Best Companion Plants for Rutabaga (and What to Avoid)

ByStephen Albert

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Rutabaga grows through the cool months when pests can still be active and soil nutrients shift with winter rain. Over decades of growing brassicas, I’ve learned that the right companions help with pest control, root development, and overall plant vigor—while the wrong neighbors can stunt growth or attract problems.

Here are the best and worst plant partners for rutabaga, based on firsthand experience in my year-round garden.

🌿 Best Companion Plants for Rutabaga

1. Aromatic Herbs (Great for Pest Control)

Examples: Sage, rosemary, thyme, mint, dill.
These herbs help deter cabbage moths, flea beetles, and aphids—common rutabaga pests.

My experience: I grow sage and thyme along the borders of my winter beds; flea beetle pressure drops noticeably.

2. Alliums (Strong Protectors)

Examples: Onions, garlic, leeks, chives, scallions.
Their sulfur compounds help repel root maggots and other soil pests.

My experience: Garlic planted along the edge of rutabaga rows nearly eliminated early root maggot issues one season.

3. Leafy Greens (Good Space Sharers)

Examples: Lettuce, spinach, chard.
They grow quickly, don’t compete deeply, and help shade soil to retain moisture.

My experience: I seed lettuce between rutabagas early in the season; I harvest lettuce before rutabaga roots bulk up.

4. Calendula and Nasturtium (Trap Crops)

These flowers lure aphids and flea beetles away from rutabaga.

My experience: Calendula holds aphids like a magnet in winter—keeping rutabaga foliage clean.

5. Peas (Nitrogen Boosters)

Cool-season peas fix nitrogen slowly, giving rutabaga just enough nutrient lift without causing excessive leafy growth.

My experience: Fall peas on trellises create a microclimate that protects young rutabagas from wind.

🚫 What NOT to Plant Near Rutabaga

1. Other Brassicas (Cabbage Family Crops)

Examples: Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, kale, kohlrabi.
They share the same pests and diseases and compete heavily for nutrients.

My experience: Whenever I plant brassicas together, cabbage loopers seem to move down the row like a buffet line.

2. Heavy Feeders (Too Much Competition)

Examples: Corn, large tomatoes, squash.
They suck up nutrients, leaving rutabaga stunted and small-rooted.

3. Nightshades with History of Soil Pests

Examples: Potatoes.
Potatoes can increase soil pest pressure, particularly wireworms.

My experience: In one bed where potatoes had grown the previous year, rutabaga roots were noticeably more damaged.

4. Fennel (Strong Allelopathy)

Fennel inhibits the growth of nearby crops—including rutabaga.

5. Mustard Cover Crops (If Used Too Close to Planting)

They can attract flea beetles and harbor root maggots if not terminated early enough.

🌱 My Favorite Rutabaga Bed Layout

This layout has delivered the most consistent results over decades:

  • Rutabaga row centered in a raised bed
  • Border planting of thyme and sage
  • Interplant early lettuce or spinach
  • Garlic or scallions along the outer edge
  • A calendula every 2–3 feet as a pest buffer

This arrangement increases airflow, reduces pest pressure, and stabilizes moisture—everything rutabaga needs for sweet, full roots.

Rutabaga Learning Hub

Start here: How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Rutabaga: A Complete Guide

Planting, Timing & Setup

Care, Water & Feeding

Companions & Intercropping

Pests, Diseases & Troubleshooting

Harvest, Storage & Kitchen

Varieties & Background

Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

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