Chard , also known as Swiss chard or silver beet , is a moderately well - acquit and cushy member of the vegetable garden .
It tends to mind its own business organisation , content to farm colorful , lovesome , upright husk of leafy , healthy good without much extra effort on your part .
If you aregrowing chard in your garden , you ’ll need to pluck the right companion plants to check yourselfa healthy crop .
You may merely desire to maximize your grow infinite in araised seam . If so , knowing which plants will expand when grown side by side can be helpful .
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Or perchance you ’re concerned in upping your game when it comes to creating good condition for this leafy green – keeping garden pest away or providingbeneficial nutrients to your soil .
You may also desire to check that to avoid flora neighbor that may have an adverse effect on your crop .
When decide how to lay out your garden layer , you ’ll require to be sure toselect good neighbor , and avoid the bad ones .
In this article I ’ll discuss seven of the best garden companions for Swiss chard , and lease you know which to avoid .
Top Chard Companions
Swiss chard is a light feeder that is not particularly prone to pest or disease problems .
As such , it serve as a good fellow traveler for many type of plant life – and there are many types of plants which could dish as good companions in return .
Though your uncommitted alternative may be legion , why not start with seven of the top refer near neighbors for this leafy garden veggie ?
This list is by no means thoroughgoing , but the companions described here all have either scientific evidence to plunk for them , or their function has been valued and repeated by generations of nurseryman and farmers .
1. Alliums
Alliums have at least two benefit as companion plant . With their strong odor , Allium such asgarlic , shallot , onions , Allium porrum , andchivescan help to repel unsuitable insects .
And when they bloom , they attractbeneficial insectssuch as hoverflies , wasp , and bees .
Garlic schnittlaugh are one of my favorite Allium . These have the beautiful Earth - shaped flower heads of other Allium , are easy to harvest , and pack a unattackable clout of garlicky flavour .
And like other type of chives , they’reeasy to acquire from semen .
Another welfare of chives is that they blossom early and provide a source of intellectual nourishment for beneficial predatory dirt ball – the ones that can avail to foreshorten pestis population .
Garlic Chives
Garlic chive seeds areavailable from Eden Brothers Nursery .
2. Annual Flowers
There are many eccentric ofannual flowersthat would be excellent neighbors for Swiss chard .
Somevarieties of chardare so colorful that they would n’t look at all out of lieu in a prime bed , and they can make an attractive border .
Marigoldsmake useful garden neighbors because of their power torepel root - knot nematodesand other pests .
Nasturtiumsalso act as good garden friends , since their flowers appeal good louse and their impregnable - sense leave push back sure pests , such as aphid .
Sweet alyssumalso cause a in effect fellow traveler , for multiple reasons .
It act as aground cover , avail to keep widow’s weeds at Laurus nobilis and shading the soil around your plant .
And sweet alyssum ’s fragrant flowers attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies , which in act keep aphid population in check .
‘ Carpet of Snow ’ is a variety of gratifying alyssum that take a shit a great priming cover . It grows to two to five in tall , produce masses of small clean flush .
‘ Carpet of Snow ’ Sweet Alyssum
you could recover ‘ Carpet of Snow ’ cherubic alyssum seeds for purchase in a wide range of packet boat sizesat True Leaf Market .
3. Brassicas
Cabbageis widely reference in companion planting lit as a suited buddy for leaf beet .
Other members of the cabbage mob – such asbroccoli , kohlrabi , gelt , turnips , andradishes – make well neighbors too .
One possible welfare of cabbage is that it has a shallow ascendant arrangement , while chard roots go pretty inscrutable .
Just like you do n’t require the above ground portions of your plant fighting for space , you do n’t want their clandestine portions fight for way either .
Grouping plants with complementary root depth is one strategy in the artistic production of companion planting .
My preferred character of kale is savoy cabbage . It has frilly , crinkly leaves and a milder , nuttier tasting than smooth - leaved varieties .
‘ Savoy Perfection ’ has that fantastic meek and finespun savoy flavor . It will be quick to harvest in 90 days .
‘ Savoy Perfection ’ scratch
you could find ‘ Savoy Perfection ’ seeds in a variety of packet sizesavailable at True Leaf Market .
Learn to grow savoy cabbage here .
4. Celery
Celery is another traditional silvery common beet comrade . cultivated celery is a compact plant that does n’t get in chard ’s elbow room , either above ground or below – it also has a shallow root organisation .
If you ’re growing silver beet as afall crop , you could grow cultivated celery right alongside it , andthe coolheaded weather of autumnwill dulcify both of these plants .
Many gardeners bribe cultivated celery as nursery starts to transplant into their gardens , but you could also grow Apium graveolens dulce from seed , opening up your options to a wider range of assortment .
‘ Tall Utah ’ is a cultivar with exceptionally tenacious , crisp stalks . It occupy about 120 day to reach maturity .
‘ Tall Utah ’ Celery
you’re able to purchase ‘ Tall Utah ’ celery seeds in an miscellanea of bundle sizesat Eden Brothers .
Learnhow to grow Apium graveolens dulce in this guide .
5. Herbs
harmonise to fellow traveler planting lore , not all herbs make bang-up neighbor for chard .
Personally , I have n’t noticed any problems get this veg withdillorcilantro – their benefits include being attractive to good insects such as bloodsucking wasps and hoverflies .
Elaine Shallue at Sustainable Gardening Australia pronounce thatmarjoram , lovage , andlavenderare describe to be serious neighbour for chard .
But among the herb , mint has the sound report of all .
If allowed to blossom , mint attracts good insects with its masses of flowers . It also repulse flea beetle , a common blighter that can place your chard craw .
And the fragrant compound in mint canmask the smellsof other industrial plant , making it harder for cuss to site their innkeeper plant .
However , if you make up one’s mind togrow mintas a silver beet neighbour , keep it in a containerso it does n’t take over your whole veg plot of ground .
While there are many unlike types of mint uncommitted , I prefer Mentha piperita as my quite a little of selection because of its neat , fresh taste , and cooling properties .
It ’s a terrific herbaceous plant to have around for making homemade ice herbal teas throughout the dog days of summertime .
Eucalyptus amygdalina
you’re able to discover peppermint seeds in a diversity of packet sizesavailable at True Leaf Market .
Learn peppermint in your garden here .
6. Legumes
Legumescan help out your Swiss chard by fixing N in the soil . For this understanding , bush dome andpeasare typically considered skilful companions for this leafy green .
While bush beans and pea amount with high-pitched recommendations , on the other hand , most fellow traveler planting literature advises against grow this veggie withpole dome .
presumptively , this is because of the towering nature of this harvest when trellis . Peas are normally trellised too , but while peas die back in later springtime or early summertime , this is just when pole beans are take off , and they may potentially shade out your facile beet crop .
However , if this is the sole reason to not let in pole beans as a garden companion , there is certainly a workaround . If you plant your Swiss chard to the due south of your pole attic trellis , it will still receive thefull sunit prefers .
I suppose this is sure as shooting a combo that needs more testing before we write it off .
Other legumes you might want to essay out as garden pal includefava beansand garbanzo noodle .
In the lag , feel free to stick with bush beans as your nitrogen prepare fellow .
One of myfavorite varieties of bush beansis ‘ Cherokee Wax , ’ a yellow snap bush bean .
And if you ’re growing a colorful multifariousness of silver beet , such as ‘ Bright Lights , ’ these two plants will provide your own personal off - Broadway show with their eye - catch colors . ( Okay , perhaps I do n’t get out much these days … )
‘ Cherokee Wax ’ Bush Beans
You ’ll discover ‘ Cherokee Wax ’ bush bean seed in a variety of packet sizes available fromIsla ’s Garden Seeds via Amazon .
Learn how to engraft and grow bush bean in this pathfinder .
7. Lettuce
Lettuce is another expert pairing for chard , according to traditional companion planting literature cite by George Kuepper et al in anarticle write by the National Center for Appropriate Technology .
Growing these leafy veggies side by side will help maximise distance in asquare substructure gardenor in upraise bed . And it will make your cut - and - number - again salad harvest home easy .
Lettuce also has a shallow root system , so it wo n’t compete with your Swiss chard for underground space .
Another benefit to using boodle as a garden sidekick is that it can act as a endure mulch , covering the grease to prevent weeds from popping up , and decelerate wearing away and water vaporisation .
There are manyvarieties of lettucethat are both delicious and gorgeous . Some are good than others at providing the benefits of a populate mulch – pick a moolah variety that has a more spreading growing riding habit , such as Batavian , rather than one with an upright emergence substance abuse , such as Romaine .
‘ Broadleaf Batavian ’ is atype of escarolethat has wide leafage that will diffuse out to cover the soil .
‘ Broadleaf Batavian ’
You ’ll retrieve ‘ Broadleaf Batavian ’ seeds in a miscellany of packet sizesavailable at Eden Brothers .
Learn how to imbed and grow lettuce in this guide .
Bad Plant Neighbors
In summation to pole beans , there are some other plants you may require to debar grow next to your chard crop .
Just like thejuglone from black walnuttrees , sunflower can also be allelopathic , exuding chemicals from their stem , leave , and stems that may be harmful to nearby plants .
These chemical substance inhibit seed sprouting and stunt growth in seedlings for many different types of plant , let in but not set to : grain sorghum molasses , tomatoes , bean , corn , leaf mustard , and some types of wheat and Elmer Rice .
take vantage of the plant ’s phytotoxic properties , helianthus leaf extractshave even been testedas natural weedkiller against many sens , including lamb ’s quarter , another phallus of the amaranth family and a relative of Swiss chard .
Some growers successfully turn sunflowers in their gardens with no comprehend ill effects , so this may be a jazz band you need to test before you totally find it out .
You might also need to avoid rise this plant life with other members of the goosefoot kinsperson , such as spinach , beets , amaranth , and quinoa .
This is recommended for pest anddisease ascendance , since all of these eatable crop appeal the same pesterer and are susceptible to the same pathogen .
If a gadfly has a preference for one type of veggie , it typically enjoys intimately concern veggies as well .
Spreading out members of the same fellowship can slow down pests , and prevent them from devouring the integral capacity of your veggie bed . The spread of disease can be slow down in the same way .
However , to make crop rotation easier , you may still desire to group penis of the same folk together , but make buffers between different plants with herbs , kale , alliums , or marigold , to put off and slow down cuss .
harmonise to traditional literature , corn and murphy do not make safe neighbors for fluent beet . Presumably this is because both of these crops are heavy feeders , and they will compete for nitrogen in the soil .
And all members of thecucurbit kinsperson – crush , melon vine , gourd , andcucumbers – also make bad neighbors for chard , according to tradition .
There seems to be at least one expert reason behind this advice : the trailing vines of cucurbits could well overwhelm , cover , and strangle your chard crop , since most of these crops are not traditionally trellis . They are also all gravid feeders .
Of naturally , if you are short on space and you really require to rise these vining crop as well as chard , vertical gardeningis an selection .
Be-leaf in Your Friends
Whether you ’re interested inrepelling pests , pull in beneficial insects , creating a live on mulch , add N to your soil , or steering decipherable of bad plant neighbour , you should now be put to choose from a selection of some of the top garden buddies for your Swiss spinach beet .
While you ’re at it , how about learning more about how to grow some of the othergoosefoot house appendage ? Get start here :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . primitively published August 15th , 2020 . Last updated August 17th , 2023 . mathematical product photos via Burpee , Eden Brothers , Isla ’s Garden Seeds , and True Leaf Market . Uncredited photo : Shutterstock .
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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
