Beet Companion Plants: Full List of Pairings
Beet Companion Plants: Full List of Pairings
Colorful, flavorful beets are an excellent root vegetable to grow in your garden. Luckily, they get along with most other garden favorites, but there are a few that make especially good pairings. These vegetables, flowers, and herbs all make fantastic beet companion plants!
Full List of Beet Companion Plants
The following vegetables, flowers, and herbs benefit beets by improving soil quality, repelling pests and diseases, offering shade, and more.
Companion planting is a great way to enhance the growth of beets and protect them from harmful pests and diseases, ensuring a successful beet harvest. If you’re a beginner, here’s the guide to starting companion planting, otherwise, here’s the full list:
Vegetables to Plant with Beets
• Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Rutabagas, and Turnips – These members of the brassica family add important nutrients to the soil and can improve beet growth. They are good companion plants that can help control harmful pests like cabbage moths and Japanese beetles.
• Bush Beans – Bush beans fix much-needed nitrogen in the soil, which benefits beets and other root crops. They are ideal companions that contribute to the soil’s nutrient content without competing for space.
• Carrots – As fellow root vegetables, carrots and beets enjoy the same type of loamy soil and perform well together. They have similar growing requirements and can share the same growing space efficiently.
• Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Scallions, Shallots, and Other Alliums – Strongly scented members of the allium family repel many pests from your beet patch. Garlic, in particular, may also improve the flavor of beets. These aromatic herbs provide general pest protection and are excellent companion plants.
• Kale and Lettuce – Leafy greens retain soil moisture and keep weeds down around your beets. They thrive in the same cool-weather crop conditions and make great companions by providing partial shade.
• Peppers and Tomatoes – Beets enjoy the shade offered by these taller plants. They can help protect beet greens from excessive sun and heat, making them excellent beet companion plants.
• Radishes – Growing beets in close proximity to radishes or where radishes were previously planted can decrease the likelihood of disease. They also help break up the soil’s surface, promoting healthy beet root development.
Flowers to Plant Near Beets
• Alyssum – Sweet alyssum acts as a living mulch around your beets, helping to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. It also attracts beneficial predatory insects.
• Marigolds – Marigolds work well as a slug trap crop when planted near beets. They repel harmful pests such as flea beetles and spider mites, contributing to effective pest control.
• Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums attract beneficial insects and act as an aphid and flea beetle trap crop when planted near your beets. They are a great addition to any vegetable garden due to their strong scent and pest-repelling properties.
Herbs to Plant Near Beets
These herbs help repel a variety of beet pests and improve the growth of beets through their symbiotic relationship with beet plants.
• Basil – Basil provides general pest protection and can enhance the flavor of beets.
• Catnip – Catnip prevents many insect pests, along with another common beet enemy: mice. It’s an excellent beet companion plant for its pest-repelling capabilities.
• Chives – Chives, with their strong scent, can deter unwanted pests and are great companions for beets.
• Mints – Varieties of mint help repel harmful insects and improve the soil’s nutrient content, making them ideal companions for beets.
• Rosemary – Rosemary repels harmful pests and can enhance the growth and flavor of beets.
• Sage – Sage is effective at deterring unwanted pests and provides beneficial predatory insects to the garden.
• Thyme – Thyme is an aromatic herb that repels pests and supports the growth of beets.
What NOT to Plant Next to Beets
The following plants should be planted far away from beets if you choose to grow them, as they can inhibit beet growth or compete for resources.
Plants to Avoid with Beets
• Mustards – Different types of mustard, including field mustard, can inhibit beet growth. They are not compatible plants and should be avoided in close proximity to beets.
• Pole Beans – Unlike bush beans, pole beans hinder beet growth rather than help. They compete for root space and can affect the growth of beets negatively.
• Pumpkins – Pumpkins and beets can compete for root space. Their extensive root systems can interfere with the shallow roots of beets, leading to poor growth.
Enjoy Your Beets!
With this list, you should now have plenty of options for beet companion plants. Companion planting is a great way to ensure a bountiful beet crop by selecting the right companion plants.
Looking for more guides? Here’s what to plant near carrots.
