Alright, let’s get into it! With out additional ado, listed here are your planting companions for beets. Preserve a watch out on the finish for our coveted choose for the “Most Beet-iful” rising companion!
1. Broccoli
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is my favourite vegetable so it goes first on the record. It being first alphabetically has nothing to do with its placement…
When you have a tough time getting broccoli to develop in your backyard and it’s combined in with neighboring veggies, it may need a calcium deficiency.
Different vegetation are consuming up this mineral too, however beets require much less calcium than many greens.
Meaning your beets and your broccoli will play properly collectively within the backyard and assist every attain their finest potential.
‘Inexperienced Sprouting Calabrese’
‘Inexperienced Sprouting Calabrese’ is the broccoli I’ve probably the most expertise with, and it will get my first suggestion. Seeds can be found in packets and in bulk from True Leaf Market.
‘Solar King’
The ‘Solar King’ hybrid is one other nice producer, and heads might be harvested from July by means of the autumn till the primary onerous frost. Seeds and vegetation are obtainable from Burpee.
Be taught high suggestions for rising one of the best broccoli in our information.
2. Brussels Sprouts
Ah, brussels sprouts. I’ve been consuming extra brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) later in my life since avoiding them just like the plague after I was a child. They’re additionally a stable backyard buddy to your beets.
Beets and brussels favor comparable circumstances and don’t compete for a similar forms of actual property, making them fascinating neighbors.
You harvest your brussel sprouts after a couple of frosts within the fall, so you’ll be able to choose them along with your beets on the identical time. That’s one much less journey out to the backyard on nippy mornings!
‘Catskill’ Brussels Sprouts
The ‘Catskill’ brussels sprout is fairly straightforward to develop and produces loads of scrumptious sprouts. Give it a shot if it’s your first time rising these! Seeds are obtainable from Burpee.
‘Lengthy Island Improved’ brussels sprouts are one other good possibility with a really excessive germination fee.
Develop this improved model of the heirloom ‘Lengthy Island’ if you happen to wanna brag about how your sprouts have such a pedigreed historical past, relationship all the way in which again to 1890!
‘Lengthy Island Improved’
Discover seeds now at True Leaf Market.
Need to be taught extra? Try our information to rising brussels sprouts right here.
3. Bush Beans
Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) naturally present nitrogen to the soil, and that’s an excellent factor.
Beets are likely to develop sweeter once they’ve received a dependable supply of nitrogen, and the regular provide from bush beans makes for candy-like beets.
Bush beans are additionally a reliably profitable crop, so this a superb pairing for gardeners of each ability stage.
The one time I ever received excited personally about bush beans was when I discovered the ‘Desperado’ cultivar.
These style nice, however extra importantly, each time I get them organized I get to think about The Eagles, and that one episode of “Seinfeld.” You realize the one I’m speaking about…
‘Desperado’ Bush Beans
‘Desperado’ seeds can be found in packets of 200 from Burpee.
The ‘Supplier’ bush bean is one other really useful selection.
It produces tons of beans which are prepared to reap in virtually the identical timeframe as your beets. Discuss a handy planting companion!
‘Supplier’
True Leaf Market has seeds obtainable in a wide range of packet sizes.
Be taught extra about rising bush beans in our information.
4. Cabbage
An everyday resident in lots of gardens, cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) grows very properly with beets.
The leafy heads thrive with the magnesium added to the soil by their beet companions. They are often conveniently planted collectively on the identical time of 12 months, and I gotta say, I’m all about comfort.
They’re additionally a dashing duo, particularly when crimson cabbages are grown in tandem with deep crimson and purple beets poking their shoulders above the soil.
The one cabbage I’ve ever had luck with is ‘Mammoth Purple Rock,’ and I plant it yearly.
It grows simply and tastes nice, and it’s a heckuva lot simpler to identify pests on it than different varieties I’ve grown. It’s additionally actually neat wanting, so there’s that, too.
‘Mammoth Purple Rock’ Purple Cabbage
Go to True Leaf Market to buy seeds.
My neighbor swears by ‘Early Jersey Wakefield,’ and although I’ve by no means grown it, I can say it tastes scrumptious.
Yearly I get some implausible sauerkraut from their yearly manufacturing, and I don’t assume it’s ever tasted higher than when it’s made with this heirloom cultivar.
‘Early Jersey Wakefield’
Discover seeds now at Burpee.
You may be taught extra about cultivating cabbage in our information.
5. Catnip
No backyard is full with out some catnip (Nepeta cataria), and I’ll die on this hill!
That’s as a result of I like cats a lot and my neighborhood feline associates preserve my backyard reliably rodent free.
The phytochemicals in catnip additionally function a deterrent for some bugs within the backyard, and the much less you must fear in regards to the higher.
Catnip
Simply ensure that when you have got catnip rising within the backyard it’s not planted intently with the greens.
When cats are actually moving into the catnip they typically roll round in drunk euphoria, typically damaging vegetation within the course of. Give them some house to cease that from occurring!
Catnip seeds are obtainable from Eden Brothers or at Burpee.
Be taught extra about catnip in our rising information.
6. Cauliflower
A neighboring gardener at a group backyard the place I’m a member grows cauliflower and beets with a lot success.
She grows a row of beets flanking a row of cauliflower and religiously retains the soil round every freed from weeds.
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is a superb planting companion for beets as a result of they favor the identical season and fundamental rising circumstances.
They share a couple of frequent pests, however in the appropriate circumstances they’re sturdy companions you’ll be able to develop and harvest collectively.
‘Cheddar’ is a hybrid selection that appears and tastes nice.
‘Cheddar’ Hybrid Cauliflower
Don’t be deterred by the colour! It doesn’t truly style like cheddar (rats…) nevertheless it does have extra vitamin A than the common cauliflower you’re used to. Discover seeds now at True Leaf Market.
In case you desire one thing extra acquainted, try ‘White Corona.’
This sort has the same taste profile and takes simply as lengthy to be prepared for harvest, so it’s only a fashion selection when it comes to the colour you assume is finest for you and your backyard.
‘White Corona’ Cauliflower
Burpee has seeds and begins obtainable.
Try our information to rising cauliflower right here.
7. Kohlrabi
This pair ought to be grown as companions if solely as a result of they give the impression of being so rattling good collectively.
Even if you happen to ignore different particulars of their suitability, with every competing for various vitamins and house within the backyard, they’re only a very good-looking pair.
Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes ‘Konan’ is a hybrid cultivar that received the 2016 All-American Choices award and has rave critiques backing it up. Pale inexperienced, four- to six-inch bulbs are crunchy with a refreshing taste.
‘Konan’ Kohlrabi
Seeds can be found in packets of 100 from Burpee.
If you would like one thing with somewhat extra zazzle to it, try ‘Purple Vienna.’
I feel I’m going to offer this sort a shot this 12 months if solely as a result of it’s so nice wanting, with purple bulbs and stems that distinction with the inexperienced foliage.
‘Purple Vienna’
Seeds can be found in varied bundle sizes from True Leaf Market.
Be taught extra about rising kohlrabi right here.
8. Leeks
Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum) additionally desire the identical circumstances (appears to be a recurring theme right here…).
Years in the past, I labored at a personal backyard and loved tending to an infinite vegetable backyard. My mentor cherished pairing beets and leeks in virtually each mattress, and it’s a behavior I’ve carried on myself.
They develop properly collectively, and are rewarding and profitable companions.
‘Carantan’ is an heirloom number of leek that I’ve grown this a couple of years in a row and it retains me coming again yearly.
‘Carantan’ Leeks
Seeds can be found from True Leaf Market.
In case you’ve by no means grown leeks earlier than you can give ‘Daybreak Big’ a shot.
These leeks find yourself being, properly, gigantic, and that is a simple producer if you happen to’re like me and overlook to verify in your veggies day-after-day.
‘Daybreak Big’
Burpee has seeds obtainable.
Try our information to be taught extra about rising leeks.
9. Lettuce
This can be a pair I attempted final 12 months and am wanting ahead to doing it once more this 12 months.
I had developed a sudden ardour for recent lettuce leaves (Lactuca sativa) and sorrel as a each day salad, and determined to incorporate beets within the combine too so I may snack on the trio of greens.
All people grew fortunately collectively, and on the finish of lettuce season I put collectively a couple of good salads with the sweetest beets I’ve ever eaten.
I’ve planted many lettuce varieties however I identical to this Gourmand Mix from Burpee.
Gourmand Mix Free Leaf Lettuce
These combined greens develop efficiently yearly for me they usually look fairly too. What’s to not love?
Butterhead ‘Buttercrunch’ additionally tastes so darn good, I need to give it a shot.
‘Buttercrunch’
Purchase seeds now from True Leaf Market.
Discover high suggestions for profitable lettuce cultivation in our information.
10. Marigolds
Hey, that’s not a vegetable! Alright, you caught me, however marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are one other staple in virtually each backyard I put collectively.
They scent nice, entice an entire record of pollinators, and the flowers are so fairly to take a look at. All of those options make the marigold a pleasant companion to your beets.
I have a tendency to make use of French marigolds combined into the planting beds as splashes of coloration, and use the taller African sort close to the borders of beds.
I just like the Bonanza sequence. It’s a enjoyable combine of colours, together with gold, orange, yellow, and bicolored bronze and gold, and each one among them appears to be like nice.
They’re the appropriate measurement at eight to 12 inches tall… they usually’re referred to as Bonanza. I received’t lie. I purchase a number of vegetation based mostly on title alone!
Bonanza Blended Colours
Seeds are obtainable from True Leaf Market.
In case you’re a fan of white flowers, try ‘Snowglobe.’ The three-inch flowers develop on upright stems that attain as much as 24 inches tall, and supply virtually continuous flowering.
‘Snowglobe’
Seeds can be found from Burpee in packets of fifty.
Be taught extra about marigolds and how you can develop them in our information.
11. Onions
Onions (Allium cepa) had been one of many first crops I efficiently grew, so I goal to incorporate them yearly in my gardens.
I’ve rotated varied crops out and in of proximity to onions, and am persistently happy once they develop facet by facet with beets.
I feel a giant a part of that enchantment is how good the foliage appears to be like collectively, and the way tidy the rows might be saved.
The tried-and-true backyard hoe is my favourite instrument to make use of, and I can use it with surgical precision between beets and onions.
An onion most popular by gardeners with longer days, ‘Large Daddy’ is typically additionally known as ‘Cannon Ball.’
It’s a fats onion and really flavorful, and a favourite in my kitchen if solely as a result of I get to inform individuals, “Yeah, these caramelized onions? Courtesy of ‘Large Daddy.’”
‘Large Daddy’ Onions
Bundles of 125 slips are obtainable from Burpee.
My mother-in-law is in upstate New York and he or she likes to develop the ‘Imai Early Yellow’ yearly.
The onions are as cute as onions can get – with their yellow skins and flattened globes – if that sort of factor issues to you. And it does to me, so don’t be ashamed.
‘Imai Early Yellow’
Seeds can be found from Kitazawa Seed Firm by way of True Leaf Market.
Try our information to be taught extra about rising onions.
12. Radishes
That is a simple and enjoyable pair of greens to develop facet by facet. It’s a favourite for me as a result of radishes (Raphanus sativus) are prepared for harvest so shortly. The frequent journeys to seize a bunch lets me preserve a detailed eye on my beets.
They get pleasure from rising at comparable occasions, and favor the identical care, so it’s a simple planting companion choose. Simply take care when harvesting your radishes to not disturb the creating beets close by.
I really feel like everybody both loves or hates radishes, and if you happen to love ‘em, you like only a couple varieties. These two are my favorites:
So far as recent radishes go, I like ‘Hearth ‘N’ Ice,’ and it’s not simply because they’ve received the title of an ‘80s pop-rock band.
They style like spicy sweet proper out of the bottom and develop shortly and simply.
‘Hearth ‘N’ Ice’ Radish
Burpee has seeds on the market in packets of 300.
My spouse and I attempted to pickle radishes final 12 months and it was a convincing failure, so we’re making an attempt once more this 12 months with one thing completely different, the ‘Bora King.’
I’ve grown this cultivar earlier than and I’m fascinated by how lovely these are, plus the style is out of this world. They are often fairly spicy, so put together your self!
‘Bora King’
Discover seeds now at True Leaf Market.
Have a learn of our radish rising information to be taught extra.
13. Sorrel
The citrusy taste of child sorrel (Rumex spp.) provides a welcome pop to my each day salads. Simple to develop, these leafy greens do properly with beets, preferring the identical cool temperatures.
Except you’re cooking up massive vats of sorrel soup, somewhat goes a good distance, so interplant sparingly and keep in mind to reap frequently!
Vivid inexperienced backyard sorrel is able to harvest in simply 45 days.
Backyard Sorrel
You’ll find seeds obtainable from True Leaf Market.
Purple-veined sorrel has a stronger taste and the leaves add decorative aptitude to the veggie patch.
Purple-Veined Sorrel
Decide up seeds in a wide range of packet sizes from True Leaf Market.
14. Spinach
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) favors cooler climate identical to beets do.
It’s a tidy plant to develop if you happen to sustain with harvesting, and this pair might be planted fairly tightly collectively to maximise the rising house you have got.
It’s an ideal mixture if you happen to’re utilizing a chilly body.
I’ll say that I are likely to have little luck with spinach, in all probability as a result of I don’t harvest it typically sufficient. However I’ve observed these two varieties do higher for me than any others:
‘Bloomsdale Lengthy Standing’ is the favourite spinach of a buyer from yesteryear, so I grew heaps of the stuff of their backyard.
It’s robust and tolerant of my inattention, and the leaves are fairly darn tasty.
‘Bloomsdale Lengthy Standing’ Spinach
Snag some seeds at Eden Brothers.
The neighboring mattress alongside our group backyard plot produces one of the best wanting spinach, and some years in the past I realized that it’s the hybrid ‘Riverside.’
I grew some myself from some gifted seeds and was shocked to see how shortly and readily it grew.
The leaves are scrumptious proper off the plant with not one of the bitterness I’ve typically related to spinach over time.
‘Riverside’
Burpee has seeds on the market.
15. The Most Beet-iful Planting Companion is… Garlic!
Theeere she is, Miss Allium Satiiiivuuum…
Isn’t she pretty, girls and gents?
Garlic (Allium sativum) is topped the winner due to its straightforward give and take relationship with beets. Garlic is a pure deterrent for the fungal points that beets are susceptible to.
As a result of the vegetation develop on the identical time, they may help enhance the soil circumstances for each other through the season, they usually don’t compete for most of the identical vitamins.
Garlic can be sometimes prepared for harvest on the tail finish of when beets are nearly completed producing, so that you harvest each and have a complete mattress cleaned and prepared for the subsequent crop to go in.
My favourite garlic is one I don’t know the title of! It’s a random garlic that I preserve replanting yearly. However my second favourite? Properly, that’s ‘Spanish Roja.’
With fats bulbs and a taste that’s not possible to beat, it’s excellent in scorching sauces and absolutely anything I prepare dinner with garlic.
‘Spanish Roja’
Bulbs prepared for planting can be found in half-pound packages from Burpee.
I’ve additionally had some nice success with ‘Lorz Italian,’ with its sturdy, spicy taste.
‘Lorz Italian’
I wait to eat these till they’re correctly cured and dried as a result of the warmth generally is a little intense once they’re recent. Bulbs are obtainable from Burpee.
Go Plant!
Beets have a pleasant record of rising companions, don’t they? You’re positive to search out one thing you need to add to the beds along with your beets, or possibly a couple of somethings.
So what are you ready for? Get on the market and get to planting!
Take pleasure in your adventures with beets within the backyard, and share your tales and questions under.
And for extra details about rising beets in your backyard, try these guides subsequent:
