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Yes, you can grow Swiss chard with beets because they are closely related cousins in the same botanical family.
Growing Swiss chard with beets is not only possible but actually a fantastic pairing that many gardeners swear by for a productive and healthy plot.
If you have been wondering whether you can grow Swiss chard with beets, the short answer is a resounding yes, and they can even help each other thrive.
In this post, we will dig into why you can grow Swiss chard with beets, the best ways to plant them together, and some clever tips to maximize your harvest from both of these tasty veggies.
Let’s get our hands dirty and explore this perfect garden match.
Why You Can Grow Swiss Chard With Beets
You can grow Swiss chard with beets because they share similar growing needs and don’t compete aggressively for space.
Since both are members of the Amaranthaceae family, they have compatible root systems and leaf structures that make them excellent companions.
Growing Swiss chard with beets also means you can enjoy two different crops from one bed, with beets giving you tasty roots and chard offering endless leafy greens.
Let’s look at the main reasons this duo works so well in your garden.
1. They Thrive in the Same Soil Conditions
When you grow Swiss chard with beets, you don’t have to worry about creating separate soil zones because both prefer loose, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.
A slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is perfect for both Swiss chard and beets, so you can prep one bed and plant them together.
Amending your soil with compost before planting will give both crops the nutrients they need to establish strong roots and vibrant leaves.
Since they are both heavy feeders, you can grow Swiss chard with beets and apply the same fertilizer routine to keep them both happy.
2. Compatible Sunlight and Water Needs
If you can grow Swiss chard with beets, you’ll also appreciate that they both love full sun to partial shade, needing about 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
They both prefer consistent moisture, so you can water them on the same schedule without worrying about one getting too much or too little.
A layer of mulch around both plants helps retain that even soil moisture, which is crucial for beets to form tender roots and for chard to produce succulent leaves.
Because their water needs align so perfectly, growing Swiss chard with beets simplifies your irrigation duties and keeps your garden stress-free.
3. They Naturally Deter Each Other’s Pests
Growing Swiss chard with beets can help reduce pest pressure because the strong leafy canopy of chard can shade the soil and confuse pests that target beets.
Leaf miners are a common issue for both, but planting them together means you can apply a floating row cover over the whole bed to protect both crops at once.
The diversity in your bed also encourages beneficial insects that prey on aphids and other small pests that might attack your beets or chard.
You can grow Swiss chard with beets and notice fewer infestations compared to planting each in a lonely, isolated row.
Best Ways to Plant Swiss Chard and Beets Together
Now that you know you can grow Swiss chard with beets, it’s time to learn the best spacing and planting strategies for maximum yields.
Proper planning ensures that neither crop overshadows the other and that both have room to develop fully.
Here are some expert-approved methods to get this pair off to a great start.
1. Interplant in Rows or Blocks
You can grow Swiss chard with beets by alternating rows, with a row of beets followed by a row of chard, keeping about 12 inches between rows.
Alternatively, plant them in mixed blocks, scattering chard seeds and beet seeds together in a wide bed for a natural, cottage-garden look.
Within a row, space beet seeds about 3-4 inches apart after thinning, and give chard plants 6-8 inches of space since their leaves grow larger.
This way, you can grow Swiss chard with beets without one stealing all the light or nutrients from the other.
2. Use Succession Planting for Continuous Harvest
Growing Swiss chard with beets allows you to do succession planting, which means sowing new seeds every 2-3 weeks for a steady supply.
Since beets mature faster, usually in 55-70 days, you can harvest them early and leave more room for chard to spread out.
Chard, on the other hand, is a cut-and-come-again crop, so you can harvest outer leaves while the plant keeps producing for months.
By staggering your plantings, you can grow Swiss chard with beets all season long and never have a bare spot in your garden bed.
3. Consider the Mature Sizes of Each Plant
Beets grow low to the ground with their roots underground, while chard grows upright with tall, broad leaves that can reach 2 feet tall.
Because of this vertical difference, you can grow Swiss chard with beets in a way that maximizes space, putting chard on the north side so it doesn’t shade the beets.
Beets enjoy the cooling shade that chard leaves provide during hot afternoons, which can prevent them from bolting or becoming woody.
Planning for these size differences is key, and it’s another reason why this pair is such a winner in the garden.
Tips for a Thriving Swiss Chard and Beet Bed
Even though you can grow Swiss chard with beets easily, a little extra care will push your harvest to the next level.
These tips focus on feeding, thinning, and harvesting so you get the most out of both crops.
Follow these guidelines and your garden will be the envy of the whole neighborhood.
1. Feed Them Both Regularly
Because both plants are heavy feeders, you can grow Swiss chard with beets and give them a balanced organic fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
A side dressing of compost or aged manure mid-season provides a slow release of nitrogen, which chard loves for leaf growth and beets need for root development.
Be careful not to over-fertilize with too much nitrogen, as this can cause beets to put all their energy into leaves instead of roots.
A 10-10-10 fertilizer works well, and you can grow Swiss chard with beets on the same feeding schedule without any issues at all.
2. Thin Your Seedlings Without Guilt
When you grow Swiss chard with beets from seed, you’ll need to thin seedlings to give each plant enough breathing room.
For beets, thin them to 3-4 inches apart, and for chard, thin to 6-8 inches apart to accommodate their larger leaf spread.
Don’t toss those thinned seedlings because they are delicious in salads and stir-fries, giving you a bonus harvest.
Thinning is essential because crowded plants compete for water and nutrients, and you can grow Swiss chard with beets more successfully with proper spacing.
3. Harvest Beets Early for Better Flavor
You can grow Swiss chard with beets and start harvesting beets when they are about 1-2 inches in diameter for the sweetest, most tender roots.
If you leave them too long, they become tough and woody, so it’s better to pick them small and enjoy the baby beet taste.
When you pull up a beet, you can also eat its greens, which are just as nutritious and tasty as Swiss chard itself.
This means you can grow Swiss chard with beets and get a triple harvest: chard leaves, beet roots, and beet greens all from one bed.
So, Can You Grow Swiss Chard With Beets?
You can grow Swiss chard with beets, and it’s one of the smartest choices you can make for your vegetable garden.
They share the same soil, water, and sunlight needs, and they even help each other by creating a diverse microclimate that deters pests.
Whether you plant them in rows, blocks, or succession sowings, this pair is incredibly forgiving and easy to manage.
You don’t need to be an expert gardener to succeed, and the rewards are plentiful with fresh greens and sweet roots all season long.
So if you’ve been hesitating, go ahead and give it a try because growing Swiss chard with beets is a win-win for your dinner table.
Happy planting, and enjoy the bounty of your beautiful companion-planted garden.