The main plants that harm broccoli include strawberries, tomatoes, and other brassica crops. Pole beans also make the list. These plants compete for nutrients or attract shared pests. Keeping them apart gives your broccoli the best chance to thrive and form full-sized heads.
I learned this lesson when I planted cabbage right next to my broccoli one spring. The cabbage drew in cabbage worms that spread to both crops within weeks. I spent the whole season picking off caterpillars by hand. Both crops suffered more damage than they would have growing in separate areas.
My neighbor made the same mistake with her tomatoes last year. She planted them just two feet from her broccoli row. Both crops grew poorly because they were fighting for the same nutrients. Now she keeps them at opposite ends of her garden and gets much better results from both crops.
Strawberries rank among the worst bad companions for broccoli. They attract slugs and compete for nutrients. Both plants are heavy feeders that pull lots of nitrogen from your soil. Gardenary lists strawberries as a top plant to keep away from broccoli.
What not to plant with broccoli includes tomatoes for a different reason. Tomatoes need calcium just like broccoli does. Both plants pull hard on the same soil reserves. Growing them close leads to blossom end rot in tomatoes and weak stems in your broccoli.
Putting brassicas near each other is a top error. Cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts all draw cabbage moths and aphids to your garden. Grouping these crops creates a pest paradise where bugs spread fast. Broccoli companion planting mistakes like this ruin whole rows at once.
Pole beans and mustard greens also belong on your avoid list. Pole beans can shade out your broccoli and compete for root space. Mustard greens share the same pest issues as other brassicas. Keep them far from your broccoli rows.
Some plants put out chemicals from their roots that slow down neighbors. Fennel is the worst culprit you might grow in your garden. Keep it far away from your broccoli and most other vegetables. Your plants will thank you with better growth.
Plan your garden layout with these bad companions for broccoli in mind. Keep brassicas in their own rotation zone. Move that zone to a new spot each year. This breaks pest cycles and prevents soil depletion that hurts your yields.
Plant helpful companions near your broccoli instead of harmful ones. Dill, onions, garlic, and marigolds deter pests and don't fight for the same nutrients. Beets and lettuce make good neighbors too. Choose your plant neighbors wisely and your broccoli will reward you with better heads.
Read the full article: Growing Broccoli: Expert Advice for Home Gardeners
