Companion Plants for Brassicas

Plants that fall into the brassicas family are popular with hobby gardeners and serious gardeners alike. The genus covers everything from the cabbage family and includes some cultivars you may not expect. Many popular veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale fall into this category.

Extending your gardening season by planting brassicas means you’ll be harvesting these hardy veggies into the winter and early spring. Perfect for winter roasts, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts are tough enough to survive the chill. While we love them for winter planting, they’re also perfect for fresh spring veggie plates. 

Being that all brassicas can handle a freeze and frost, and most do not like the heat, especially in Florida, the main growing season for most is Fall through Spring. However, Piracicaba is an extremely heat tolerant broccoli that can be grown year round!

One drawback to these nutritious vegetables is that they tend to leave the soil lacking after the harvest. Planting the right companion plants can help keep your garden vibrant throughout the planting season.

Let’s dig in and see which are the best companion plants for the genus Brassicas!

The best companion plants for brassicas

Because brassicas pull a high amount of their nutrients directly from the soil, they benefit from growing near plants that put them back. Also, they need plants nearby that attract beneficial insects, which can significantly affect your harvest. Choosing the best companion plants for your broccoli and cabbage can result in fuller, more plentiful growth.

Alliums, such as garlic and onion, are perfect companion plants

Alliums like garlic, onions, and leeks make excellent companion plants for brassicas for one primary reason. They smell! Their pungent odor repels many of the common pests that plague brassicas. High sulfur levels in alliums also improve the flavor of their nearby vegetables.

Beans make amazing companion plants for brassicas

Many legumes like bush beans, pole beans, and runner beans fix nitrogen in the soil. After your brassicas pull it out, the beans can put it back in! They pull it directly from the air and transfer it back through their root systems.

If you have the room, potatoes make good companions 

Potatoes take up a lot of space in your garden, but if you can make room for them, they’re an excellent choice. Brassicas have shallow root systems that don’t compete for the nutrients potatoes need to thrive.

Carrots will make cultivating brassicas easier

As carrots grow, they help loosen the soil for brassicas, giving their roots room to spread out. With more root structure, your plants will grow taller and more robust!

Dill grows in similar conditions as brassicas

Planting dill near brassicas improves their flavor and keeps pests away. Because dill attracts pollinators like wasps that feed on other insects, they can improve your harvest.

Rosemary helps keep pests away 

Insects use scent when they’re on the prowl. Rosemary’s strong fragrance confuses them and keeps them from finding your prize broccoli. Container planting is a great option with rosemary since it prefers dry soil and doesn’t love the cold like brassicas do.

Borage is perfect to pair with brassicas 

This beautiful flowering herb is the perfect companion plant to your brassicas. Its deep taproot pulls minerals from the soil, transferring them through leaf drop to the surface. Bees love the blue flowers on this medicinal herb, which can help with pollination.

Chamomile helps bring in pollinators for brassicas

Chamomile provides more than just soothing tea when grown near brassicas. The strong smell drives away pests that might destroy your plants. Chamomile flowers attract pollinators, too, so you get a double benefit from this herb.

Celery has the same growing requirements as brassicas

Brassicas and celery share similar growing preferences and do well when planted near each other. A common pest, the cabbage worm, is a problem for many brassica varieties, but celery seed repels them.

The worst companion plants for brassicas

Putting the wrong companion plants near brassica seedlings can stunt their growth and lead to a disappointing harvest. Heavy feeders like corn, asparagus, squash, and grapes have a negative impact on the soil. Nightshades attract pests that cause damage, and tomatoes will stop growing if they’re nearby.

Plants like cucumbers and pumpkins that spread out aren’t welcome in the Brassicas patch. They tend to choke out your cabbage and keep it from reaching its full potential. 

Whitwam Organics will guide you in creating a cohesive garden!

Designing your garden is more than just an aesthetic practice. Scientific knowledge can help you get the most out of your planting seasons, and Whitwam Organics can help! Our expert gardeners can provide guidance in creating a perfect garden that thrives.

If you’re ready to start the season with something new, take a look at our website for seasonal seedlings and plants!