You need to avoid planting near beets any pole beans or runner beans since these climbing plants cause problems for your beet roots. Knowing what not to plant with beets helps you plan a garden where every crop grows strong instead of fighting each other for space and food.
I learned this lesson when I planted my beets right next to a bean trellis one summer. My beets grew huge leafy tops but the roots stayed tiny and tough inside. I pulled them up after two months and got nothing worth eating at all from that row.
The problem comes down to nitrogen in your soil. Pole beans are legumes that pull nitrogen from the air and store it in their roots. This sounds like a good thing but your beets react badly to too much nitrogen. They put all their energy into growing leaves instead of plump sweet roots.
My neighbor had the same trouble last year with her beet patch near her bean poles. She moved her beets to the other side of her garden this spring and saw a big change right away. Now her roots are sizing up just fine without all that extra nitrogen feeding the leaves instead of the roots.
You also need to watch out for field mustard and wild mustard called charlock near your beets. These weedy plants spread fast and steal water and nutrients from your soil. They also attract pests that love to munch on beet leaves and roots alike so pull them as soon as you see them.
Good beet companion planting focuses on crops that share the same needs without fighting for the same resources. Onions and garlic work great near your beets since they push away some common pests with their strong smell. Lettuce fills in gaps nicely since it stays small and likes cool weather too.
Brassicas like cabbage and broccoli also grow well right alongside your beets in the same beds. Both crop families prefer cool temps and rich soil without too much nitrogen around. They don't compete for the same root space since brassicas stay near the surface while beets dig deeper down.
Smart beet garden planning means you group crops by their needs and keep problem plants far apart from each other. Put your beans on one end of your garden and your beets on the other end. This simple layout gives you better harvests from both crops without any extra work on your part at all.
Read the full article: Growing Beets for Sweet Roots and Greens
