The 18 Best Cabbage Companion Plants

A nutritious and resilient vegetable, cabbage goes well with various cooking techniques. However, growing cabbage in your garden may be difficult as it attracts various pests and diseases that could easily spoil your harvest. Companion planting can be a solution to all these problems. Companion planting supports cabbage growth by deterring pests, luring advantageous insects, boosting soil minerals, and/or enhancing flavor.

Let’s discuss some of the top cabbage companion plants, as well as a few plants that should not be grown next to cabbage since they might impede its growth or draw pests. Following these tips, you can get the best of your cabbage this season.

1. Carrots

Carrots are considered excellent companion plants for your cabbage because both plants have different growth habits, have no shared pests, and can grow well in cooler weather. Most notably, carrots and cabbage take up different spaces in your garden. Specifically, carrots occupy the underground garden space. On the other hand, cabbage needs adequate space above ground. The difference in their growth pattern makes them a good fit.

Plant the carrots in the spring when your cabbage has not yet been transplanted and is still in the seedling phase so that both plants can have ample space to grow harmoniously. Planting these two plants together can maximize your garden space.

2. Beets

Beets are another great companion plant for cabbage. As they have different growing habits, they can also help you maximize your garden space — just like carrots. Beets are also relatively easy to grow, even by an inexperienced farmer. Furthermore, beets do not share a lot of common pests with cabbage.

An awesome thing about planting beets in your garden is that you can harvest them at any size, from baby to full-grown ones. You can even harvest their greens earlier to make space for your growing cabbage. Surprisingly, you can use the greens like you would use Swiss chard!

3. Spinach

Spinach is a nutrient-rich and versatile leafy green that makes an excellent addition to any garden. Spinach is also a cool-season crop, so you can really maximize your space in the garden. And since you can get several harvests out of spinach, that makes it even more space-effective!

Furthermore, spinach can significantly benefit other members of the Brassica family, like cabbage, kale, and cauliflower. The secret to this coexistence lies in their complementary root systems. Brassicas have deeper root systems, while spinach has shallower roots. This difference in root depth means they don’t compete for the same nutrients in the soil. Instead, they coexist harmoniously, sharing water and nutrients without one crop overshadowing or stifling the other.

Make sure to have proper spacing between the two plants for optimal results.

4. Celery

One of the best plants to grow next to your cabbage is celery. Not only is it delicious, but it also is known to repel the dreaded cabbage moth. The cabbage moth is a destructive pest that can cause extensive damage to the leaves of your cabbage, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, and other crops. As you might be able to infer from its name, it has a particular affinity for cabbage.

On the flip side, cabbage can really benefit your celery, as it can help protect your young and weak celery from strong winds. 

Another great advantage of planting these two vegetables together as companion plants is that celery and cabbage are super close in their days to maturity. This means that when both crops are grown, you can remove all of them at once in order to make space for new plants!

5. Onion

If you have grown vegetables in your garden before, you know that onions are often touted as some of the best companion plants for various vegetables — including cabbage! The pungent aroma of onion is beneficial in deterring pests like cabbage worms, loopers, aphids, and even rabbits.

Furthermore, growing onions with cabbage is a practical space-saving technique, as they can be planted close together without hindering each other’s growth. Onions are tall and narrow, while cabbage grow more rounded.

6. Garlic

Similarly to onion, garlic is one of the best companion plants for cabbage. Just like onion, garlic also has a strong smell that helps keep harmful pests away from your crops. In fact, the strong smell can even deter deer and rabbits from munching on your crops!

If you’re trying to decide between planting onions or garlic next to your cabbage, one advantage garlic has over onion is that it takes up less space. This will make it a great option to grow along the edges of the garden with your cabbage in the middle.

7. Beans

Beans are an excellent companion plant for cabbage, offering multiple benefits. Although cabbage needs a full six hours of sun, it can also benefit from some protection against the intense afternoon sun, which can scorch its leaves. You can plant beans on the side of the garden to safeguard your cabbage plant from the hot afternoon sun. This way, your cabbage will be able to enjoy the shade for optimal growth. Beans are also great nitrogen-fixing plants, ideal for cabbage nutrient requirements.

In particular, bush beans and pole beans are both excellent options as companion plants for cabbage. Bush beans are compact and can be interplanted among the cabbage, while pole beans can be grown vertically on trellises, maximizing space.

8. Potatoes

One of the most popular vegetables to grow in the garden is the potato. Unfortunately, potatoes Potatoes are not suitable as companion plants for many vegetables as they tend to soak up all the nutrients in the soil. However, surprisingly, potatoes make great companion plants for cabbage. Growing them together can be beneficial as the two plants have separate nutrient requirements. So, the potatoes being heavy feeders don’t impact the cabbage.

Planting potatoes near your cabbage will also provide soil enrichment, as potatoes store their starch below the soil surface. This eventually helps with growing your cabbage and can even enhance its flavor!

9. Borage

Looking for a companion plant to your crop introduces you to many interesting plants. Borage is a beautiful flowering plant that can add colors to your garden and enhance its beauty. But more than that, borage is a great companion plant for cabbage. If grown next to your cabbage, it will repel many pests, including those annoying cabbage and tomato worms, to keep your crop healthy and disease-free. It also attracts different beneficial insects, like hoverflies and nabid bugs, to come over and attack those cabbage-eating worms. Plus, borage can be a great garnish or herb, so it can have many beneficial uses!

10. Chamomile

Another beautiful option your garden may be missing is chamomile. But first, before you plant chamomile, make sure you are in the right hardiness zone, as chamomile prefers areas with partial shade. However, if you can plant chamomile, it’s a great companion plant for your cabbage. Both plants require cool temperatures, so you can easily grow them together. Moreover, chamomile will also repel harmful pests like cabbage moths. And finally, many claim that chamomile can help improve the flavor of nearby vegetables, including cabbage.

11. Dill

Dill is considered a self-growing plant. This means that if you plant it once, it will drop its seeds, and then you will find fresh dill plants again as the season continues. It’s a great addition to any garden, and if planted near your cabbage, it can make a beneficial companion plant for your brassica too!

Firstly, it helps to deter many harmful pests, including cabbage moths and cabbage worms. Also, if allowed to flower, dill can attract many beneficial insects, like hoverflies and ladybugs, which can help to further deter the pests from feeding on your cabbage.

12. Marigolds

Not only will the marigold provide beauty to your backyard garden, but it will also act as a beneficial companion plant for your cabbage crop. Growing it next to cabbage will help your cabbage stay healthy as marigolds repel those pesky pests, including cabbage or tomato moths and worms. Furthermore, they can suppress root nematodes and purify the soil for better growth of nearby plants.

13. Rosemary

Rosemary is an aromatic plant that has beneficial effects on your garden. Its most potent weapon is its aroma, which keeps most pests like cabbage moths and cabbage loopers far away. So if you want more cabbage yield, consider growing rosemary with your crop. 

This plant will also provide specific nutrients to the soil, like calcium, sulfur, and potassium. These minerals are responsible for adding flavor and nutrition to your crop.

14. Arugula

There are a couple of reasons why arugula is a great companion plant for your cabbage. First of all, it can act as a trap crop for flea beetles, an annoying cabbage pest. These flea beetles will be attracted to the arugula, giving you time to cover your cabbage leaves before they are attacked as well. Secondly, arugula, like cabbage, is a cool-season crop, so you can easily grow them at the same time. And finally, the leafy greens can even act as living mulch for your cabbage, helping to retain moisture in the soil.

15. Mint

Mint can be a great companion plant for cabbage, as its strong smell repels common pests, including cabbage moths, flea beetles, and aphids — all of which like to snack on brassicas, like your cabbage. Furthermore, mint can help attract beneficial insects, like earthworms, which can improve the soil. They also attract predatory moths, which can further help repel those pesky pests from attacking your cabbage.

One thing to note is that it’s best to plant mint in a pot to keep it confined and to ensure it doesn’t overgrow!

16. Nasturtium

Another great companion plant for cabbage is the nasturtium. Not only is this plant beautiful, but it can be super beneficial for your crop. Most importantly, nasturtiums can repel cabbage worms. The flowers can also act as a trap crop for other pests, such as aphids and flea beetles, keeping these insects away from your cabbage. And as a plus, edible nasturtium is a great addition to any garden as it can be added to salads for a spicy and peppery kick!

17. Sage

Another aromatic herb that can be a great cabbage companion plant is sage. The smell repels cabbage moths and foragers like deer as well. On the other hand, this herb can attract beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps and hoverflies. These beneficial insects can help control the aphid population from overwhelming your cabbage and garden. 

18. Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a great companion plant for cabbage because it can attract several types of beneficial insects, including parasitic wasps, which can help kill and eat pests like cabbage worms. This grain is also used as green manure, which can help add organic matter to the soil to help your cabbage and other plants grow.

Plants to Avoid Planting Near Cabbage

In addition to knowing your companion plants, you should be aware of some plants you should absolutely avoid planting near your cabbage. Here are four of them.

1. Tomatoes

One of the worst plants you can grow near your cabbage is tomatoes. Unfortunately, these two plants will compete with one another for nutrients, which will stunt the growth of these plants. Furthermore, tomatoes can attract pests like moth cutworms, aphids, caterpillars, or beetles that can attack your cabbage. Therefore, if you want tomatoes in your garden, keep them away from your cabbage. 

2. Corn

Growing corn with cabbage is not ideal, as both plants are heavy feeders and will compete for nutrients. Furthermore, you may run into space issues if you plant these plants together. Notably, large cabbage may shade out your young corn, and taller corn may shade out your cabbage. This will result in stunted vegetable growth.

3. Pumpkin

The giant leaves of pumpkins will shade out anything that comes their way, including cabbage. Cabbage requires full sun to grow and thrive, and planting it near pumpkins can result in reduced sunlight exposure and hinder its growth.

Summary of the 18 Best Cabbage Companion Plants

Here’s a recap of the 18 suitable companion plants for cabbage we took a look at.