Cabbage Companion Plants
Cabbage is a hungry, cool-weather brassica suited to UK gardens, but it needs firm soil, steady moisture and protection from cabbage white caterpillars. Aromatic herbs and strong-scented plants are traditionally used as decoys, although evidence is mixed. Netting and crop rotation are generally more dependable parts of an integrated approach.
Good companions for Cabbage
| Plant | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| French beans | Beans use a different growth habit and, as legumes, may leave some nitrogen in roots after cropping. |
| Beetroot | Beetroot can fill temporary gaps between young cabbage plants and is usually harvested before cabbages reach full size. |
| Celery | Celery enjoys similar moisture-retentive soil and offers contrasting foliage in a generously spaced mixed bed. |
| Dill | Its aromatic foliage is traditionally included near brassicas as a possible decoy, while flowers attract useful insects. |
| Thyme | Low, strongly scented thyme is traditionally planted near brassicas; keep it at edges so cabbage has airflow. |
| Nasturtiums | Nasturtiums are often used as a sacrificial or distracting planting, though results vary between gardens. |
| Poached egg plant | Its small flowers may support hoverflies and other beneficial insects around the vegetable plot. |
Keep Cabbage away from
| Plant | Why to separate them |
|---|---|
| Broccoli | It shares brassica pests and diseases, including cabbage white caterpillars, and should not follow or crowd cabbage. |
| Cauliflower | Another brassica increases pest pressure and makes sensible crop rotation more difficult in a small bed. |
| Kale | Kale shares the same pest complex, so planting a large block together can simplify problems rather than diversify them. |
| Strawberries | Both need room and regular attention; dense planting can reduce airflow and make netting awkward. |
Tips
Plant sturdy seedlings into firm soil and water them in well. Use fine insect mesh from planting to help exclude cabbage white butterflies, checking that it is sealed at the edges. Keep weeds down, water in dry weather and rotate away from all brassicas for several years where space permits. Do not follow another brassica crop.
Cabbage companion planting: frequently asked questions
What are good companion plants for cabbage?
Good companions for cabbage include French beans, Beetroot, Celery, Dill, Thyme, Nasturtiums, Poached egg plant.
What should you not plant near cabbage?
Keep cabbage away from Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Strawberries.
How does companion planting help cabbage?
Cabbage is a hungry, cool-weather brassica suited to UK gardens, but it needs firm soil, steady moisture and protection from cabbage white caterpillars.
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Companion planting is a traditional practice; results vary with your climate, soil and garden. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.