Growing broccoli can be a rewarding experience for any gardener, but knowing which plants to grow alongside it can make a huge difference in its health and overall yield. Companion planting involves strategically placing different types of plants together in the garden to benefit each other, keeping pests away, and providing other helpful effects. In this guide, we’ll explore what makes a great companion for broccoli, what plants to avoid, and how you can create a healthy, thriving garden environment for your favorite cool-season crop.
What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is a gardening method where you grow different types of plants near each other to improve the health of the garden. The goal is to have plants that help each other by attracting beneficial insects, deterring pests, improving nutrient supply, or providing shade. Companion planting can also help keep the soil cool and moist, making it easier for crops like broccoli to grow well during hot weather.
Benefits of Companion Planting with Broccoli
Companion planting can help broccoli in several ways:
- Repels Insects: Certain herbs and flowers can help keep pests away from broccoli by giving off strong scents that insects dislike.
- Attracts Beneficial Insects: Plants like herbs can bring helpful bugs into the garden, such as ladybugs, which eat harmful pests.
- Deters Wildlife: Some companion plants can help keep hungry animals away from the broccoli.
- Improves Nutrient Availability: Plants like chives or onions can add extra nutrients to the soil.
- Provides Shade and Keeps Soil Cool: Some companion plants can create a nice shade that helps broccoli stay moist and reduces weed growth.
Best Companion Plants for Broccoli
1. Herbs
- Basil: Adds a wonderful scent that deters pests and also improves broccoli’s flavor.
- Chives: Help to repel insects such as aphids.
- Dill: Attracts beneficial insects and repels harmful ones.
- Mint: Keeps pests away due to its strong aroma.
- Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme: All help to repel garden pests and provide nutrition to the soil.
2. Annual Flowers
- Nasturtiums: Excellent for attracting pests away from broccoli and other brassicas.
- Marigolds: These flowers also draw harmful insects away while adding beauty to your garden.
3. Space-Saving Plants
- Beets, Cucumbers, Garlic, Lettuce, Onions, Radishes, Spinach, Shallots, Swiss Chard: These are great for sharing space with broccoli because they don’t take up much room and enjoy similar growing conditions.
Worst Companion Plants for Broccoli
While there are many plants that can benefit broccoli, there are also those that should be avoided:
1. Large or Spreading Plants
- Tomatoes, Eggplant, Lima beans, Peppers, Pole beans, Snap beans, Squash, Strawberries: These plants can grow too tall or spread out too much, taking up space that broccoli needs.
2. Heavy Feeders
- Asparagus, Cantaloupe, Fennel, Sweet corn, Pumpkin, Watermelon: These are heavy feeders that compete with broccoli for nutrients in the soil and are best kept away from this cool-season crop.
3. Other Brassicas
- While other members of the Brassica family (such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower) might seem like good companions, they can also attract the same pests. To avoid this problem, it is often better to plant these crops in separate areas of the garden or use “trap plants” like nasturtiums nearby to draw insects away.
Tips for Successful Companion Planting
To get the most out of companion planting, here are a few tips:
- Leave Herbs Uncut to Encourage Pollination: Allow flowers to bloom on companion herbs so that they can attract insects.
- Rotate Crops Each Season: Changing the location of your plants can help avoid nutrient depletion and pests.
- Test and Observe: Companion planting can be a little experimental. See which plants work best in your garden by observing how they grow together.
Companion planting is all about creating a garden environment that works together in harmony. By choosing the right plants for broccoli and avoiding the wrong ones, you can improve the health and yield of your garden. Whether you’re looking to repel insects, conserve moisture, or attract helpful creatures, these companion plants can help make your broccoli thrive. As you plan your garden, consider how each plant can support the others and keep your garden’s ecosystem in balance.
With careful selection and proper spacing, you can create a beautiful and productive garden that offers fresh, healthy broccoli all season long.
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