My favourite companions for beets include radishes, garlic and onions. Companion planting is not merely a gardening trend; it’s a science-backed strategy that can enhance the health and productivity of your vegetable garden. One of the keys to successful companion planting lies in being strategic about where you plant crops and what to grow together. When it comes to beets, strategic companions can help deter pests, improve soil health, and even boost overall yield. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the world of companion plants for beets, covering everything from beneficial insects to specific plant pairings.
Understanding the Basics: Why Companion Planting Matters
Before diving into the world of companion plants for beets, it’s essential to understand why! I always look to nature as my guide. Nature and natural systems do not have one single crop or one single species growing together. In natural systems there are synergistic relationships between plants. Tall trees provide shade and protection for young saplings and flowers. Systems that provide mutual benefit to all are the ones that thrive in nature. Companion planting is our way of mimicking nature. It involves growing different crops in close proximity to one another to achieve mutual benefits. These benefits can range from pest control and improved soil fertility to enhanced pollination and increased biodiversity.
“Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.”
Permaculture Principle Use and Value Diversity
The Benefits of Companion Planting for Beets
When it comes to growing beets, selecting the right companions can make a world of difference. Here are some of the key benefits of companion planting for beets:
1. Pest Control:
Certain companion plants can help repel common beet pests such as flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, and cabbage moths. By strategically interplanting these species, you can create a natural barrier against insect infestations. Plants like catnip, onions and garlic fall into this category.
2. Improved Soil Health:
Legumes like bush beans and peas are known for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit neighboring beet plants. Additionally, root crops like carrots and onions can help break up compacted soil, improving drainage and aeration for beets with shallow roots.
3. Enhanced Pollination:
Planting aromatic herbs and flowers like calendula near your beet crop can attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and pollinators, contributing to overall garden health and productivity.
4. Complementary Growth Habits:
Pairing beets with taller plants like tomatoes or brussels sprouts can provide shade and shelter, while planting leafy greens like Swiss chard or lettuce in between rows can help conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Selecting the Right Companion Plants for Beets
For me the best companion plants are ones that give multiple benefits, for example ones that help with pest control and pollination at the same time, like the marigold. There are many good companion plants, selecting the best isn’t necessarily the right thing to do. Selecting a couple that will work for you and your situation will give you the best beet companion plants! An ideal companion plant is also one that is available to you, perhaps you already have seedlings growing, perhaps you’ve been given a plant by a neighbour. These are all great companions!
Here are my top 8 good companion plants:
1. Bush Beans or dwarf beans or peas:
These nitrogen-fixing legumes are excellent companions for beets, providing a natural source of fertilizer and helping to deter pests like cucumber beetles. Climbing beans or pole beans are not such great companions because of the shade that they cast.
2. Swiss Chard and Leafy Greens:
Planting leafy greens like Swiss chard or lettuce in close proximity to beets can help maximize garden space while providing shade and moisture retention. I love this combination because it makes harvesting beet leaves alongside other leafy greens easy when I want to cook with greens.
3. Root vegetables:
The best root vegetable to grow with beets is carrot because it grows at the same or similar rate as beets. The carrots will break up the soil and allow space for good beet growth. Parsnips and scorzonera grow much more slowly so they make poor companions.
4. Aromatic Herbs:
Herbs such as basil, dill, and mint not only add flavor to your meals but also attract beneficial insects like pollinators and predatory wasps.
5. Onions and Garlic:
Members of the onion family have a strong smell. They can help repel pests like carrot flies and cabbage worms while improving soil structure and nutrient uptake. I like growing spring onions (as well as radishes) in amongst my beets, so that when I harvest I can also pick some young beet greens to go into a garden salad.
6. Brassicas (members of the cabbage family):
I like planting beets, khol rabi and cabbages together. There is growing space for all of these three within the soil as their roots operate in different ways.
7. Flowers:
Compatible plants include calendula and nasturtium. These flowers are a great addition to any vegetable garden. They are great for attracting beneficial insects and predators for the insect pests that can infest the plot. Nasturtium also act as a trap to aphids.
8. Tomato plants:
Tomatoes grow tall providing dappled shade to the beets. They also use different spaces in the soil with their roots.
FAQ
What plants don’t like beets?
Most plants get along very well with beets and beets get along well with most plants. Beets are relatively easy to grow and trouble free.
Can I plant peas next to beets?
Absolutely yes, peas are great because they fix nitrogen into the soil which can enhance the growth of your beets. Peas will also keep the conditions cool whilst the beets grow by casting light shade on the beets.
Do birds eat beetroot plants?
Birds will eat young seedlings. The best way to keep them off is with a physical barrier like fleece or netting. Once the beets are bigger than seedlings the birds will not bother.
Can you plant beetroot and garlic together?
Absolutely yes, these are great companions to plant together. The garlic deters pests with its strong smell and the roots do not compete for space.
In conclusion, companion planting is a valuable tool for any gardener looking to maximize the health and productivity of their vegetable garden. By selecting the right companions for your beets, you can create a thriving ecosystem that benefits both plants and beneficial insects alike. So why not give companion planting a try in your own garden? With the right knowledge and a bit of experimentation, it could be the key to unlocking a bountiful beet harvest year after year.