Top 10 Broccoli Companion Plants And 16 You Should Avoid

broccoli-companion-plants

If you are thinking of companion planting for your broccoli plants this season, here is a list of crops that you can choose from.

If you desire a bountiful harvest this broccoli planting season, do not grow them alone.

Why?

Because companion planting does not just give you a bountiful harvest but also wards off pests and diseases that may affect your plant.

Take advantage and maximize the benefits of the companion crops we are about to share below.

Most of them are herbs, others are vegetables, and even flowers.

However, the ideal plants to plant with broccoli are rosemary, celery, chamomile, nasturtiums, onions, etc. 

With companion planting, this strategy positively benefits the other plant in close proximity.

Some companions provide broccoli with shade, act as a barrier to the wind, deter certain weeds and pests, aid in moisture retention, or act as a trellis.

In this article, we have put together a list of broccoli companion plants that have been proven to increase your harvest yield.

All you have to do is plant them in close proximity to your broccoli.

So, read on for the best companion plants for broccoli.

What is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is a natural method that has been used by gardeners for years to aid pollination, keep the number of pests down and maintain a natural balance in your garden. 

What this means is that planting some plants close to another will have a beneficial effect on each other’s growth or just be beneficial to one and not affect the other plant adversely

Companion planting is all about planting some plants together because they have characteristics that complement each other.

Some attract beneficial insects, others repel pests, and some go as far as complementing each other’s nutrient requirements

Companion planting is one of the Gardening Tips And Tricks For Beginners that many often ignore. 

This Gardening Tips For Vegetable Planting is a welcome development in the gardener’s world.

However, most gardeners find it suitable for both Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening and Indoor Vegetable Gardening.

Understanding this concept and putting it into use is a great way to make art out of your garden. 

I’m pretty sure that is your intention.

Other times, a plant may have a neutral companionship with the primary crop.

Why Should I Use Companion Plants?

It’s no longer news that one of the reasons why most farmers do not plant companion crops is because they don’t know what this singular act brings to them.

For vegetable farmers as well as other gardeners, companion planting is an excellent idea and a great step in the right direction.

Some of the benefits of companion planting include

  • Companion Plants wards off certain insects and attracts pollinators.
  • Also, companion plants are great for shade and support especially for underground plants.
  • Companion crops suppress weeds from thriving in the garden leaving the plants to enjoy the soil nutrients.
  • Also, companion plants are a great natural and organic method to improve soil quality as Composting. See Composting For Beginners.
  • Companion plants help improve plant growth and improve plant health.

All these will only be possible if you pay attention to the companion chart.

Do not overlook the smallest details, if you do, you’re likely to put the healthy growth of your plant at risk.

10 Best Companion Plants for Broccoli.

There are several best companion plants for broccoli.

These plants suit the growth of broccoli and favour its overall survival in the garden.

Some of these plants include herbs like rosemary, and marjoram; vegetables like celery, beets, and lettuce; and flowers like nasturtiums, and chamomile.

Let’s take a good look at most of these favourable plants that you can easily grow with broccoli.

#1. Chamomile:

Chamomile is one great companion plant for broccoli. It is a flowering herb that brings awesome benefits to your broccoli without stress.

Chamomile has a way of attracting different useful pollinating insects such as wasps, and bees, which are quite beneficial to broccoli.

Companion planting chamomile with broccoli also helps to improve the flavour of broccoli. Chamomile releases certain oils that are taken in by its companion and affects the broccoli plant positively.

Furthermore in this combination chamomile also gets to benefit as well.

Broccoli uses its leaves to provide little shade for chamomile, which is quite needed because chamomile prefers partial shade to full sun.

#2. Rosemary:

Rosemary makes a wonderful companion for broccoli. 

The combination of broccoli and rosemary in the garden provides broccoli with a natural pest repellent.

Pests such as cabbage loopers, moths, etc, would no longer be a bother.

This makes your broccoli grow healthier and pest free.

Secondly, broccoli and rosemary have a way of vibing together as they enjoy very similar temperatures and climates.

Rosemary oils and aroma also tends to improve the taste of your broccoli.

See Best Companion Plants For Rosemary.

#3. Beetroots:

If you are looking for a good companion plant that wouldn’t occupy much space, then you can consider beetroot.

As a root plant, it wouldn’t compete for space with broccoli. Broccoli is known to consume much calcium from the soil while beetroot consumes much less.

So both can peacefully coexist without fighting for nutrients.

#4. Spinach:

Spinach is another ideal companion plant for broccoli. It is one leafy green that could do well with your broccoli.

Apart from growing them for edible purposes, it could also add value to broccoli. Spinach is known to consume completely different nutrients when compared with broccoli.

This means you don’t have to bother about it competing with nutrients with broccoli.

Rather than growing tall, spinach grows large. This is great to be able to accommodate both plants.

Also, spinach is not left out, when it’s sunny, it enjoys partial shade from the leaves of broccoli.

#5. Nasturtiums:

Nasturtium is one amazing flower you can plant with broccoli.

This combination also comes with amazing benefits too. One of these benefits is the use of its strong peppery scent to repel pests such as loopers and worms.

Also during its flowering process, it attracts pollinators such as bees that are beneficial to broccoli.

#6. Celery:

Celery is another good companion plant for broccoli. It tends to improve its taste slightly.  You don’t also have to worry about space because it takes up little space. 

If you’re looking to plant companion crops with broccoli and space is a disadvantage, celery is the plant to go for.

#7. Potatoes:

Potatoes are great companion plants for broccoli.

Although other plants such as eggplants and pepper are not so much in love with broccoli because it eats the same nutrients as them.

This isn’t so with broccoli. Broccoli prefers nitrogen and calcium while potatoes suck away magnesium and phosphate.

Furthermore, potatoes grow underground while rosemary grows overground so these two complements each other and can thrive well together.

#8. Lettuce:

Another crop to plant with broccoli is lettuce. These two wonderful plants look almost the same.

Lettuce has a small stature and is best for space maximisation. It also enjoys a little shade from broccoli.

And although lettuce requires an adequate amount of sun to thrive, it tends to bolt slower when protected by broccoli.

#9. Onions:

Onions make an excellent companion for broccoli. Onions release chemicals that are absorbed from the soil by broccoli.

This improves the flavour of broccoli a bit. Other plants in the onion family that go well with broccoli include shallots and scallions.

The onion plant offers the gardener both sweet edible leaves and roots.

And in addition, they offer great relationships when you plant them with broccoli.

Also, see How To Grow Onion From Planting to Storage.

#10. Geraniums:

This is one beautiful flower that will boost the appearance of your garden. Interestingly it makes a good companion with broccoli.

They do not compete for the same nutrients and so this makes them compatible and thrive well without strife.

Furthermore, it helps to keep different pests away from your broccoli.

Other plants that do well as companion plants when you plant them with broccoli include:

  • Scallions
  • Marjoram
  • Marigolds
  • Shallots
  • Rhubarb
  • Leeks
  • Garlic
  • Dill
  • Swiss chard
  • Radishes

Plants You Will Regret Planting With Broccoli.

As much as you’re looking for companion plants to follow through the benefits of Companion Planting this season, there are crops you should not plant if you’re planting broccoli.

These plants either compete for soil nutrients and space, or they have a toxic nature that can eliminate your desired crop.

That will result in a low harvest as well as poor performance of crops.

Whatever research you want to do, do not plant these plants close to broccoli:

The abovementioned plants are very harmful to broccoli in different ways. 

Some of these plants attract pests and diseases which may affect the broccoli.

If you’re intending to get a bountiful broccoli harvest, do not plant these crops with broccoli.

Frequently Asked Questions About What To Plant With Broccoli.

What Happens If You Plant Broccoli with Cabbage?

When you plant broccoli and cabbage together, chances are high that they will prevent each other from growing well.

This is because they consume the same nutrients, suffer from the same diseases and pests. And none would be able to repel the pest.

This combination will give you an undesired harvest and I’m sure you wouldn’t love that.

Can I Plant Tomatoes and Broccoli Together?

No. You cannot grow tomatoes and broccoli together. 

Why?

Because tomato is a member of the nightshade family and they are known to be heavy feeders.

Being a heavy feeder doesn’t aid the growth of broccoli. Moreover, just like broccoli, it attracts the same pests that feed on them.

Therefore it isn’t advisable to plant tomatoes and broccoli together.

Can I Plant Marigold and Broccoli Together?

Yes, Marigold and Broccoli can be planted together. Marigolds make a good broccoli companion.

Summary

Broccoli is one healthy green leafy plant you should endeavour to add to your diet. It has many benefits you wouldn’t love to miss.

However, getting a healthy bountiful harvest requires knowing the right plants to grow them with.

To increase your chance of having a great harvest, you need to employ the technique of companion planting and know what plants are best planted with broccoli.

Also do not forget to read this article on How To Prepare The Soil For Planting Vegetables.

It will do you much good!!

References

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