Companion Planting Chart for Beets

The Importance of Companion Planting

Companion planting is the practice of growing plants that benefit each other in close proximity. It's an age-old agricultural technique that has been used for centuries to improve plant health, reduce pest problems, and increase yields. Companion planting is a natural way to support plant growth and health, as it encourages biodiversity and creates a balanced ecosystem.

When it comes to beets, companion planting can have a significant impact on their growth and productivity. By planting complementary crops alongside beets, you can help them thrive, deter pests, and enrich the soil. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of companion planting for beets and provide a comprehensive chart to help you choose the best companion plants for your garden.

The Benefits of Companion Planting for Beets

Companion planting offers several benefits for beet plants. Here are some of the most significant advantages:

Improved Soil Health

Beets are heavy feeders and require nutrient-rich soil to grow well. Fortunately, certain plants can help improve soil quality by fixing nitrogen or adding organic matter. Legumes, such as beans and peas, are excellent at fixing nitrogen, which means they convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. This process adds nitrogen to the soil and helps boost the growth of beets. Other plants, such as clover and vetch, are also great at fixing nitrogen.

Pest Deterrence

Beets are susceptible to several pests, including aphids, flea beetles, and leaf miners. However, planting certain companion plants can help deter these pests naturally. For instance, planting marigolds alongside beets can help repel harmful insects, such as nematodes and whiteflies. Other plants, such as garlic and onions, are also known for their pest-repelling properties.

Increased Yield

Companion planting can also help increase the yield of beets by encouraging pollination and improving nutrient uptake. For example, planting beans or peas alongside beets can help attract bees and other pollinators, which can lead to better fruit set and higher yields. Additionally, certain plants, such as herbs like basil and oregano, can improve the nutrient uptake of beets, leading to healthier plants and better yields.

The Beets Companion Planting Chart

Here is a comprehensive chart of companion plants for beets:

Companion Plants	Benefits
Beans	Nitrogen fixation, increased yield
Peas	Nitrogen fixation, increased yield
Clover	Nitrogen fixation, weed suppression
Vetch	Nitrogen fixation, weed suppression
Marigolds	Pest deterrence
Garlic	Pest deterrence
Onions	Pest deterrence
Carrots	Complementary nutrient uptake
Lettuce	Shade tolerance, weed suppression
Radishes	Weed suppression, pest deterrence
Spinach	Complementary nutrient uptake, shade tolerance
Basil	Improved nutrient uptake, pest deterrence
Oregano	Improved nutrient uptake, pest deterrence
Sage	Pest deterrence
Thyme	Pest deterrence

How to Use the Chart

To use the companion planting chart for beets, simply choose a complementary plant from the list and plant it alongside your beet plants. For example, if you want to improve the soil quality in your garden, you could plant beans or peas alongside your beets to fix nitrogen. Alternatively, if you want to deter pests naturally, you could plant marigolds or garlic alongside your beets.

Beans and Peas

Beans and peas are excellent companion plants for beets because they fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, which is essential for healthy plant growth. Additionally, these legumes attract pollinators, such as bees, which can lead to higher yields.

When planting beans and peas with beets, it's best to plant them in a different location each year to prevent disease buildup.

Clover and Vetch

Clover and vetch are also great companion plants for beets because they fix nitrogen and suppress weeds. These plants can help improve soil health and boost beet growth.

When planting clover and vetch with beets, it's best to mow them down before they go to seed to prevent them from becoming invasive.

Marigolds, Garlic, and Onions

Marigolds, garlic, and onions are natural pest deterrents and can help protect your beet plants from harmful insects. Planting these companion plants around your beets can help reduce the need for chemical pesticides.

When planting marigolds, garlic, and onions with beets, it's best to interplant them throughout the garden rather than in long rows to make it more difficult for pests to find their target.

Carrots, Lettuce, Radishes, and Spinach

Carrots, lettuce, radishes, and spinach are complementary plants that can help improve nutrient uptake and shade tolerance. These plants can also help suppress weeds and create a diverse ecosystem.

When planting carrots, lettuce, radishes, and spinach with beets, it's best to stagger the planting times so that the plants mature at different rates.

Basil, Oregano, Sage, and Thyme

Basil, oregano, sage, and thyme are culinary herbs that also have pest-repelling properties. Planting these herbs alongside your beets can help deter harmful insects and improve nutrient uptake.

When planting basil, oregano, sage, and thyme with beets, it's best to harvest the herbs regularly to promote healthy growth.



Companion planting is an excellent way to improve the health and productivity of your beet plants. By choosing complementary plants from the beets companion planting chart, you can help fix nitrogen, deter pests, and improve soil quality. Additionally, companion planting can help create a diverse ecosystem and encourage pollination, leading to higher yields.

FAQs

1. Can I plant beets with tomatoes?

No, it's not recommended to plant beets with tomatoes because they have different nutrient requirements and growth habits. Additionally, planting them together can attract similar pests and diseases, leading to a greater risk of crop failure.

2. Can I plant beets with cucumbers?

It's not recommended to plant beets with cucumbers because they have different nutrient requirements and growth habits. Additionally, cucumbers can spread diseases to beets, leading to crop failure.

3. Can I plant beets with peppers?

Yes, beets can be planted with peppers because they have complementary nutrient requirements and growth habits. Additionally, peppers can help repel pests that may attack beets, such as aphids.

4. Can I plant beets with broccoli?

It's not recommended to plant beets with broccoli because they have similar nutrient requirements and are both heavy feeders. Planting them together can lead to competition for nutrients and reduced yields.

5. Can I plant beets with strawberries?

It's not recommended to plant beets with strawberries because they have different nutrient requirements and growth habits. Additionally, planting them together can attract similar pests and diseases, leading to a greater risk of crop failure.