I think next year we’ll need to build a sheltered garden area. I’m assuming we can’t get all 11 beds in on the action, so here’s some note on how we might rotate half the beds. *Plants are deer favorites.
Protected Beds
| solanaceous | cucurbits | legumes | alliums |
| Tomatoes* | Squash* | Runner Beans* | Garlic |
| Tomatoes* | Green Beans* |
Safe (?) Beds
| solanaceous | legumes | alliums |
| Tomatillos | Fava Beans | Garlic |
| Peas | Onions |
From the Farmer’s Almanac, for reference.
Here are the major family groupings:
Alliums: Onions, shallots, leeks, and garlic.
Legumes: Green beans, green peas, southern peas, peanuts, soybeans. All legumes are soil “fixers” and share the benefit of adding nitrogen back to the soil.
Brassicas: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, turnip greens, radishes, collards, Chinese cabbage, mustard greens, and collards. Share pest issues and often need to be netted to block cabbage moths. Need nitrogen-rich soil. Plant after the legume (bean) family.
Nightshades: Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes. All heavy feeders which need rich soil. Affected by the same diseases. Never follow tomatoes after potatoes.
Umbellifers: Carrots, parsnips, fennel, parsley, and dill.
Cucurbits: Zucchini and summer quash, cukes, pumpkins and winter squash, melons (watermelon, cantaloupe), and gourds. All heavy feeders that grow best in rich soil.