Sasha CampbellGrowing companion plants with beets is a simple way to add variety to your garden.
Some plants may attract helpful insects or help you use garden space well. Others can grow near beets because they need similar care.
However, not every companion planting claim has strong proof. Good spacing, sunlight, and watering still matter most.
Here are some plants you can grow near beets, along with tips for choosing good garden neighbors.
Good Companion Plants for Beets: Plants You Can Grow Nearby
Several vegetables, herbs, and flowers can grow near beets. Choose plants that have enough room and will not block the beets’ sunlight.
Plants to consider include:
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Carrots
- Onions
- Garlic
- Dill
- Parsley
- Bush beans
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Marigolds
- Nasturtiums
These plants do not all offer the same benefits. Some help you share garden space. Others may provide food for helpful insects when they flower.
Many popular companion planting claims still lack strong research. A plant that reduces pests on one crop may not offer the same help to beets [1].
Lettuce and Radishes
Lettuce and radishes can be useful choices for a small garden. You can often harvest radishes and young lettuce before your beets reach full size.
Leave enough space between plants. Pick radishes on time so their roots and leaves do not crowd the beets.
Onions, Garlic, and Carrots
Onions, garlic, and carrots can grow near beets as long as each crop has enough room.
Do not squeeze them together to fit more plants into a bed. Crowded plants compete for water, sunlight, and nutrients.
Follow the spacing on each seed packet. These crops can share a bed without growing right against one another.
Dill and Parsley
Dill and parsley can add variety to your garden. Their flowers can feed helpful insects.
Dill can flower in its first year. Parsley usually flowers in its second year, so it may not bloom during the season you plant it [2].
Place tall dill plants where they will not shade your beets.
Bush Beans
Bush beans can grow near beets if both crops have enough space. However, beans prefer warmer weather than beets. They may be a better choice for a later planting than an early spring beet crop.
Beans work with tiny bacteria in their roots to use nitrogen from the air. Nitrogen is a nutrient plants need to grow.
Do not count on beans to feed nearby beets while they grow. Some nitrogen may help later crops when healthy bean roots and stems are left to break down in the soil.
Cabbage Family Crops
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts can grow in the same garden as beets. These crops also enjoy cool weather.
However, they can become large. Follow their spacing needs and keep their leaves from covering your beets.
In a small garden, growing these large crops in a nearby bed may work better than mixing them closely with beets.
Flowers and Other Herbs
Marigolds and nasturtiums can add color to the garden. However, do not expect them to keep beet pests away. Any pest control benefit depends on the plant, the pest, and the growing conditions.
Choose smaller types when space is limited. Keep trailing nasturtiums from spreading over the beet rows.
Basil, catnip, and hyssop can also grow nearby if their size and care needs suit your garden. Basil prefers warm weather, so it may not fit an early spring beet planting.
Keep mint in a separate container because it spreads quickly. Place the pot where its stems cannot easily root in the garden soil.
Bad Companion Plants for Beets: What to Watch For
You may see garden lists that name “bad companion plants” for beets. However, many strict rules about plant pairs lack clear proof.
The main concern is often crowding or shade. Tall crops, climbing vines, and large plants can block sunlight. Any crop planted too close can compete for water and nutrients.
Instead of avoiding plants based only on a chart, think about how large they will grow and how much space they need.
Pole Beans
Pole beans are often listed as bad companion plants for beets. However, there is not strong evidence for a blanket rule against growing them nearby.
Their tall vines can shade a beet bed. Place their supports where the vines will not block the beets’ sunlight.
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard and garden beets belong to the same plant species. They also share some pests, including leafminers [3].
This does not make Swiss chard a bad companion in every garden. You can grow the two crops together, but give them enough room and check both often.
Keeping them apart does not guarantee protection. Insects can move between beds.
When you rotate crops, treat beets and Swiss chard as the same crop group. Avoid planting chard where beets recently had a soil-borne disease.
Large or Spreading Plants
Any large plant can become a poor neighbor if it covers your beets or takes over their growing space.
Give wide plants enough room. Keep spreading vines away from the beet rows, and remove weeds while they are small.
Why Companion Planting Can Help
Companion planting can help you use garden space well. For example, you can harvest a quick crop before a slower crop needs more room.
Flowers may also provide food and shelter for insects that eat garden pests.
Still, companion planting does not replace basic care. Give every crop enough sunlight, water, nutrients, and space.
How to Grow Beets
Beets grow best in cool weather and loose, well-draining soil. Choose a sunny spot, though beets can also grow with some shade.
For more growing tips, see this guide on growing beets at home.
Sow seeds directly in the garden. Plant them about ½ inch deep, or up to 1 inch deep in sandy soil. Space them about 2 inches apart.
You can soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before planting to help them sprout. This step is optional.
Most beet “seeds” are small seed balls that can produce more than one seedling. When the seedlings are about 2 inches tall, thin them so the remaining plants stand 3 to 4 inches apart [4].
Plant during the cool season in your area. In many places, this means early spring or late summer for a fall harvest. In places with short summers, sow your fall crop earlier so the beets have time to grow before hard freezes.
Keep the soil evenly moist, especially while the seeds sprout. Do not let it stay soggy or dry out for long periods.
Beets need enough nutrients to grow healthy leaves and roots. A soil test can help you decide whether to add fertilizer. Follow the label if you use it.
Garden Pests
Beet pests may include aphids, leafminers, cutworms, and beet leafhoppers. The pests you see will depend on where you live.
Check the tops and undersides of leaves. Look for holes, curled leaves, insects, or pale patches where leafminers feed.
Identify the pest before choosing a control method. Helpful insects can reduce some pest problems.
Row covers can also help keep insects away. Put them over the bed before pests arrive, and hold the edges tightly against the soil.
If leafminers damaged the last crop in that bed, plant your beets in a different spot before covering them. Otherwise, flies may come out of the soil and become trapped under the cover [5].
You can remove certain pests by hand, but do not touch blister beetles with bare hands.
See these organic pest control guides for advice on specific pests.
Plant Diseases
Beets can develop Cercospora leaf spot, damping-off, downy mildew, and beet curly top. Disease problems vary by location.
Identify the problem before treating it. Some diseases cannot be cured. Beet curly top is a virus spread by beet leafhoppers.
To help reduce disease problems, give plants enough space and water the soil rather than the leaves. Remove badly diseased plants when advised for the disease you have.
When possible, grow beets in a different spot each year. Include Swiss chard in the same crop rotation group.
Learn more about plant diseases and garden problems.
How to Harvest
Many beet varieties are ready to harvest about 50 to 70 days after planting. Cool weather and other growing conditions can change this timing. Check your seed packet for a guide.
Most beets are ready when their roots are about 1½ to 3 inches wide. You can also pick smaller beets for a tender harvest.
Gently brush soil away from the top of a root to check its size.
Carefully pull the beet from loose soil. If it is hard to pull, use a garden fork to loosen the soil beside it. Keep the fork far enough away to avoid piercing the root.
How to Store
Gently brush loose soil from the roots. Cut off the leaves, leaving about 1 inch of stem attached. Leave the long root intact.
Place the roots in a plastic bag with small holes and keep them in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. The bag helps hold moisture while allowing some air to move.
Plan to use them within 2 to 4 weeks, though they may last longer in good storage conditions. Check them often and discard any that become slimy or rotten. Wash them before use.
For longer storage, you can freeze cooked beets.
Wash the beets and leave about ½ inch of stem and the long root attached. Boil them until tender. Small beets may take 25 to 30 minutes. Medium beets may take 45 to 50 minutes.
Cool them quickly in cold water. Remove the skins, stems, and long roots. Cut the beets into slices or cubes.
Drain them well and pack them in freezer bags or containers. Leave about ½ inch of space at the top of containers, then seal, label, and freeze. 6
For best quality, use frozen beets within 8 to 12 months. Keep the freezer at 0°F (−18°C) or below. Longer storage may reduce their quality. 7
You can also try other vegetable storage methods, such as pickling. Follow a tested recipe if you plan to can them.
Where to Buy Seeds
You can buy beet seeds at many garden centers and home improvement stores. Online seed stores also sell them.
Choose a variety that suits your climate and the size of beet you want to grow. Check the packet for planting dates, spacing, and harvest time.
If you want organic or untreated seeds, look for those words on the label. Heirloom seeds are not always organic or untreated.
Takeaway
Many vegetables, herbs, and flowers can grow near beets. Choose plants that fit your space and will not crowd or shade them.
When reading about bad companion plants, look for the reason behind the advice. Plant size, shared pests, and growing needs matter more than a simple good-or-bad list.
Give your beets enough sunlight, steady moisture, and room to grow. Check them often so you can spot problems early.
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