suffered from late blight, be extra cautious. Remove all plant debris from the garden—do not compost it. Follow with a non-susceptible crop like sweet corn or beans. Avoid all nightshades in that bed for at least three years to be safe.
Can I plant squash or cucumbers after potatoes?
Yes, cucurbits (squash, cucumbers, melons) are generally fine. They are from a different family and have different needs. Just ensure you add compost, as they are moderate to heavy feeders and appreciate rich soil.
Choosing what to plant after potatoes doesn’t have to be complicated. By focusing on a different plant family and adding some compost, you set your garden up for success. This mindful practice is the secret to a truly resilient and productive garden that yields healthy food year after year. Your soil will thank you, and you’ll be rewarded with stronger, more bountiful plants.