Brussel Sprouts are one crucial member of the Cruciferae family. Cruciferae mainly has other popular vegetables, such as cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and cabbage.
It is one of the highly nutritious and easy-to-grow vegetables which requires minimum effort.
Although it requires less effort, it is a cool seasoned crop that attracts pests and insects that are very invasive. It also needs some other nutrients for its healthy growth.
Companion plantings can help overcome these issues when planting brussel sprouts.
Why Having The Right Companion Plant is Important For Brussel Sprouts?
Good companion plants work in different ways. For instance, it doesn’t compete for resources and thus helps its companion plant grow to its potential. The same is true for Brussel Sprouts. An excellent companion plant will help Brussel Sprouts thrive and grow.
Let us discover why the right companion planting is vital for good harvesting.
1. Repel Insects
Many insects and pests, such as aphids, caterpillars, or cabbage worms, are attracted to Brussel Sprouts. Companion plants help to repel these pests.
Apart from being of immense value to your garden, companion plants not only repel bugs but helps in attracting pollinators and beneficial insects like ladybugs.
2. Improves Soil Nutrition
Companion planting helps in improving soil nutrients. In the case of Brussel Sprouts, companion plants provide soil fixation and nutrient cycling.
Some companion plants bring nutrients and water from deep soil to the upper layers. These plants often spill the extra water and other nutrients after using all they need.
Those spills are then taken in by neighboring plants like Brussels sprouts for themselves.
3. Shade Regulation
Many plants grow well in direct sunlight, but some do not enjoy too much sun. It’s where companion planting plays a vital role in providing shade regulation.
Taller plants often regulate direct sunlight and provide partial shade when planted next to smaller plants.
4. Enhanced Flavors
Plants often release vital nutrients and odors to their neighboring plants. Planting good companion plants around it is observed that taste and flowers are enhanced the crops making them more valuable.
Seasoned gardeners often use different species of plants when choosing companion plants, as they can bring different qualities to the garden bed.
5. Area Consumption
Companion plants often help fill vacant spaces generated after the plantation. In yards, thin areas are mostly empty, causing the soil to get infectious. Small plants like peas are often planted to fill those spaces.
Best Brussel Companion Plants
The best companion plants for Brussel Sprouts can help control pests, provide vital nutrients, and attract pollinators. But not all plants can be good companions, so knowing what plants to choose is vitally important.
In this section, we will learn about the best companion plants for Brussels Sprouts.
Plants That Benefit Brussel Sprouts
Here is a list of some plants which, when planted alongside Brussel Sprouts, can help in its growth.
1. Sage
Sage is a member of the mint family, used to enhance the aroma and flavor of your food. It releases essential oil, which gives a scent that repels pests.
Sage also helps to repel cabbage worms which can become cabbage moths and are not good for your crop. You would do well to plant sage at a distance of two to three feet as mature sage can grow tall and shade the Brussel Sprouts.
2. Beets
Beets are an excellent companion to Brussels Sprouts and a plant that adds immense value to your garden.
Beets provide the soil with fertilization, namely magnesium. Magnesium is an essential component of Brussels sprouts.
Beets also have deep tap roots. They extract more water and nutrients from the soil than they need, which they excrete into the soil. Brussels Sprouts can then use this to their benefit.
3. Onions
Onions are undoubtedly an essential part of every dish. No food is complete without onions. Onion is a good companion for many plants, more so for Brussels Sprouts, adding value to its existence.
Onions have a strong odor that helps repel Japanese beetles, aphids, blight, and almost half a dozen insects and pests. They also enhance the sweetness of Brussels sprouts.
Onions are a plant that only takes a little space to grow and doesn’t compete for sunlight when grown alongside Brussel Sprouts.
So it can be a perfect companion.
4. Carrots
Carrots are another of those plants that co-exist well with Brussels sprouts as they add sweetness and crunch. They are root veggies that grow well in full sunlight, similar to Brussels sprouts.
Carrots provide extra nutrients to the soil keeping it loose, boosting its nitrogen levels. Being a cool seasoned crop, they can tolerate frost as well.
5. Basil
Basil is best known for their pest-repelling properties. It’s a herb that improves Brussels sprouts growth and health.
Basil can repel thrips that suck the nectar out of sprout leaves. Basils are similar to Brussel Sprouts, needing direct sunlight and full-drained soil to grow well.
6. Peas
Peas form a good relationship with Brussels sprouts. They provide a good amount of nitrogen in the soil, which helps Brussels sprouts to grow better and healthier.
Peas have a unique characteristic of keeping the soil humid, making an ideal ground for nutrient-growing vegetables like Brussels sprouts.
7. Dill
Dill is a very known companion plant of Brussels sprouts. Dill is a drought-tolerant plant and does not require frequent watering.
Planting the Dill a little apart from Brussel Sprouts is advisable to get the full benefit of a companion plant.
Plants That Benefit From Brussel Sprouts
Now that we know about plants that help brussel sprouts thrive, let’s learn about plants that yield and bloom when planted next to Brussels sprouts.
8. Chard
Chard benefits from Brussel Sprouts. Seasoned gardeners plant chard next to Brussel Sprouts as chard thrives and grows healthier when planted together.
9. Spinach
Spinach benefits from the presence of Brussel Sprouts. They grow low and in their confined space. Brussel sprout gives them partial shade preventing them from the scorching heat and helping them remain cool.
Worst Companion Plants For Brussel Sprouts
In the previous section of the article, we have seen a list of plants that do well with Brussel Sprouts, but are also some plants that are best avoided.
Let’s find out what plants are the worst companion plants for Brussel Sprouts.
1. Fennel
Fennel looks very much like Dill. But unlike Dill, it’s not the right choice to plant alongside Brussels sprouts.
Fennel releases a toxic chemical that kills Brussel Sprouts and anything else planted near it. So it’s not advisable to plant fennel in any way near Brussel Sprouts.
2. Strawberries
Strawberries and Brussel Sprouts do not go well with each other. They compete for the same space.
Strawberries are believed to release a chemical that inhibits the growth of plants in the Cruciferae family.
3. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are heavy feeders, and so are Brussel Sprouts. If planted alongside, they will compete for the same nutrients, which will slow and sabotage the growth of both plants.
Planting them together can deplete fertile soil. Tomatoes should be planted at least seven feet away from Brussel Sprouts.
How to Choose The Right Thyme Companion Plants?
Most companion plantings are based on the knowledge seasoned gardeners have gathered over the years.
Here are some essential points you can follow while picking the right companion plant for your plant.
- The companion plant should not share the same pest problems as the main crop. If an insect is to affect companion plants, it will likely affect Brussel Sprouts as well.
- It should have soil and sunlight requirements similar to Brussel Sprouts, i.e., full sunlight and moist soil. This way, they can grow under the same climate conditions.
- When grown together, they shouldn’t be competing for nutrients.
- Otherwise, it would prove mutually detrimental, preventing each other from attaining healthy growth.
Conclusion
I have listed seven of the best companion plants for Brussel Sprouts in this article. Also, I have mentioned three plants that should be avoided as companion plants at all costs.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with all the information you need to decide on the companion plants for Brussel Sprouts.
Which of the above plants will you grow with Brussel Sprouts to make your garden look more beautiful? Do let us know in the comments below.