Rotating crops this fall can set garden up for success next spring
K-State horticulture expert suggests making a planting strategy
At a glance: Kansas State University horticulture expert Matt McKernan says rotating crops in a garden is 'the best practice' to give plants a healthy start next spring.
More information: Matt McKernan, hortsupport@ksu.edu
Related: K-State Horticulture Newsletter | Kansas Garden Guide
Sept. 15, 2026
K-State Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. – This is the gardener’s mantra: Success requires planning.
“To give your plants a healthy start next year,” says Kansas State University horticulture expert Matt McKernan, “the best practice is to rotate crops within the same family to a different location than where they’re growing this year.”
Crop rotation offers several benefits, according to McKernan.
“Plants in the same family are typically susceptible to similar pests,” he said. “Some pests overwinter in the soil; some are able to survive on plant debris. If the same host is available when the pests emerge in the spring, they will be able to continue feeding, and multiply the problem. Crop rotation breaks the cycle of these pests.”
McKernan added that plants in the same family also have similar nutrient requirements, so rotating crops prevents the soil from becoming depleted of those nutrients. “And, the varied root system depths from one plant family to the next contributes to the health of the soil,” he said.
“Now is the perfect time to make a map of the vegetable garden, including what crops were planted where this summer, so you can switch things up when you plant next year,” McKernan said. “For example, in the location where tomatoes are growing now, avoid planting anything from the Solanaceae family (such as eggplant, pepper or potato) next year.”
McKernan said a helpful table of common vegetable crop families and examples of how to rotate these crops is available online in the Kansas Garden Guide, published by the K-State Extension bookstore.
McKernan and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens.
Interested persons can subscribe to the newsletter, as well as send their garden and yard-related questions by email to hortsupport@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Extension office.
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K‑State Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the wellbeing of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.