Vegetable Crop Production and Rotation Planning

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Success in the field begins long before the first seed hits the soil. Effective crop production and strategic rotation are the cornerstones of a resilient farm, helping to break pest cycles, manage soil fertility, and maximize yield across the seasons. The following resources are curated to help you navigate the complexities of the Midwest growing season, offering technical data and practical templates to streamline your planning process and ensure your land remains productive for years to come.

This is the guide is the "gold standard" for commercial growers in our region. Updated annually, it provides exhaustive vegetable production data on fertility, variety, cultural, and pest management recommendations specifically tailored to the Midwest climate and soil types. (Visit https://mwveguide.org to learn more.) 

This manual provides an in-depth review of the applications of crop rotation-including improving soil quality and health, and managing pests, diseases, and weeds. Consulting with expert organic farmers, the authors share rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions and with a wide range of crops. (Click here to learn more.)

A physical copy is available for checkout from our conservation resource library: https://tippecanoecountyswcd.org/equipment-rentals-%26-loans .

Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District have developed and shared this crop rotation planning template.  It is shared here as a Google sheet making it easy to adjust to fit your own garden, crops, and context. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hgyEnhoVsn8lNZa6_uEhRLkfsDP2Tbcm_6WcROaIb54/edit?usp=sharing

Timing is everything in Indiana. This calendar simplifies your seasonal workflow by providing specific windows for different vegetable planting based on seasons and soil temperatures. It’s an essential tool for ensuring your succession planting stays on track to avoid "gluts" or "gaps" in your harvest. (Click here to learn more.)

The Indiana Nutrient Management Tool is a spreadsheet designed to support agronomic planning for soil and crop nutrient management. It provides a framework to organize soil test records, plan pH adjustments, determine nutrient goals for crops, develop fertilizer and amendment plans, calculate application rates, and manage compost and manures. 

Indiana Nutrient Management Tool (Excel Version) https://marionswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/Indiana_Nutrient_Management_Tool_-Small_Farms_and_Gardens.xlsx 

OR

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16uTkmIm7OImTIxu7G8sLeiTduGpIdhAU/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=103481622834047636184&rtpof=true&sd=true

Indiana Nutrient Management Tool (Google Sheets Version)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OLCviXaELQEtWXaiPLKwTwuCO9DI8kXWunJUhMd4iAw/copy 

Important: The Excel version of this tool requires Excel 2021+ or Microsoft 365.
If opened in Excel 2019 or earlier, formulas will break and results may be incorrect.

Important: The Google Sheets version shows a warning when editing a cell intended to be protected for the tool’s programming but cannot be fully protected. If formulas are accidently edited, it is recommended to download a new, fresh copy from the SWCD website. Google Sheets users must click OK to the warning in order to print.

If you are using or intend to use the Indiana Nutrient Management Tool, please fill out this quick form to help us better measure interest. All questions are optional. Go to the Feedback Form.

Cover crops value goes far beyond fertilization. For a small farm, they are crucial for protecting the soil from erratic winter weather, stubborn weeds, and builds long term organic matter. Integrating cover crops on small farms requires a different approach compared to  a large scale commercial farm. The resources below provide the specific technical data and "how-to" methods needed to successfully trial and scale cover crops on your farm.

This comprehensive reference table breaks down dozens of species by their specific characteristics, such as nitrogen-fixing potential, root depth, and winter hardiness. Crucially for small growers, it provides seeding rates in ounces per 100 square feet, making it easy to calculate exactly how much seed you need for individual beds without having to convert from pounds per acre. (Click here to learn more.)

Timing is the most frequent cause of cover crop failure. This guide identifies the ideal planting windows for our region, ensuring you get enough growth before a hard freeze. It also highlights seeding dates that are compatible with NRCS conservation programs, helping you stay in compliance if you are utilizing federal cost share or technical assistance. (Click here to learn more.)

This document covers a diversity of ways to kill or terminate a cover crop. Methods discussed include winter kill, mow or cut, crimp, tarp, solarization, mulch, tillage, and chemicals. (Click here to learn more.)

If you are overwhelmed by choices, start here. This resource provides "tried and true" recipes used in local demonstration gardens. It matches specific cover crop mixes (like Oats and Crimson Clover) to the vegetable crop you plan to plant next. It’s the ultimate shortcut for farmers looking for proven pairings that simplify both the planting and termination process. (Click here to learn more.)

Tarping is a helpful practice for garden bed establishment and weed control. When used in conjunction with no-till, growers can develop a “stale seed bed,” minimizing weed seeds in the germination zone while reducing maintenance requirements and building long term soil health.  This guide provides details on tarp management and insights from farmers using them. 

Applying a mulch of organic plant materials to the soil surface has multiple benefits: Mulches protect the soil’s surface, build soil organic matter, moderate soil temperatures, suppress weeds and more.  

This tool helps growers plan their mulch applications and estimate required volumes and costs. The tool was developed by the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District, and USDA-NRCS with support from North Central Sustainable Research and Education and Clean Water Indiana.

Indiana Mulching Tool for Small Farms and Gardens (Microsoft Excel Version)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1atG2LLwOoWzrOKvbEfgMWkfXX--8bj2u/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=103481622834047636184&rtpof=true&sd=true

Indiana Mulching Tool for Small Farms and Gardens (Google Sheets Version)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KdzdV31zu6nE8kI9wiibHBEP5b8vzXJ0R8vomxCkypU/copy

Indiana Mulching Tool How To Video (YouTube, January 2026) https://youtu.be/x9_7YUoxZ2A