10 Best Brussel Sprouts Companion Plants

Brussels sprouts, a member of the Brassicaceae family, benefit greatly from companion planting. This approach involves strategically positioning plants near each other to enhance growth, ward off pests, and improve flavors.

Selecting the right companion plants for Brussels sprouts can significantly contribute to a healthier and more productive garden.

Key Takeaways

1. Benefits of Good Companions

• Flavor Enhancement: Certain companions like carrots and chamomile can improve the flavor of Brussels sprouts.
• Pest Control: Plants like mint, basil, and garlic repel harmful pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
• Soil Improvement: Legumes such as peas and beans enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen.
• Pollinator Attraction: Dill attracts bees, crucial for pollination and enhancing overall garden health.

2. Risks of Bad Companions

• Nutrient Competition: Plants like eggplants and tomatoes can deplete essential nutrients, hindering the growth of Brussels sprouts.
• Shade and Light Reduction: Tall or bushy plants like peppers may block sunlight, impacting Brussels sprouts’ development.
• Pest Attraction: Certain plants, including potatoes and mustard greens, may attract pests that could harm Brussels sprouts.

3. Scientific Perspective

• Diverse Ecosystem: Incorporating a variety of plants encourages a balanced ecosystem, attracting beneficial insects for pest control and pollination.
• Plant Interactions: Different plant species can disrupt pests’ ability to find their host plants, adding an extra layer of protection for Brussels sprouts.

4. Considerations for Vegetable Gardens

• Vegetable Compatibility: Understanding which vegetables thrive together can optimize space and resources in a vegetable garden.
• Balancing Diversity: While diversity is beneficial, it’s important to manage plant competition for nutrients, water, and light.

Good Companion Plants for Brussels Sprouts

Companion Plant	Benefits
Carrots	Enhances flavor
Celery	Repels bugs
Peas	Loosens soil, fixes nitrogen
Onions	Repels rust flies
Mint	Repels aphids and flea beetles
Basil	Repels flies, mites, mosquitoes, aphids
Rosemary	Repels moths and rust flies
Beans	Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Marigold	Repels nematodes and whiteflies
Chamomile	Improves flavor
Dill	Attracts bees for pollination
Garlic	Repels aphids, maggots, whiteflies
Sage	Repels moths and rust flies.

Bad Companion Plants for Brussels Sprouts

Companion Plant	Risks
Eggplants	Depletes nutrients
Peppers	Reduces sunlight
Potatoes	Attracts harmful pests
Tomatoes	Takes away nutrients
Mustard Greens	May attract pests

Conclusion and References

Companion planting for Brussels sprouts involves a strategic selection of plants that can enhance growth, flavor, and pest control, while avoiding those that might compete for resources or attract harmful pests. Implementing these practices based on scientific understanding of plant interactions can lead to a healthier and more productive garden.

• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. (n.d.). The New Companion Planting: Adding Diversity to the Garden. Retrieved from University of Delaware.