Swiss chard is a versatile and easy -care vegetable that has a permanent place in many gardens. In order for it to grow optimally, the right neighborhood is crucial. While some plants promote the growth of Swiss chard, others can have negative effects through competition with nutrients, pests or root excretions.
These are the perfect companions for Swiss chard
The following plants can promote the growth of chard by improving nutrients in the soil, warding off pests or simply offering the ideal environment due to low competition.
Weak consumer (low nutrient competition)
Heavy consumers usually grow quickly, have flat roots and need little nitrogen. They do not take over the ground excessively and often leave it in good condition for subsequent cultures. Especially in mixed cultures, they ensure that the soil is not drained and support the healthy growth of other plants.
- Carrot: Loosen the floor with its roots and promote growth.
- radish: Quickly growing, little space and nutrients need.
- Salad(e.g. lettuce, lamb's lettuce, Roman salad): flat -rooted and not competitive.
Shadow & moisturizer donor
These are plants that protect the soil from direct sunlight and store the moisture longer. This function is particularly valuable for chard because it prefers an evenly damp soil and is susceptible to shot for too much heat or dryness.
- Nasturtium: Forms dense leaf cushions, holds the floor moist and pulls out of chard pests.
- Zucchini & pumpkin: Large leaves donate shadows and suppress weeds.
- Bush beans: Loose the floor with its roots and help to store moisture.
- Rhabarber: Has large leaves that donate shadows and cool the floor.
Natural pest for chard
Swiss chard is a robust plant, but still susceptible to certain pests such as aphids, earth fleas and minier flies. Instead of using chemical pesticides, a well thought -out mixed culture can help keep pests away in a natural way. The following plants emit fragrances that deter pests while other beneficiaries attract the pests.
- Onions & garlic: Exude an intense smell that detered aphids and minier flying.
- Ring flowers & Tagetes: Del out nematodes and curls useful insects such as ladybugs.
- Dill & Fenchel: Pull hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids.
- Nasturtium: Targeted aphids and keeps them away from Swiss chard (fishing plant).
- Sage & thyme: Essential oils exude that pass pests like earth fleas.
Soil improvements (loosen the floor and donations nutrients)
A relaxed, nutrient -rich soil is the basis for powerful and resistant plants. Floor improvements are plants that loosen the soil through their roots, donate nutrients or enrich humus. Such accompanying plants are ideal, especially for chard who prefers a profound, loose and well -ventilated floor.
- Legumes(e.g. beans, peas, lupins): bind nitrogen in the soil and improve the soil structure.
- Dill & coriander: Deep -rooted, loosen the ground and promote soil creatures.
- Spinach: Roots deep, loosens the floor and can be used as green manure.
- Borretsch: Promotes humus formation and improves the soil structure.
- Ring flowers & Tagetes: Act against soil -bodied pests and promote soil fertility.
Which plants are not compatible with Swiss chard?
Not every plant harmonizes well with chard. Some withdraw too many nutrients, promote pests, or inhibit growth through root excretions. In order for you to grow vigorously and provide a rich harvest, you should avoid these unfavorable neighbors.
Strong consumers (high nutrient requirements, strong competition for floor resources)
Strong consumers withdraw many minerals, especially nitrogen, and can affect the growth of chard if they are planted too close together. When Swiss chard grows alongside heavy consumers, the plants have to fight for the same soil resources, which can slow down the growth of the chard.
- Kohlarten(For example, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, white cabbage, red cabbage): They extract large amounts of nutrients to the floor that requires chard.
- potatoes: These plants have a deep root system and withdraw a lot of nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil.
- More: Corn has a high nutrient requirement and needs a lot of space, which makes chard competed for its resources.
- Saddlery: Celery is also a stronger and chard can contest the necessary nutrients.
Family competition (same plant family, similar nutrient claims & diseases)
Plants from the same plant family often have similar needs for nutrients, water and soil conditions. They are also susceptible to similar diseases and pests.
- ROTE BETE: Swiss chard and beetroot belong to the same family and can attract similar pests and diseases such as leaf spicker diseases.
- Spinach: Spinach is also one of the foxtail plants and has similar nutrient claims such as chard, which can lead to competition with ground resources.
- sugar beet: Sugar beet also removes many nutrients from the soil, which can hinder chard when developing.
- Turnip: Similar to sugar beet, feed beet chard can also have the same resources compete.
Plants with high pest risk
There are also some plants that attract pests or promote diseases that can negatively affect chard. It is important to avoid such plants to protect chard from damage and promote its growth.
- Strawberries: Strawberries can spread fungal diseases such as strawberry mold that could also affect chard. They also attract snails that can damage both strawberries and chard.
- Tomato: Tomatoes are susceptible to leaf diseases and herb and brown rot, which can spread easily on neighboring plants such as chard.
Here you will find helpful tips on how to properly grow and maintain chard.
