5 Swiss Chard Companion Plants

Companion planting, or intercropping, is planting a variety of different crops together to increase growth productivity. For instance, mint can help you if you have an ant problem. Lemongrass has citronella, which mosquitoes hate. Lavender will attract bees, but it will repel other bugs. Some plants thrive more successfully when surrounded by other specific plants, and companion planting gives your garden a better chance at success by creating a beneficial environment that enables healthy progress.

Companion plants will either help a specific crop grow or will grow better beside a specific crop, and can do many support jobs in the garden.

1. 1. Companion planting can help repel pests. Cabbage worms, cucumber beetles, Mexican bean beetles, carrot flies, cabbage moths—all kinds of pests can plague vegetable gardens. Many companion plants (like marigold flowers, catnip, and rue) repel specific pests and should be planted near certain crops to keep them pest-free.
2. 2. Companion planting can attract beneficial insects. Pollinators like honey bees and ladybugs can use a little encouragement to visit vegetable gardens and pollinate the crops. Gardeners often plant attractive plants like borage flowers to encourage pollinators to visit.
3. 3. Companion planting can improve soil nutrients. When crops grow, they take up valuable nutrients from the soil—leaving the gardener to do a lot of work at the end of the season to renew the soil’s nutrients. However, there are many companion plants (like bush beans and pole beans) that add nutrients like nitrogen back into the soil, helping keep other plants healthy.
4. 4. Companion planting can encourage faster growth. Many companion plants (like marjoram, chamomile, and summer savory) release specific chemicals that encourage faster growth or better taste in the plants around them.
5. 5. Companion plants can provide ground cover. Plants that spread low across the ground (like oregano) serve as a blanket over the soil, protecting it from the sun and keeping it cooler for plants that benefit from lower temperatures.
6. 6. Companion plants can provide shade. Plants that grow tall and leafy (like zucchini and asparagus) can provide welcome shade for sun-sensitive plants beneath them.
7. 7. Companion plants can serve as markers. When growing slow-growing plants, it can be difficult to tell where the rows will be while you’re waiting for the seeds to sprout. Gardeners often use fast-growing plants (like radishes) interspersed with the slow growers in their rows to delineate where the slow growers will be.

If you're looking to plant Swiss chard in your garden, consider planting some of these companion plants to help your Swiss chard grow strong and healthy.

1. 1. Alliums: Any veggie belonging to the allium family makes a good companion plant for Swiss chard. Consider planting shallots, leeks, or chives nearby.
2. 2. Brassicas: Members of the cabbage family (Brassica) are some of the best Swiss chard companion plants. This includes cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, kohlrabi, and collard greens.
3. 3. Herbs: Swiss chard is not suitable for your herb garden, but planting peppermint or cilantro nearby can help keep flea beetles away, lessening the need for pesticides.
4. 4. Legumes: Legumes, especially bush beans and peas, are mutually beneficial to Swiss chard plants. The legumes correct nitrogen levels in the soil, and the high magnesium content of Swiss chard can help increase the chlorophyll production of legumes.
5. 5. Annual flowers: Plant annuals to help attract pollinators to your Swiss chard. Choose plants with a strong fragrance (such as sweet alyssum or nasturtiums) to keep aphids out of your garden beds. Marigolds are a good companion as they repel nematodes that may otherwise like to feast on your Swiss chard.

Just as there are good companion plants to grow next to Swiss chard, there are also plants that will inhibit your Swiss chard from growing properly.

1. 1. Other plants belonging to the goosefoot genus: Swiss chard belongs to a genus commonly known as goosefoot (Chenopodium). Other types of plants in this category include beets, spinach, amaranth, and quinoa. It's best to avoid planting these near Swiss chard as they attract the same pests and could easily overwhelm the crop.
2. 2. Plants in the gourd family: Any plant belonging to the gourd family—such as cucumbers, melons, and squash—should not be planted in the same bed as Swiss chard. These plants will compete for soil nutrients and can attract pests that are harmful to Swiss chard.
3. 3. Pole beans: Although legumes make for good neighbors to Swiss chard, pole beans grown on a trellis can tower over the plants and block out essential sunlight.
4. 4. Sunflowers: Sunflowers exude chemicals that can be toxic to nearby plants.

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