Companion Plants for Brussel Sprouts
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Companion plants are plants that grow next to your crops to repel pests and attract beneficials. Check out the best companion plants for brussel sprouts in your garden.
Finding out what grows well with your crops is a good choice before planning your garden. Brussel sprouts are heavy feeders so it’s a good idea to find plants that will support them in different ways such as producing nitrogen that helps feed them.
Good companion plants for sprout plants include pole beans and bush beans, but that’s not all. Brussel sprouts can get hit with spider mites, and other pests, so read on to find out excellent companions to help you find tons of success. Brussel sprouts can go in late summer or early spring to give you delicious goodies to enjoy from the garden!
For a complete companion planting guide, check this out on Etsy!
Growing Brussel sprouts
You want to grow brussels sprouts at home and wonder what plants you should grow next to them? Companion plants are important since they help to keep away pests and diseases from your brussels sprouts.
They also keep the soil moist, loosen it up, attract pollinators, and more. But there are also plants that can hinder the growth of your brussel sprouts. So read on to find out more.
We love brussel sprouts at Little Sprouts! They are delicious roasted or air fried like this and we love brussel sprouts sauteed with a little bacon. So good!
They are super fun to grow and fairly simple even for a beginning gardener. They grow in spring and fall, you can check out this month by month garden planting guide to know more.
They are very interesting to look at, the way they grow in a spiral up a large stalk is super cool looking. You just cut the whole stalk and trim the brussel sprouts off of it.
Brussel sprout plant
Brussel sprouts are Cruciferae plants. They are similar in growth to cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. And insect pests that attack them include cabbage worms, cabbage moths, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, aphids, thrips, leafminers, armyworms, and cutworms. So aromatics can ward some of these off and attract parasitic wasps and ladybugs.
Brussel sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables are a great addition to the vegetable garden. They are cool season vegetables that grow well in cooler temperatures but don’t grow in the heat. They need lower soil temperatures and plenty of soil nutrients for plant growth. They need well-drained soil with good soil health and good companions in close proximity for the best results.
So read on to find out some of the ideal companions for your brassica crops so you have the best chance at high yields of crop productivity in your garden. We love a bountiful harvest at little sprouts and we do everything we can for pest management, fertile soils with plenty of organic matter, and our companion planting strategy.
Benefits of Companion Planting for Brussel Sprouts
Companion planting can significantly benefit Brussels sprouts by improving growth, deterring pests, and enhancing flavor. Here are some key benefits:
Pest Control
- Deterring Pests: Certain plants can repel pests that commonly affect Brussels sprouts.
- Attracting Beneficial Insects: Some companion plants attract beneficial insects that prey on pests.
Soil Improvement
- Nutrient Enrichment: Legumes like beans and peas can fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for Brussels sprouts.
- Soil Structure: Deep-rooted plants like carrots can improve soil aeration and structure, benefiting Brussels sprouts’ root development.
Improved Growth and Health
- Shade and Support: Taller companion plants like corn can provide shade and wind protection, creating a microclimate conducive to growth.
- Disease Prevention: Some companion plants can reduce the incidence of diseases by improving air circulation and reducing humidity around the plants.
Enhanced Flavor
- Aromatic Herbs: Herbs planted near Brussels sprouts can enhance their flavor by transferring subtle aromatic compounds through the soil.
Weed Suppression
- Ground Cover Plants: Low-growing plants like clover can act as a living mulch, suppressing weeds and retaining soil moisture.
By strategically selecting companion plants, you can create a healthier and more productive environment for Brussels sprouts.
Brussel Sprouts Companion Plants
Think about garlic, mint, basil, and other strongly scented plants. Also marigolds. Nasturtiums will act as a trap crop for aphids and other pests that would otherwise attack the brussel sprouts.
- Celery, onions, mint, basil, rosemary, marigolds, garlic, and sage all repel pests that like brussel sprouts, so they make great companion plants.
- Carrots and chamomile improve the flavor of brussel sprouts when planted nearby.
- Peas loosen the soil for them to grow better.
- Beans add nitrogen to the soil to feed the brussel sprouts.
- Dill attracts pollinators to the garden and make great companion plants for brussel sprouts.
- Brussel sprouts also like growing near beets, lettuce, radishes, and spinach.
What not to plant with brussel sprouts
- Eggplant, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes take away nutrients from your brussel sprouts.
- Mustard greens attract pests that destroy brussel sprouts.
- Also, don’t grow them near kohlrabi or strawberries.
I hope you try to grow these amazingly interesting and super tasty vegetables. I think you will fall in love with growing them too.
For more ideas on companion planting, check these out:
