Best Companion Plants for Broccoli (And What to Avoid)

Companion planting is a powerful strategy to improve broccoli growth, enhance flavor, and protect against pests naturally. Choosing the right neighbors in your garden can reduce disease, attract beneficial insects, and optimize space. Over my 30+ years gardening experience, I’ve tested many combinations to find what works best for broccoli.

Table of Contents

Best Companion Plants for Broccoli

1. Herbs

Dill: Attracts predatory insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps that control aphids and cabbage worms.
Chamomile: Improves broccoli flavor and attracts beneficial insects.
Mint: Repels cabbage moths but plant in containers to prevent spreading.

2. Alliums

Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks: Their strong scent deters pests such as aphids and cabbage loopers.

3. Root Vegetables

Beets and carrots: Grow well near broccoli without competing for nutrients and help break up soil.

4. Legumes

Peas and beans: Fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting broccoli’s nutrient needs.

5. Flowering Plants

Nasturtiums: Act as a trap crop, attracting aphids away from broccoli.
Marigolds: Repel nematodes and other pests with their scent.

Plants to Avoid Near Broccoli

Strawberries: Susceptible to the same fungal diseases as broccoli and can reduce broccoli’s growth.
Tomatoes and peppers: Compete for nutrients and can attract similar pests, increasing infestation risk.
Fennel: Inhibits the growth of broccoli and many other vegetables.
Cabbage family members (like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale): Planting too close increases pest and disease pressure.

My Experience with Companion Planting

Through years of gardening in my Sonoma Valley garden (Zone 9), I’ve seen companion planting dramatically improve broccoli health and yields. Combining pest-repelling herbs with nitrogen-fixing legumes and strategic flowers creates a balanced ecosystem that supports robust broccoli plants naturally. These recommendations are based on both scientific research and practical, tested gardening experience.