What to Plant With Beets: Companion Planting Guide
What to Plant With Beets?
Beets can be planted with a variety of companion plants to benefit their growth and overall health.
Suitable companion plants for beets include Alliums (onions and garlic), bush beans, lettuce, radishes, strong-scented herbs, Brassicas (like broccoli and cabbage), corn, and oats.
These companion plants can provide support, shade, nutrients, and protection to the beets.
However, it is important to avoid planting beets near pole beans, field mustard, and chard, as these plants can be detrimental to beet growth.
Overall, companion planting with beets can diversify the garden, improve harvest, and deter pests.
Key Points:
- Beets can be planted with a variety of companion plants such as Alliums, bush beans, lettuce, radishes, strong-scented herbs, Brassicas, corn, and oats.
- Companion plants provide support, shade, nutrients, and protection to the beets.
- Avoid planting beets near pole beans, field mustard, and chard.
- Companion planting with beets can diversify the garden.
- Companion planting with beets can improve harvest.
- Companion planting with beets can deter pests.
Did You Know?
1. Beets are actually related to chard, another leafy green vegetable. They both belong to the same family, known as the Amaranthaceae family.
2. In ancient times, beets were primarily cultivated for their leaves rather than their roots. It wasn’t until the 16th century that people began to appreciate the sweet and nutritious qualities of the beet root.
3. Beets were used as a natural food coloring before artificial dyes were invented. The vibrant red color of beets can be used to dye various foods, including pasta, cakes, and even Easter eggs!
4. Beets contain a compound called glycine betaine, which has been shown to have potential health benefits, such as improving liver function and reducing the risk of heart disease. This compound is also what gives beets their unique earthy taste.
5. Beets were used as an early form of medicine in ancient civilizations. They were believed to have aphrodisiac properties and were used to treat ailments like constipation, fever, and skin problems.
Benefits Of Companion Planting For Beets
Companion planting is a traditional gardening practice that involves growing different crops together to benefit one or all of them. When it comes to beets, companion planting offers several advantages. One of the primary benefits is the addition of nutrients to the soil. Certain companion plants work in harmony with beets, enriching the soil with essential minerals and organic matter. This natural fertilization not only enhances the growth and productivity of the beets but also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
Another advantage of companion planting for beets is the provision of support for vining plants. Some plants, such as beans or corn, can act as trellises or stakes for beets, helping them grow vertically and saving valuable space in the garden. Additionally, the shaded roots of certain companion plants can help protect beets from excessive heat and evaporation, promoting optimal growth.
Companion planting also aids in deterring pests and attracting beneficial insects. By interplanting beets with specific companions, you can create a diverse and balanced ecosystem in your garden. Certain plants repel pests that may attack beets, while others attract beneficial insects that act as natural predators. This reduces the need for pesticides and promotes a healthier, more sustainable approach to gardening.
Suitable Companion Plants For Beets
When considering suitable companion plants for beets, it is important to take into account their compatibility and the benefits they provide. Some excellent companions for beets include:
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Alliums (onions, garlic, scallions, and leeks): They repel pests and insects that threaten beets and improve their overall flavor. Garlic, in particular, releases sulfur compounds into the soil, aiding in reducing diseases and promoting healthier beet growth.
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Bush beans and legumes (peas): They serve as nitrogen fixers, improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. However, it is important not to overly rely on nitrogen-fixing plants, as too much nitrogen can hinder beet root growth.
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Lettuce: It is a suitable companion for beets as it has a shallow root system. This allows it to coexist with beets without competing for nutrients and provides shade to the beet roots, preventing overheating. Lettuce can also be easily harvested before the beets are fully matured, creating space for beet development.
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Radishes: Planting radishes alongside beets helps mark the rows and make weeding easier. They grow quickly and can be harvested before the beets are fully matured, providing extra space for beet growth and loosening the soil with their taproots.
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Aromatic herbs (thyme, hyssop, rosemary, mint, and catnip): Their scented oils repel pests that may harm the beets, acting as a natural deterrent. However, it is important to note that mint should be grown in pots to prevent it from spreading excessively and becoming invasive.
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Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, rutabagas, and turnips): Beet leaves are rich in manganese and iron, and any leaves that fall or are tilled into the soil will provide nutrients to the brassicas, promoting their growth and productivity.
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Bullet points added for clarity and easy reading.
Blockquote added to highlight the importance of considering compatibility and benefits.
Detrimental Plants For Beet Growth
When planting beets, it is important to consider the compatibility of neighboring plants. While there are several plants that can thrive alongside beets, there are also a few that can hinder their growth. Pole beans should not be planted near beets due to their vigorous growth and tendency to overshadow other plants. The overshadowing can limit the beet’s access to sunlight, resulting in stunted growth and reduced productivity.
Field mustard is another plant that should be avoided near beets. This plant competes for resources and creates unfavorable growing conditions. Its presence can hinder the growth of beets and even lead to crop failure.
Chard should also be kept separate from beets. These two plants share common pests and diseases. Planting them near each other increases the risk of spreading these issues, which can be harmful to both plants.
How Companion Planting Helps Beets
Companion planting is a beneficial practice for the growth, yield, and overall health of beets. One of its advantages is the creation of a diverse garden ecosystem. Companion planting prevents monocropping, which can result in imbalanced soils, increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, and reduced biodiversity.
This technique attracts beneficial insects that act as natural predators, keeping pest populations under control. Ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps are examples of these insects that feed on harmful pests like aphids, beetles, and leafhoppers. By providing these helpful insects with a variety of flowering plants and shelter, companion planting increases their presence in the garden. This, in turn, allows for a more sustainable and organic approach to pest control.
Moreover, certain companion plants can add nutrients to the soil and protect beets from environmental stressors. Nitrogen-fixing legumes like beans and peas, for instance, improve soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. This enriches the soil and provides beets with a source of nitrogen, which contributes to their healthy growth.
In addition, diverse companion plants can shield beets from strong winds, excessive sunlight, and temperature fluctuations. For instance, leafy companions like lettuce or the shade provided by corn can offer much-needed protection from the scorching sun. This protection helps prevent wilting and retains moisture in the soil, benefiting the beets’ overall vitality.
The Best Companion Plants For Beets
Considering all the benefits and advantages that companion planting offers to beets, there are several plants that are particularly well-suited to be grown alongside beets.
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Members of the Allium family, such as onions, scallions, leeks, and garlic, make excellent companions for beets. Besides their ability to repel pests and insects, onions can also enhance the flavor of beets. Garlic, in addition to providing pest protection, releases sulfur compounds into the soil, helping suppress diseases and improve the overall health of the beet plants.
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Bush beans and other legumes, such as peas, can improve the soil through nitrogen fixation. However, it is important to balance their use, as excessive nitrogen can adversely affect beet root development.
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Lettuce is a suitable companion for beets, thanks to its shallow root system and ability to utilize nutrients near the soil surface.
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Radishes, on the other hand, can help mark the rows and make weeding easier. They also grow quickly and can be harvested before the beets, creating more space for the beet roots to expand and loosening the soil.
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Aromatic herbs like thyme, hyssop, rosemary, mint, and catnip can act as deterrents to beet-eating pests. Their strong scents repel insects and mammals that may damage the beets. However, it is important to grow mint in pots to prevent it from spreading excessively and becoming invasive.
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Brassicas, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, rutabagas, and turnips, serve as beneficial companions for beets. Not only do these plants thrive together, but the beet leaves, rich in manganese and iron, provide a nutrient boost when they fall or are tilled into the soil.
companion planting offers a multitude of benefits for beets. It enhances soil fertility, provides support and protection, attracts beneficial insects, and deters pests. By carefully selecting suitable companion plants and avoiding detrimental ones, gardeners can enjoy a bountiful harvest of healthy and flavorful beets while promoting a sustainable and balanced garden ecosystem.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What can you not plant next to beets?
Beets should not be planted next to onions, beans, lettuce, cabbages, radishes, or catnip. Onions may stunt the growth of beets due to their strong growth and intense competition for resources. Beans, lettuce, and cabbages may also compete for essential nutrients, light, and space, hindering the growth of beets. Radishes and catnip can attract pests that may harm or disrupt the growth of beets. It is best to consider these plant pairings to maximize the growth and health of your beet crop.
What plants don’t like beets?
Some plants that don’t get along well with beets include spinach, chard, and other plants from the same family. This is because they can attract similar pests and diseases, which can harm both plants. Additionally, it is best to keep beets away from pole beans, as they can compete for nutrients and space, leading to stunted growth for both plants.
What grows well with beets and carrots?
Radishes and spinach are both great companion plants for beets and carrots. Radishes not only help break up the soil for better root formation but also act as a natural repellent for pests that may harm beets and carrots. Additionally, spinach provides a beneficial ground cover that helps to retain soil moisture and control weeds, making it an excellent companion for both beets and carrots.
Are beets bad for soil?
Beets can have a detrimental impact on soil health, mainly due to their harvest timing and wet conditions. Autumn harvesting of beets, coupled with wet conditions, can significantly damage soil structure. While all root crops do cause some soil loss during harvesting, beets seem to be particularly problematic. The combination of their harvest timing and the moisture in the soil during autumn exacerbates the soil damage caused by their extraction. To protect the long-term health of the soil, alternative methods of harvesting or cultivating beets may need to be explored.