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Brussels sprouts are members of the Cruciferae family (which includes kale, cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, and cauliflower). These cousins all do well as companion plants for Brussels sprouts simply because they have similar nutritional, water, and light requirements.
The downside of planting these relatives together is that they also share similar pests and diseases. Are there other Brussels sprout companion plants that might be a better choice? Read on to find out.
Brussels sprouts are a cool weather crop in the brassica family that can be prone to pests like aphids, cabbage loopers and flea beetles. However, you can use companion planting to naturally keep pests away and boost your Brussels sprouts harvest. The right companion plants can help repel insects attract beneficials, improve pollination, and more.
Here are some of the best plants to grow near Brussels sprouts
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic contain sulfur compounds that can help repel common brassica pests like cabbage loopers. Interplanting onions and garlic near Brussels sprouts can create an inhospitable environment for these insects. The strong scent of alliums also helps mask the odor of Brussels sprouts, making it harder for pests to find them. Choose onion and garlic varieties with low growth habits that won’t shade out the Brussels sprouts.
Marigolds
Marigolds are a garden staple thanks to their bright flowers and pest repelling abilities. French marigolds in particular contain pyrethrum compounds that many pests find unpleasant. Planting marigolds throughout your Brussels sprouts can deter cabbage loopers, flea beetles, aphids, rabbits, and even deer. Dwarf marigold varieties work well for containers and small spaces.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a handy trap crop for brassica pests like aphids – they lure the insects away from your Brussels sprouts. Their colorful flowers also attract beneficial pollinators. Plus, nasturtiums are edible, providing peppery leaves flowers, and seed pods you can eat. They add beauty while helping manage pests.
Dill
Dill is known for attracting an array of beneficial insects that prey on common vegetable pests. Small wasps, hoverflies, ladybugs, and lacewings all flock to dill’s feathery foliage and umbels of flowers. These good bugs will help keep aphids, cabbage loopers, beetles, and other harmful insects away from your Brussels sprouts. Let some dill plants bolt and flower.
Carrots and Beets
Planting carrots, beets, and other root crops near your Brussels sprouts allows you to get more from your garden space. While waiting for the slow growing sprouts to mature, you can succession sow quick growing carrots and beet crops to harvest through the season. The roots won’t compete for resources with the Brussels sprouts.
Chamomile
The delicate flowers of chamomile attract hoverflies, wasps, and other beneficial insects that control pest populations. Chamomile’s strong scent also helps mask Brussels sprouts, keeping pests confused. German chamomile is an annual that’s easy to start from seed, while Roman chamomile is a perennial in some areas.
Thyme
Thyme makes a pretty, drought tolerant groundcover that can be planted near Brussels sprouts. Its pungent scent confuses pests and deters cabbage moths, aphids, cabbage loopers, and flea beetles. For perennial production, choose an upright growing thyme to avoid crowding out sprouts. Lemon thyme, French thyme, and English thyme are good choices.
Radishes
Fast growing radishes are perfect for interplanting with Brussels sprouts. They will flourish in the lighter shade underneath the sprouts and help deter pests like flea beetles that are drawn to their leaves over Brussels sprout leaves. Cherry belle, French breakfast, and champion radishes are good varieties to try.
Spinach
Cool weather loving spinach can be sown in early spring and fall near Brussels sprouts. It shares similar soil preferences and will appreciate the light shade provided as the sprouts grow. Plus its shallow roots wont compete for nutrients. Harvest spinach leaves before the weather warms.
Borage
The star-shaped edible flowers of borage attract bees and other pollinators to your garden all season long. The more pollinators that visit your plot, the better your Brussels sprouts production will be. Borage is also known to improve the flavor and growth of plants growing near it thanks to nutrients released from its roots and leaves.
Beans and Peas
Nitrogen fixing beans and peas make great companions for nutrient hungry brassicas like Brussels sprouts. As legumes grow, they pull nitrogen from the air into the soil through their roots. This nitrogen enriches the surrounding soil and benefits nearby sprouts. Pole beans and tall peas can climb trellises above the sprouts.
Petunias
Petunias are a garden favorite thanks to the variety of colorful blooms they offer. Lesser known is that petunias can also help control pests. They emit a substance that disrupts the scent reception of insects like bean beetles, tomato hornworms, aphids, and asparagus beetles. Their ability to confuse pests makes them a smart companion for Brussels sprouts.
Calendulas
Cheery calendulas bloom brightly through summer and fall, adding a pop of color while attracting pollinators. They’re another handy trap crop, luring pests away from neighboring plants. The sticky sap inside their stems and leaves traps harmful insects that try to feed on them. Calendulas self seed readily, providing years of bloom.
Geraniums
Geraniums are prized for their ornamental flowers, but they also have pest repelling abilities. Their strong scent drives away cabbage worms, Japanese beetles, and other insects that target brassicas. Planting scented geraniums like lemon or rose near Brussels sprouts can create an unfavorable environment for pests while attracting pollinators.
By interplanting your Brussels sprouts with these companion plants, you’ll reap bigger, better harvests from your fall garden while supporting biodiversity. Use the foliage colors, heights, and bloom times of companions to create an attractive and thriving landscape that deters pests. With the right companions, your Brussels sprouts will flourish.
What to Grow with Brussels Sprouts?
Sure, some people are loners, but by the very nature of being human, most of us like a companion or two, someone to share our life with and help us when we need it. Plants are the same way; most of them do very well with companion plants and Brussels sprouts are no exception. Brussels sprouts are a favorite of dozens of pests that include:
Aromatic Brussels sprout plant companions can help to ward off these pests and even attract beneficial insects, like ladybugs and parasitic wasps. Some of these aromatic plants are pleasantly scented, such as basil and mint.
Others are more pungent, like garlic, which is said to repel Japanese beetles, aphids, and blight. Marigolds are also said to deter pests and when they are tilled into the earth, they release a substance that repels nematodes. Nasturtiums are another flower that companions well with Brussels sprouts and is said to repel squash bugs and whiteflies.
Brussels Sprout Plant Companions
The nature of companion planting is situating one or more species of plants in close proximity to another for one or both to benefit. While the Cruciferae gang may like to hang together in the garden, the fact that they share pests and disease problems makes them less than ideal companions for Brussels sprouts.
In other words, if a disease tends to infect broccoli, it’s a good probability that it will take a liking to one or several of the other cole crops. Introducing other Brussels sprout companion plants outside of the family will create diversity in the garden, which will make it less likely for diseases and pests to be spread around. The question is, what to grow with Brussels sprouts?
How to Grow Brussels Sprouts for Beginners
FAQ
What can you not plant near brussel sprouts?
Other cabbages, like cauliflower or broccoli, shouldn’t be planted near Brussels sprouts as they are in direct competition for many of the same nutrients and …Jun 7, 2021
What do Brussels sprouts pair well with?
Brussel sprouts pair wonderfully with heartier vegetables like sweet potatoes or winter squash, and flavors like paprika, cayenne, mustard and apple cider.
Can you plant zucchini and Brussels sprouts together?
Peppers (Capsicum annuum) and aubergines (Solanum melongena) also clash with courgettes. Avoid planting heavy-feeding plants from the cabbage family, such as broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) or savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar.
Where is the best place to plant brussel sprouts?
Brussels sprouts thrive in full sun, which means they need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Choose a well-draining location in your garden with plenty of sunshine to ensure robust growth and the development of these sought-after sprouts.