Companion Planting
Companion planting can be an artwork form , specifically if you have limited gardening space . Cabbage is a shade well-disposed veg that can grow well with a act of unlike vegetables . In this article , horticulture expert and former constituent farmer Sarah Hyde examines her favourite companion plants for gelt in your garden .
Dreaming of rise your own dinero ? Homemade sauerkraut in your time to come ? peradventure you want to learn to make your family ’s traditional cabbage rolls ? When yougrow cabbage , fellow traveler planting them with other crops can help better the issue of your harvest time , and maximize the quad in your garden bed .
But , the interrogation becomes , what should you implant with cabbage ? Are there certain vegetables , herbs , or prime that pair better with this lovely garden veg ? The good news is you have lots of options , as cabbage is a fairly good partner when it do to pare with other veggie .
In this article we take a deeper look atour favorite associate plants to spring up with cabbage , as well as what not to grow with cabbage . We dive into vegetables , herbs , and flush that maturate well together . Let ’s bound in !
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Brassica Crops & Companion Planting
Botanically , dough is a penis of the brassica flora family , along with kale , cauliflower , brussels sprouts , and Asiatic putting green . Brassicasare also love ascole or crucifer crops . The name crucifer name to the distinguishable cross - molded efflorescence these industrial plant hold .
All brassicas have similar nutrient need on the land , ontogenesis habits , and pest problem . In fact , cabbage , cauliflower , Brussels sprouts , kale and Brassica oleracea italica are actually the same species and genus but have been cover for different comestible constituent !
Companion Planting Explained
Companion planting is intentionally growing sure plants next to each other to draw benefits of grow them together . Companion found mayencourage plant healthand reduce pest and disease pressure .
Companion plantingincreases diversity in the garden , especially in small spaces , and help maximize space for square groundwork horticulture . Companion planting is also used to maximize garden outer space if two plants have unlike maturity charge per unit and emergence habit .
Important Considerations
Before you add cabbage to your garden , make indisputable you have ample spaceto appropriate it to grow to maturity ! Cabbage industrial plant can become immense , up to four feet across ! Do n’t skimp on space for dough – you ’ll have Bruxelles - sprout size of it head if they are too crowded .
Keep in mind that fledged , huge clams leaves will shade out anything growing underneath them ! minuscule - headed , compactcabbage varietiesare useable , but the plants still necessitate a few metrical unit of produce place per works .
Cabbage plants are best uprise as transplants . If you are start from source you may have many options of character to grow , including cherry , green , conical and savoyed folio . uprise unique varieties adds even more interest to your garden .
They also needample fertilizer or compostduring the growing season . Cabbage specifically needs veritable water for even foliage organization in the read/write head . Too much water can cause splitting in the head . check that you contrive for both blank space and fecundity when you decide to plant cabbage .
Cabbage thrives in cool spring and fall weather . Mature plant can withstand fall frost , and even modest transplants can weather a few freezing spring nights with little job . The end is to have your spring cabbage mature before the extremely hot day of summertime , or in the nerveless late decline day .
lasting red-hot summer temperature will induce the cultivated cabbage to taste bitter and increase the possibility of dry - edged leaves in the inside of the head as it forms . emphasis from the heatmakes cabbage plants more susceptible to pest and diseases .
Vegetable Companions
There are many unlike types of crop that will perform quite well with pelf . First up , we take a aspect at some of the top vegetables you could plant with dough to maximize the quad inside your garden beds , and produce bigger crop issue .
Carrots
Carrots make peachy fellow traveler plants for cabbage , due to different growing habitsand piddling to no shared pests , and they both can grow well in cooler weather . Carrots take up garden spaceprimarily underground ( though they can get tall tops bet on the diverseness ) . dough needs less rootage space andmore above background spaceso they can share the same garden orbit for part of their life .
industrial plant carrot betimes in the spring , when your cabbage transplant are still secure inside the nursery ’s nursery or your windowsill ( or wherever you develop your graft ! ) . When Brassica oleracea planting meter come , hopefully , your Daucus carota sativa will have germinated and are at least a few inches magniloquent . tolerate both plant to grow together .
As the bread works increase in size , it will start to shade the carrots . Harvest babe carrot from around the cabbage plant ’s growing base as they are shade out , leave the furthermost out carrot to uprise to full size of it .
Beets
beet are a great companion plant for cabbage too , since they are alike in growth habit to carrot , as described above . They alsoshare a few pests with cabbage . beet are a gravid choice because theytend to be a bit sluttish to growfor novice nurseryman than carrots .
beet can be harvested at the baby stage for sweet , bid treat . beet have another super force that have them first-class comrade flora – their greens ! As the beets grow around the cabbage , harvest the green to allow more space for the cabbage flora . Beta vulgaris greens rival Swiss chard for health benefits and flavor .
Lettuce
Lettuce is an excellent choice for plant next to cabbage , though it does n’t pop the question specific benefit in terms of pest protection . Lettuce and cabbageboth prefer cool weather . Lettuce is an soft - going , quick craw that can be harvested multiple times . Lettuce can be planted before or at the time of transplanting cabbage .
Thelettuce will maturein half the time as the cabbage and will regrow from harvested leaves for a second or even third harvest . As the kale and loot ripen , keep harvesting the lettuce from around the cabbage works before it gets shaded out .
Lettuce loosely does not do well in the estrus , so you may harvest all the lettuce and cabbage before the heat of summer . That leaves you with an open infinite to plant a heating plant do it crop . For model , pop in some okra or basil transplants in the space where cultivated cabbage and lolly grow .
Scallions
Allium porrum are first-class blank savers since they grow small and lean . Sow green onion seeds directly into the garden as ahead of time as soil can be make for and be patient .
They areslow growers . Allow them to get past the “ grass - level ” where the baby scallions resemble blades of supergrass , before planting cabbage graft with them .
Scallions can be establish around the cabbage plants similar to how lettuce , carrots , and beet were described above . scallion can be reap at any stage after they are the size of a pencil , and have a long harvest home window . Again , harvest the scallions closest to cabbage first , as the cabbage will eventually shade off out the nearest spring onion .
Spinach
prickly-seeded spinach thrives in coolheaded weatherand is one of the first seeds you may found in the natural spring – even when it is still freezing at night ! It is also a “ burn - and - issue forth - again ” crop , mean if you reap only some leave of absence from each plant it will uphold to produce .
This have it a great flora to found and glean from for a few weeksbefore couch in your shekels plants . standardised to lettuce , harvest the Spinacia oleracea from around the cabbage plant until it gets shaded out .
One caution – aphids do eff to give ear out under the curled spinach leaves , especially as the weather warms . Keep an centre out that the aphids do n’t move onto your bread plants . take away spinach as the weather gets raging , even if it happen before your wampum pass is fully mature .
Dandelion Greens
Dandelion green are an unsung heroine of the garden due to theirhigh nutrient contentand few pests . They can roil out salubrious greens all time of year long , even after you ’ve pulled the cabbage plant in the summertime heat !
blowball seed you purchase for planting is botanically different from the common yellow unfolding lawn pot . blowball greens are actually chicory and are the same species as witloof .
When space closely , blowball viridity will uprise fairly vertically , which induce them a great space recoverer next to distance - hogging cabbage . Again , as the cabbage grows , harvest the dandelion green plants as they get shaded out .
Celery
Celery has been purported to repulse cabbage moths , which give it a dear pick for companion plant with cabbage . Even if cultivated cabbage moth were to witness your cabbage , chances are good they would not move onto the Apium graveolens dulce . Apium graveolens dulce and wampum both are well grown as transplantation , prefer cool weather , and need veritable water for idealistic growth organisation .
Celeryand lettuce are very close in their solar day to maturity ( approimately 75 - 85 24-hour interval depending on variety ) . This makes them estimable companions because once both crops are done , you take the plants in their totality and make space for a young crop .
Since celery and chou struggle in hot conditions , this opens up space in your garden for a new summertime crop – basil transplants , noodle , okra , or zinnias for example .
Mâche
Mâche , Vit , and Lamb ’s Lettuce are all public figure for the most fabulous under - recognise garden craw that also pretend a cracking companion for cabbage . With a exchangeable emergence riding habit to spinach plant , mâche can be sow in very early , as soon as the grunge can be worked .
Mâche has a soft , nutty flavoryou wo n’t find anywhere else in the garden . Though it is slow to sprout and develop , the hold is deserving it !
Mâche can withstand cold temperatures and can be sow in ahead of time , so it will grow into a harvestable works by the meter the cabbage graft go in . While the kale is maturate to maturity date , keep harvesting your mâche from around the plant .
Careful harvesting will allow mâche to be acut - and - come - again crop . Mâche and cabbage do n’t share many blighter aside from aphid , so they can be great garden associate !
Onions
Onions are very rewarding to grow in your garden since you could enjoy the fruits of your Labour all year if lay in properly after harvest . Allium cepa ’ generous scent also repels many pests that blast cabbage – chou moth , moolah loopers , aphids , andrabbits ! That alone makes them nifty fellow plants .
If you practice garden rotation ( which you should be ! ) planting onion plant next to cabbage can simplify your rotation . harmonise to esteemed constituent grower Eliot Coleman , onions have been shown to be beneficial preceding cabbage . That means you could just scootch next time of year ’s chou harvest properly where your onions develop .
While bulb onions need more space than spring onion mention above , they still have an erect growth habit . Onions are heavy feeders like lolly , so go for agenerous dose of compostbefore planting will profit both crop .
Garlic
Garlic share many of the same qualities with onions mentioned above , since they are tight have-to doe with botanically . Garlic ’s strongaroma drive back the same pestis , which makes it an fantabulous option for companion establish with cabbage . Garlic tends to take up slimly less spacethan onions and can be a beneficial choice along garden bottom edges where boodle carry center phase .
Arugula
Arugula is a beneficial companion industrial plant for lettuce in a way that most other crops list here are not . roquette is considered a“trap crop ” for flea mallet , which are also a cabbage plague . Flea mallet willeat the tender arugula leavesbefore baffling clams leaves .
Seeing them on rocket salad first establish you a chance to cover your loot with insect netting or quarrel cover . Let the flea beetles be on the arugula and regard it a sacrifice crop . pesticide do n’t work particularly well for flea mallet since they vaporize quickly at any social movement .
Herb Companions
Homegrown herbs are the keystone that takes your fresh - from - the - garden preparation to the next level . Not only do herbsadd the pop to every dish , most of them have very acrid aromas that repel pests , make them outstanding companion plants for pest - prostrate cabbage plants .
Thyme
Thyme ’s inviolable smell has been said to repulse cabbage moth . Thyme can be grown as an yearly or perennial , depending on your USDA geographical zone and variety . As a somewhatlow - growing plant , essay planting thyme around the edge of your beds with cabbages in the centre of attention .
When you ’ve reap the cabbage , the thyme will keep on growing and will be a heavy companion to most any other crop you plant after the Brassica oleracea .
Sage
Sage is another aromatic herbthat alsorepels cabbage moths . Sagegrows as a perennialin zones 4 - 8 , so many gardener will see salvia comeback year after year . Sage plants can originate into mini - shrubs so plan to give them enough blank . Visually , sage ’s light green , dusty leaves will look stunning next to deep blues and purples of cabbage folio .
Oregano
Oregano is a perennial , pungent herb that is stout inzones 4 - 9 . This moth-eaten - validity makes it a great companion craw to a fall good deal of cabbage . A mature oregano works can withstand light frosts , and its pungent odors will keep pests at bay . An easy herb to produce , it will spread if you give it enough blank space .
Chives
Chives are a beautiful , multipurpose plant that make great companions for cabbage , and are well imbed next to lolly ( rather than harvested from underneath ) . schnittlaugh ’ impregnable aromarepels aphids , a major pest for cabbage .
Chives can be dense to establish , but once they ’ve get a bridgehead , they will be recurrent . They are stalwart in zone 3 - 9 and are one of the first plants to emerge in the spring . Chives not only provide edible putting green , which can be harvested , dried , and used year - rung – they also have beautiful edible purple flowers !
Catnip
Catnip gain a great companion plant for cabbage since it ’s pungent aromarepels flea beetles . It is an edible member of the mint family and can be used for teas .
It has a like growth habit to pot marjoram and is unfearing in zones 3 - 9 so chances are you ’ll see it take back year after year . Plus , your furred feline family unit phallus will be thanking you for think of them in your garden !
Dill
dill weed is a large companion plant for chou because their flavors pair well in the kitchen . Since dill weed is not frost - hardy , you will have to await until your give kale is already actively growing to plant .
Thedill ejaculate school principal will maturein late summer / early gloam and the seed can be harvest to apply with your fall cabbage craw in sauerkrauts and cabbage rolls . Anethum graveolens can be resown throughout the season tohave a incessant supplying of fresh Anethum graveolens leaf .
Basil
Basil can be a keen companion planting to cabbage since its strong scentrepels most cabbage pests . However , their season together may be short , since basil prefer warm atmospheric condition and will die with a light contact of hoar in the fall .
Plant St. Basil the Great in the springaround your pelf after the threat of frost has pass . The cabbage will be nearing maturity , so when you ’ve harvested a beautiful head , murder the entire industrial plant by cutting it at its base below the soil production line . Leaving the Brassica oleracea ancestor append constitutive matter to the soil . You will then have mint of room for the basil to get on over summertime .
Flower Companions
There are a few capital blossom companions , that will help enrich the taste of your veg , but also keep both pest and disease forth from them . Let ’s take a look at the most common , and democratic flower companions to found with boodle in your garden .
Marigold
The classic marigold is a gardener ’s favorite companion plant since it pairs with nearly any crop . dinero benefit from living next to marigold since the flowersrepel cabbage moth . Full - grownmarigold plantscan tolerate swooning icing . This makes them suitable as a companion plant to cabbage for spring and fall crop .
Calendula
Calendula has great medicinal uses and the flower petals themselves are edible . Plus , its pungent floral olfactory property helpsrepel cabbage pests . apply the blooms as reduce flowers all time of year long . Calendula leave-taking are so strongly scented that they will keep working severely to repel pelf pests , even if you harvest the flowers .
Nasturtium
Nasturtium is both beautiful and edible . comestible genus Nasturtium leaves impart a spicy beef to salad and their orangeness efflorescence fetch joy to any garden . Nasturtium’sability to snub cabbage wormsmakes them great companion for kale plants ! Nasturtium is an yearly thatcan thrive in sun and part shade .
Avoid Growing These With Cabbage
There are a few crops that are not cabbage ’s best friend . Most reported is that tomato implant with cabbage will result in poorly growing , scrawny tomato .
edible corn isnot the good choice to found mighty next to cabbage . Corn does not allow any specific benefit to cabbage . You may run into infinite issues as well since both are big plant .
big cabbage leaves will shade out new corn industrial plant , and if the corn is already marvelous when you plant cabbage it may shade cabbage . Both crops are also labored feeders , making heavy nutrient demand on the soil .
Pumpkinsand squash are both poor choices interplanted with gelt since they all have heavy leave-taking and will shade out anything underneath them . Pumpkins and squash racquets are not known to provide any particular benefit to cabbage and are best planted in their own space .
Final Thoughts
grow your own cabbage is a great elbow room to beautify your garden , adjudicate singular cabbage variety not found in stores , and experience the difference in the tang of fresh - picked cabbage . familiar set these advise crops with cabbage is a majuscule mode tomaximize benefits from both crops . sample different combinations for your space and see what works advantageously for your garden !
