Family tree in your garden

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You might be surprised how closely many of the plants in your gardens are related. Many vegetable gardeners know that rotating crops each season can help prevent pest problems. For example, you may know that, if possible, you should avoid planting tomatoes in the same spot more than once every three years, since insect and disease organisms that attack tomatoes can remain in the soil. But did you know that you should also avoid plants in the same family as tomatoes? Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae; other members include peppers, eggplant, potatoes, and tomatillos. Similarly, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are all members of the mustard family, Cruciferae (also called Brassicaceae). Let’s take a closer look at the relationships among familiar garden plants.