15 Beets Companion Plants That Naturally Repel Pests

Beets companion plants can greatly increase your beet harvest while keeping pests at bay organically. In this article, we’ll cover some of the best companion plants for beets that naturally repel insect pests and make your beets sweeter and more flavorful.

Pairing beets with straight allies can boost productivity, minimize pest issues, and allow you to enjoy tastier roots without chemicals, so if you want to learn easy organic methods to grow bigger and better beets, keep reading!

Beets Companion Plants for Naturally Balanced Gardens

1. Pole Beans

Pole beans make excellent beet companion crops. You can plant pole beans alongside your beet seedlings every spring for a dynamic pest control duo. Pole bean foliage is shaped like the leafy greens of beet leaves, so they attract pest insects away from your beetroots, safely trapping them on the bean vines. The leafy texture of the bean vines appears quite similar to beet leaves from an insect’s perspective, tricking them into landing on the beans.

Pole beans also benefit from the brassica family as beet attracts beneficial insects that migrate between the crops, keeping pests in check for both plants. The bean plants provide vertical growing space for the beetroots to spread out their leaves while the beets aid the nutrient-demanding beans by improving the soil chemistry as their deep taproots bring up nutrients from below.

Together, pole beans and beets form a mutually beneficial relationship that enhances pest management and optimizes yields for both vegetables in the garden.

2. Bush Beans

Bush beans make a convenient beet companion plant with their compact growth habit and prolific production. You can grow bush beans bordering aromatic herbs next to your beet patch every year to distract from common beet pests. The bushy plant’s leaf shape and scent serve as a trap crop for flea beetles crawling over your beets, capturing them on the bean plants.

The leafy green foliage also attracts beneficial insects to control other potential threats to your beet harvest. The bean plants provide ground cover that helps suppress weeds from competing with the beets for nutrients, water and sunlight.

As the beans grow, their foliage forms a physical barrier that deters pests from reaching the beet seedlings. The dense mass of bush bean leaves traps many destructive beet leaf miners and beetle larvae, which then become food for the useful insects drawn in by the plant’s aroma.

Together in the garden, bush beans and beets create a pest management system where beet pests are intercepted by the beans while beneficial insects thrive, traveling between the crops to effectively control pests for both the bush beans and beets.

3. Swiss Chard

Swiss chard is one of the best beet companion plants, as both crops benefit from their proximity. You can grow Swiss chard alongside your beets each season to enhance flavor and control pests organically. The leafy chard plants, with their highly textured and colorful foliage, attract harmful pest insects like flea beetles away from beetroots.

The visual and olfactory similarities between chard leaves and beet leaves confuse flea beetles, causing them to lay their eggs on the chard instead. As the chard plants grow larger than the beets, they continue to intercept pests that fly or crawl over in search of food.

The leafy greens also attract beneficial insects that prey on other harmful beet pests. Then, after harvesting the beets, the chard crop rotation helps replenish nutrients in your soil depleted by the heavy feeding beets.

Nutrients like nitrogen and potassium are restored through the chard’s deep taproots, preparing the soil for an even better beet harvest the following year. Overall, pairing Swiss chard with beets creates a symbiotic relationship where both plants thrive with improved pest management, soil fertility, and overall yields.

4. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts make a compatible choice planted close to beets. You can grow Brussels sprouts as a beet companion crop every season to distract common pests and replenish your soil. The leafy plants in the brassica vegetable family, with their cabbage-like foliage, attract flea beetles and other common beet pests onto themselves, leaving your beet crop alone.

The thick, textured Brussels sprout leaves resemble beet leaves, confusing pests and causing them to lay eggs on the Brussels sprouts instead of the beets. After harvesting the Brussels sprouts, turn under the spent plants as green manure to improve the soil for an even bigger beet harvest the following year.

The decaying Brussels sprout plants replenish the soil with nutrients like nitrogen that beets heavily utilize. The deep roots of Brussels sprouts help loosen especially compacted soil and bring up nutrients from below that shallow beetroots cannot access.

The crop rotation of Brussels sprouts after beets helps balance the nutrient levels in the soil, restoring what the beets depleted during the previous growing season. Combined in the garden, Brussels sprouts and beets form a pest management and soil fertility system that maximizes yields for both crops.

5. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is an excellent aromatic herb to plant alongside beets for pest control advantages. You can plant sweet alyssum near your beets every gardening season for a natural solution to common pests.

The aromatic, good companion plant draws insect pests like aphids, thrips, and whiteflies away from your valuable beet seedlings towards itself with its fragrant nectar and pollen-rich flowers. These pests are then trapped on the sweet alyssum plants, where they are easily picked off or fall prey to beneficial insects attracted by the same aroma.

Additionally, the bright yellow blooms of sweet alyssum not only make an attractive visual complement to the dark foliage of your beet plants but also lure beneficial insects that prey on common beet pests. Ladybugs, lacewings, minute pirate bugs, and other predator insects are drawn to the sweet alyssum flowers, feeding on nectar and pollen before moving over to control pests on your nearby beets.

Together in the garden, sweet alyssum and beets form an effective organic pest management system with the herb functioning as a pest lure, trap crop, and beneficial insectary all to protect your beet harvest from common threats. The aromatic masses of sweet alyssum flowers also provide a cheerful splash of color.

6. Carrots

Carrots produce high yields when planted as a companion for beets. You can grow carrots alongside beets each season to maximize your vegetable garden space. The leaf shape and growth habit of carrot’s feathery greens appeal to many of the same pests as beet leaves, attracting them away from your valuable beet crop.

The carrot foliage also releases volatile compounds that help repel insect pests like aphids through their strong aroma. These disruptive volatile compounds confuse pests, making it difficult for them to locate and infest the nearby beets.

Then after harvesting the nutrient-hungry carrots, you can till under the empty carrot rows as crop rotation that slowly breaks down the carrot residue to reinvigorate the soil. The decomposing carrot tops and roots release nutrients back into the soil, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that beets require in large quantities.

Therefore, the following season your prepped soil will provide an ideal environment for big, healthy beet plants with larger roots. Overall, planting carrots in between rows of beets utilizes space efficiently while offering pest protection, nutrient replenishment and yield boosts for both your carrot and beet harvests through their symbiotic relationship in the garden.

7. Leeks

Leeks make a versatile beet companion, thriving when planted together. You can grow leeks next to your beet patch every season for mutually beneficial results. The tall leafy greens of the leeks attract pests like thrips, beet leaf miners, and aphids away from your valuable beet seedlings, while their strong aroma as a good companion plant helps confuse and repel pest insects.

The leeks emit odors that mask the scent of the beets, making it difficult for pests to detect and locate the beets for infestation. Then after harvesting the leeks, till under the leftover roots as crop rotation to release nutrients back into the soil and improve the nutrient content for an even bigger beet harvest the following year.

The decomposing leek roots release phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals back into the soil that beets require in abundance. The next season, your prepped soil will provide ideal growing conditions for healthy beet seedlings with lush foliage and large, sweet roots.

8. Dill

Dill makes an excellent aromatic herb to plant near beets for natural pest control. You can grow dill next to the beet seedlings every gardening year for an organic pest management duo. The strong aroma and lacy good companion plant leaves of the dill draw harmful pest insects away from your beetroots while attracting beneficial insects that prey on such pests.

After harvesting the dill, chop and drop the leafy greens of the plants onto the soil as a nutrient boost for your beet crop the following season.

9. Oregano

Oregano makes a compatible beet companion plant with its aromatic nature and pest-repelling properties. You can grow oregano bordering beets each season for organic pest management.

The powerful aroma of oregano helps confuse pest insects searching for your beet seedlings while attracting beneficial insects that prey on beet pests. Additionally, after harvesting the oregano, chop and drop the leafy greens of the spent plants onto your beet patch as an organic mulch and slow-release fertilizer.

10. Thyme

Thyme makes an ideal beet companion plant for its aromatic qualities and pest-repelling properties. Grow thyme plants near beets every season for all-natural pest management system. The strong aroma of thyme helps mask the scent of beet seedlings from harmful insects while attracting beneficial insects that prey on beet pests.

Additionally, after harvesting thyme, chop and drop leafy greens of the leftover plants onto the beet patch as an organic mulch and slow-release fertilizer for the following year’s crop.

11. Marigolds

Marigolds make an indispensable beet companion plant, acting as a natural repellent for soil pests. Surround the beet patch with marigolds every season for a natural defense against nematodes and other soil-borne diseases.

The marigolds’ strong aroma as a good companion plant can help confuse nematodes searching for your beetroots while their dropped leafy greens add nitrogen to your soil for a more productive beet harvest the next year. Marigolds also indicate when your soil needs amending by showing deficiency symptoms first.

12. Garlic

Garlic makes a compatible companion crop for beets, benefiting both plants when grown together. Plant garlic next to beet seedlings every season for mutually beneficial results. The strong aroma emitted by the garlic helps confuse pest insects searching for your beet seedlings while attracting beneficial insects to control threats to the beet and garlic crops.

Additionally, the leftover garlic stems add nutrient leafy greens to your soil after harvesting for an even bigger beet crop the following year.

13. Chives

Chives make an ideal beet companion plant, benefitting both crops. Plant chives next to your beet seedlings every gardening year for mutually beneficial results. The strong aroma from the chives helps mask the scent of the beet plants from harmful insects crawling over them while attracting beneficial ones that eat beet pests.

The chopped chive foliage also adds mineral-rich nutrient leafy greens to the soil after harvesting for an even larger beet crop the next season. Chives also benefit from the pest control advantage of having beets nearby.

14. Onions

Onions make a compatible companion crop for beets, boosting the production of both plants. Grow onions next to the beet seedlings yearly for maximized yields. The tall leafy green habit of the onions attracts pest insects like onion maggots and thrips away from the beetroots. Aside from this, the strong aroma emitted by the onions helps confuse pests searching for your beet plants.

Additionally, the leftover onion roots add nutrient leafy greens to the soil after harvesting to boost the next beet crop the following season. Beets also help control pests for the benefit of your onions.

15. Field Mustard

Field mustard makes an easy-to-grow beet companion for natural pest control. Grow field mustard alongside beet seedlings yearly for an organic pest management duo. The tall leafy habit field mustard attracts pests like aphids and flea beetles off your beet seedlings while the aroma of the mustard helps mask the scent of your beet plants from harmful insects.

After harvesting your field mustard, till under leafy greens of the chopped greens as organic compost for the soil to boost the productivity of the next beet crop the following season.

Conclusion

Planting the right beet companion plants is an effective organic method to boost your beet harvest while minimizing pests and enhancing flavor.

• Pole beans attract pests away from beetroots while also attracting beneficial insects to control pests for both crops.
• Oregano and thyme repel harmful insects with their strong scents while also attracting beneficial insects.
• Brussels sprouts like carrots provide a similar habitat that pest insects prefer, distracting them from your beets.
• Marigolds release scents that confuse pests searching for beets while adding nutrients to the soil after harvesting.
• Field mustard acts as trap crops, intercepting pests before they reach the beet seedlings.

The key to success is pairing beets with companion plants that complement, not compete, with your beet crop. So get out there and start planting — bigger, sweeter beets could be just a few companions away!

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