A native vegetable from Europe, the Brussels sprout has been grown since at least the middle ages. It is thought to have been developed from cottagers kale, and is a hardy vegetable, able to withstand harsh winters. Companion planting Brussels sprouts with other plants will help you grow healthier plants.
Companion Planting Brussels Sprouts
Along with other members of the brassica family, Brussels sprouts do well growing in companion with many other plants. This not only saves space, but also can enhance the health of both plants. So let’s get into the best companion plants for Brussels sprouts.
Good Companion Plants For Brussels Sprouts
Some of the following will assist the sprout plants by helping to deter pests. The first 4 are all members of the allium family, they are:-
Onions And Brussels Sprouts
Due to the length of time onions stay in the soil, they make great companions for Brussels sprouts. The strong aroma given off by onions will keep aphids, cabbage white butterflies, and whiteflies away from your sprouts.
Garlic And Brussels Sprouts
On average, garlic spends 6 months in the ground, making it an ideal companion plant for Brussels sprouts. It works in the same way as onions and will deter many pests. If you don’t have any garlic growing, you can make a garlic spray to deter pests, details can be found here.
Leeks And Brussels Sprouts
Another handy allium, leeks spend as long in the ground as sprouts, making them a great companion plant. As with others of this family, leeks will also deter pests due to their strong aroma. For more on companion planting leeks follow this link.
Chives And Brussels Sprouts
this versatile herb is also a member of the allium family, and works in the same way to deter pests. With the added advantage of attracting many pollinators once in flower. These pollinators will also help to keep pests away, due to the amount of traffic toing and froing.
These next 2 are members of the legume family, and should not be grown near alliums. This is because legumes use bacteria found in the soil, to fix airborne nitrogen, and alliums contain sulphur which kills these bacteria.
Beans And Brussels Sprouts
Growing beans as companion plants for Brussels sprouts will ensure the soil contains enough nitrogen for the sprouts. If space is tight go for climbing/pole beans as these grow upwards rather than outwards.
Peas And Brussels Sprouts
As with beans, peas make good growing companions for Brussels sprouts. Just be aware of aphids, both peas and sprouts are prone to aphid attacks so keep an eye out.
Beetroot And Brussels Sprouts
I grow my beetroots amongst my brassicas, they both like the same growing conditions and so make great companion plants.
Companion Planting Brussels Sprouts-Herbs
Along with chives, mentioned above. There are many herbs that are beneficial when used for companion planting Brussels sprouts.
Mint And Brussels Sprouts
This makes a great companion plant for all brassicas, because it’s strong aroma deters pests. But mint does come with a warning, it can become extremely invasive. For this reason it’s advisable to grow mint in containers and be wary of any roots spreading.
Thyme And Brussels Sprouts
Thyme is a wonderful herb, strong smelling, and beautiful flowering too. All of which is beneficial for Brussels sprout growers, the strong aroma will deter many pests. Plus once in bloom the many pollinators will deter many pests just by sheer numbers present.
Rosemary And Brussels Sprouts
This aromatic herb is well known for it’s pest repelling properties, with the added advantage that it doesn’t even have to be growing near by. Just lay some sprigs of rosemary around your sprouts to reap the same benefits, without the need for multiple rosemary plants.
Sage And Brussels Sprouts
Sage is great for deterring flea beetles and many other pests. This is due to its strong aroma, one point to remember is sage should always be kept away from members of the allium family.
Chamomile And Brussels Sprouts
This attractive herb will bring many useful insects into your garden, including hoverflies and parasitic wasps. Chamomile is reported to improve the health of many plants including alliums and brassicas.
Dill And Brussels Sprouts
Another great herb for attracting parasitic wasps that will keep pest numbers down. Once in flower you will notice many beneficial insects coming to your plot.
Basil And Brussels Sprouts
The strong aroma from basil will disguise your sprouts from many pests. Don’t be tempted to add tomatoes along with the basil, as brassicas and tomatoes don’t get on at all.
Companion Planting Brussels Sprouts-Flowers
There are some flowers that gardeners should never be without, below are some of the best for growing with Brussels sprouts.
Nasturtiums and Brussels Sprouts
Nasturtiums hold a unique position in the world of companion planting, they act as a deterrent to pests, plus they attract beneficial insects. Often grown as a trap crop for aphids, I think they deserve to be grown in their own right. They’ll grow in any soil type, however nutrient deficient.
Which makes them ideal for growing with Brussels sprouts, as all brassicas need a lot of calcium. If you would like to know more about companion planting nasturtiums follow this link.
Marigolds And Brussels Sprouts
There are both advantages and disadvantages to growing marigolds. They repel whiteflies, a particular problem for sprouts, and they deter nematodes like eel worms which damage plant roots and can cause death. On the other hand marigolds can attract slugs, this can be turned to your advantage though, by growing them as a trap crop.
They also bring many pollinators to the garden which is always a benefit. For more on marigold companion planting click here.
Geraniums And Brussels Sprouts
Multicoloured, and with a variety of leaf types, the geranium is another aromatic plant that will help to deter pests from your sprouts. Particularly the cabbage white butterfly. To find out more on companion planting geraniums follow this link.
What Not To Grow With Brussels Sprouts
Not all plants make good companions, and the following have been found to be problematic for Brussels sprouts.
Squash And Brussels Sprouts
Both Summer and Winter squashes require lots of nutrients and for this reason should be kept separate from Brussels sprouts.
Sweetcorn And Brussels Sprouts
Like squashes, sweetcorn requires a lot of nutrients, Brussels sprouts are also heavy feeders, so one or both of these crops will not grow successfully.
Strawberries And Brussels Sprouts
Strawberries exude a chemical from their roots that actually inhibit brassica growth. So keep strawberries and Brussels sprouts well away from each other.
Potatoes And Brussels Sprouts
Another heavy feeding crop, potatoes, and all other members of the nightshade family should not be grown anywhere near brassicas, including Brussels sprouts. Also brassica crops need extra calcium, and if there is too much calcium in the soil, potatoes will develop scab.
Tomatoes And Brussels Sprouts
Another member of the nightshade family, meaning the same issues apply, however in this case it will be the tomato plants that come off worse. This is also the case with peppers, chillis and aubergines(egg plants) (see below).
Peppers And Brussels Sprouts
Peppers and chilli peppers are prone to verticillium longisporum, which is a fungal infection that causes infected plants to die. Brussels sprouts and all other brassicas are also extremely susceptible to this infection. Make sure to keep these plants separate.
Dahlias And Brussels Sprouts
The same infection that affects peppers and brassicas is a common cause of death in dahlias too. Although some flowers make good companions for sprouts dahlias do not! For more on this infection go to the British Society for Plant Pathology website by following this link.
There are many varieties of Brussels sprouts to choose from, which will allow you to have a constant supply from October right through to March.
