PlantWise

Companion plants for broccoli

What to grow next to broccoli, what to keep away from them, and why. Each reason is tagged by how well it’s supported.

Good companions

  • Onions Garden tradition

    Traditional pairing said to confuse brassica pests.

  • Lettuce Practical reason

    Fills space around young brassicas.

  • Dill and chamomile Practical reason

    Attract parasitic wasps that attack caterpillars.

Keep apart

  • Strawberries Practical reason

    Compete and shade each other.

  • Tomatoes Practical reason

    Different season and both heavy feeders.

Planning the bed

Space broccoli 18 inches apart (1 per square foot in square-foot gardening); the spacing calculator works out how many fit. For timing, see when to plant broccoli, and the full companion planting chart compares all 16 vegetables at once.

Questions gardeners ask

What are the best companion plants for broccoli?

Onions, Lettuce, Dill and chamomile. Onions: Traditional pairing said to confuse brassica pests.

What should you not plant with broccoli?

Strawberries, Tomatoes. Strawberries: Compete and shade each other.