Companion Planting: What Is It And How Does It Help Beets?
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Companion planting is a type of agriculture where multiple plants are grown together in order to benefit from one another. This can be done in a garden, or on a larger scale with farms. Companion planting helps to improve soil health, ward off pests and diseases, and provide pollination for other plants. One of the most well-known companion plantings is the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash. Beets are also great companions for many different plants!
Best Companion Plants to Grow With Beets
Onions
Onions are a member of the Allium family, which is a group of plants that includes garlic, leeks, and chives. These plants have been shown to be far and away from the best for growing beets. Onions can be used to repel many different bugs that destroy your beet crop, such as sugar beet flea beetles. The onion family has also been known to repel mammals, including rabbits, deer, gophers, and groundhogs to name a few.
Bush Beans
Beans and other legumes take nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. This is a process called nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen is good for plant growth; in fact, most plants need it to grow well. However, too much nitrogen can actually be bad for a plant’s root growth. That’s why you’ll often see farmers rotate their crops- so that they don’t use the same type of crop in the same place two years in a row, because that will deplete the soil of its nitrogen. Pole beans are different from bush beans; pole beans grow on vines that need to be supported by something, while bush beans stay low to the ground.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a great companion plant for beets. They have similar nutrient needs, and lettuce will use the nutrients near it while beets’ taproot will draw from below, filling in dead space and covering bare soil. Lettuce is a shallow root system so it can grow right beside your beets without competing for resources.
Radishes
Radishes are a cool-season crop that can be planted alongside beets. They are quick to grow and can be harvested before the beets. The seeds should be planted in the row before the beets. Beets can also be grown in the dirt loosened by radishes.
Aromatic Herbs
There are a variety of aromatic herbs that you can grow in your garden. Some popular options include thyme, hyssop, rosemary, mint, and catnip. These herbs not only add flavor to your food but also have medicinal properties. Additionally, many of these herbs can be used to deter pests from eating your plants. Mint is a particularly good herb for this purpose as it is a perennial plant that can quickly take over your garden if not kept in check. You can grow mint in pots so that you can move them around the garden as needed.
Brassicas
The Brassica family, which includes members like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale, are all excellent choices for companion planting with beets. Beet leaves will give a boost to Brassicas when planted in soil or fall gardens. Additionally, beets, cabbage, and mint make a great 3-fold companion planting combination.
Corn
Corn and beets are two vegetables that grow well together. Corn helps maximize your space while having a low risk of interfering with beet growth. Corn can go deep into the ground to not interrupt beets.
Oats
Beets are often grown together with oats in order to avoid damage caused by the sugar beetroot maggot. The maggot is a pest that can cause a lot of damage to beets, but when they are planted together with oats, the maggots are less likely to survive. Beets can also be grown into a living mulch, which makes it easier for them to grow and survive.
What Not to Plant With beets
There are a few items you should avoid planting near beets. Pole beans, for example, stunt the growth of beets and can cause them to not reach their full potential. Garlic and onions also have an adverse effect on beets when planted nearby.
Pole Beans
Pole beans are a variety of bean that grows on climbing vines. They are different than bush beans, which grow short and squat. Pole beans can be grown as companion plants with beets, but they will stunt the growth of the beets due to their excess nitrogen. Most kinds of beans are beneficial to beets, but pole beans are an exception.
Field Mustard
Mustard is a weed that can cause stunted growth in other plants. It is important to keep mustard and other brassica plants, such as broccoli and cauliflower, at a distance from each other. Pole beans grow poorly when planted with field mustard, and charlock should also be avoided.
Chard
Swiss chard is in the same family as beets and will pass on similar diseases and pests. Avoid planting chard near beets because they are similar plants. They like the same conditions for growing and watering needs.
Why You Should Plant Beet Companion Plants
This can be done for a variety of reasons, including to improve soil health, deter pests, and attract beneficial insects. Beet companion plants are a great choice because beets themselves are nutrient-rich and help to add nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil. Additionally, companion plants can help keep beetroots cool in hot weather conditions.
What should not be planted with beets?
Beets are root vegetables that can be planted in the garden. They have a deep taproot and grow quickly, but should not be planted with other vegetables or flowers without sufficient drainage.
Are carrots and beets companion plants?
No, carrots and beets are not companion plants. Carrots can grow in the same soil as beets without any problems, but both crops may have an impact on each other’s growth.
Can beets be planted with tomatoes?
No, beets are not typically planted with tomatoes. Many vegetables and fruits, such as carrots and zucchini, may be planted together in the same garden bed; however, it is not recommended.
Are spinach and beets companion plants?
Beets are not a companion plant to spinach. Beets and spinach work well together as a crop rotation, but beets do not help with pest control for spinach plants.
Can beets and peppers be planted together?
No, peppers and beets cannot be planted together. Peppers need lots of sunlight, so they would not thrive in the shade offered by beet leaves.
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