Beetroot is not only delicious, but also healthy. Growing it is very easy and can even be done on the balcony. With the right neighbors at your side, it grows particularly well. This is how the mixed culture with beetroot works.
To the point
- loves deep and loose soil
- can be planted with heavy, medium and weak feeders
- Herbs repel pests with their essential oils
- various flowers and vegetables help improve the soil structure
- good neighbors promote the health, growth and taste of beetroot
Table of contents
- Location requirements of beetroot
- Good neighbors for beetroot
- Herbs
- Flowers
- Vegetables
- frequently asked Questions
Location requirements of beetroot
In the Vegetable patch is the one belonging to the foxtail family (Amaranthaceae). Beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) often as a successor to heavy eaters planted like brassicas. The roots of the red tubers grow very deep into the soil. Sometimes 150 centimeters are not uncommon. The soil structure is therefore important when growing. The floor must
- loose and rich in humus
- well permeable
- evenly moist and
- slightly sandy
be. In addition, a location in full sun to partial shade should be chosen. Beetroot can also be grown very well in mixed cultures. Good neighbors are plants that place the same demands on the soil and location. However, the nutrient requirements of the beetroot and its individual neighbors must be taken into account.
A notice: Beetroot should not be planted in the same spot again next year. A cultivation break of four years is necessary. This way you can also prevent fungal diseases.
Good neighbors for beetroot
Beetroot is one of the middle eaters. Their nutrient consumption is moderate. It is therefore well suited for a mixed culture in combination with heavy feeders and weak feeders; medium feeders are also possible, as well as with low-growing or high-growing plants. When choosing the neighborhood, make sure that the beet always gets enough light and does not become overgrown. Good neighbors for beetroot in mixed culture are:
Herbs
Different Herbs can be grown very well in mixed culture with beetroot. They produce phytochemicals such as essential oils or mustard oils, which eliminate pests and pests through root exudates or via scent molecules from the leaves Mosquitoes drive out. They also increase yields and promote the growth of neighbors.
Savory (Satureja)
The weak feeder is very suitable for Repelling aphids, at the same time it enhances the aroma of the beets.
- Sowing: April to May
- Growth height: 30 to 40 cm
- Space required: 30 x 30 cm
- harvest: July to October (before and during flowering)
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
The weak-consuming one dill promotes germination, growth and enhances the aroma of its neighbors.
- sowing: from April, annual
- Growth height: 60 to 100 cm
- Space required: 25 to 30 cm
- Harvest: May to October
Real caraway (Carum carvi)
This weak feeder attracts insects with its scent and enhances the taste of its neighboring plants and promotes growth.
- Sowing: April, biennial
- Growth height: 30 to 100 cm
- Space required: 35 to 40 cm
- Harvest: in the 1st Young leaves and shoots in the 2nd year year seed heads
coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
The herb only needs a few nutrients, but it drives pests out of the bed and attracts insects.
- Sowing: April to June
- Growth height: 30 to 100 cm
- Space required: 20 to 30 cm
- Harvest: end of May to September/October
oregano (Origanum vulgare)
The weak feeder enhances the aroma of its neighbors, attracts insects with its scent and also drives away pests.
- Sowing: from April
- Growth height: 40 to 60 cm
- Space required: 20 to 40 cm
- harvest: June to September
Flowers
Planted in mixed culture, flowers not only add color to the bed, but also attract beneficial insects and contribute to soil health, from which the beetroot also benefits.
Nasturtium (tropaeolum)
The seeds, leaves and flowers of this weak feeder are edible. At the same time, the plant repels pests such as aphids.
- Sowing: pre-culture from March, direct sowing May to June
- Growth height: 20 to 300 cm
- Space required: 30 x 40 cm
- Harvest: June to October
Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
This weak feeder keeps roundworms (nematodes) out of the soil. and strengthens the taste and growth of its neighbors.
- Sowing: March to June
- Growth height: 30 to 60 cm
- Space required: 15 to 20 cm
- Harvest: June to October
Tip: The flowers and leaves are edible.
Marigold (Tagetes)
The flowers of the heavy feeder are edible and their smell repels ants Whitefly and nematodes in the soil.
- Sowing: Pre-culture February to March, direct sowing from the end of April
- Growth height: 15 to 80 cm
- Space required: 15 to 20 cm
- Harvest: June to October
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
The heavy-consuming one Sunflower Keeps pests away and provides some shade in the blazing midday sun. But be careful of overshadowing.
- sowing: End of May
- Growth height: 40 to 300 cm
- Space required: 50 to 60 cm
- Harvest: from September
Vegetables
Various types of vegetables are good neighbors for beetroot in mixed cultivation. They promote growth and health as well as yield.
French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. nanus)
This type of bean It needs few nutrients and has the ability to bind nitrogen from the air with its nodule bacteria and enrich the soil with it.
- Sowing: end of May to end of July
- Growth height: 30 to 50 cm
- Space required: 40 to 50 cm
- Harvest: 2 to 3 months after sowing
Peas (Pisum sativum)
Like beans, these weak feeders can also bind nitrogen and thus contribute to soil improvement and growth.
- Sowing: April to June
- Growth height: 25 to 200 cm
- Space required: 30 to 40 cm
- Harvest: end of May to September
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
With its large leaves, the heavy feeder prevents the soil from drying out.
- Sowing: pre-culture March to April, direct sowing in mid-May
- Growth height: 50 to 400 cm
- Space required: 30 to 40 cm
- harvest: May until October
Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
The root system of this highly consuming tuber is very expansive and deeply loosens the soil and strengthens the growth of the beets.
- Sowing: pre-culture from February, direct sowing from March to July
- Growth height: 20 to 30 cm
- Space required: 25 to 30 cm
- harvest: May until October
A notice: Other good neighbors for the Reds are cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Kale, white and red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Brussels sprouts and palm sprouts.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
The middle feeder with its strong smell drives away pests, especially Aphids and Voles, and prevents fungal diseases such as rust fungi and mildew before.
- planting: March to April
- Growth height: 20 to 90 cm
- Space required: 15 to 20 cm
- harvest: from the end of July
radish (Raphanus sativus)
This medium feeder uses its roots to loosen the soil deeply, promote the growth of beetroot and drive away pests such as: snails.
- Sowing: from April to September
- Growth height: 20 cm
- Space required: 25 to 30 cm
- Harvest: 8 to 10 weeks after sowing
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Competes in mixed culture salad Beetroot does not contain nutrients, but rather enhances the aroma of the red tubers.
- Sowing: from the end of March to September
- Growth height: 20 to 30 cm
- Space required: 25 to 30 cm
- Harvest: May to October
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. giromontiina)
The Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbitaceae) needs a lot of nutrients. Its large leaves prevent the soil from drying out.
- Sowing: pre-culture April, direct sowing in early June
- Growth height: 45 cm
- Space requirement: 100cm
- harvest: from mid-June
Onion (Allium cepa)
It's like beetroot Onion a middle eater. Its smell drives away pests, prevents fungal diseases and thus contributes to good growth.
- Sowing: March to April
- Growth height: 30 to 50 cm
- Space required: 10 x 20 cm
- harvest: end of August to September
frequently asked Questions
Bad neighbors inhibit growth and have a negative impact on harvest success and promote disease and pest infestation. These plants are therefore not recommended for mixed cultivation with beetroot: spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Chard (Beta vulgaris), Leek (Allium porrum), chives (Allium schoenoprasum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), corn (Zea mays), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and carrots (Daucus carota).
Direct sowing outdoors can be carried out from mid-May when the soil has already warmed up slightly. The sowing depth is two centimeters, the row spacing is 25 to 35 cm and the distance within the row is five to ten centimeters. It can be sown a little more densely. The seedlings are then separated afterwards. If you sow several times four weeks apart, the harvest can be extended until October.
The harvest time depends on the sowing date. The beetroot takes three to four months to ripen. If you sow at the end of April, you can usually harvest at the end of July. The tubers are ripe when part of them protrudes from the ground. The foliage then shows spots and turns yellowish-brown. Harvest carefully with a digging fork or hand shovel. The tubers must not be injured as they rot quickly.
