Companion Planting

In this article , horticulture expert Kaleigh Brillon give way over all the different crops you may plant with cauliflower . Cauliflower may be big , but you could implant slew of thing with it . You ’ll learn all about familiar planting , and why it ’s a great estimate to pair certain plant with your cauliflower this season !

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‘snowball y’ cauliflower is nestled in large green, ribbed leaves.

Cauliflowercan be relish in so many ways : dipped in ranch dressing , saute , in a stir tiddler as a rice backup man , and even to make pizza crusts . With so many options for this versatile industrial plant , you ’ll want to grow your own just to try out them all ! You might accept you do n’t have room for them since they can turn so large , but many companion plants do n’t take care being next to the cauliflower .

You ’ll want to choose industrial plant that like a spate of body of water and do n’t necessitate the same nutrients as cauliflower . Since these brassicas are heavy feeders , they should be fertilized regularly throughout the season . There are many ways to incorporate other plant into your cauliflower patch that will benefit or tolerate Brassica oleracea botrytis nearby .

I will show you15 associate plants you may grow with cauliflowerso you may use all your garden space . There ’s no motivation to get rogue Brassica oleracea botrytis folio take over !

Close-up of a vegetable garden with Cauliflower and Kale growing. Cauliflower is a biennial plant that consists of a central stem surrounded by large broad leaves that form a rosette at the base. The leaves are large, bluish-green in color and have a slightly wrinkled or ruffled texture. Kale forms a rosette of large dark green leaves with heavily curly edges. Leaves are oval, oblong.

What Is Companion Planting?

Plants work better together , and anyone who expend fellow traveller planting in their garden screw it . Different plant potpourri in the same space can benefit each other in ways that will assist tighten plague , increase growth , and sometimes even heighten the feeling . Most importantly , companion planting improves biodiversity by bringing in more pollinator and beneficial insects .

Companion planting allows you to gallop your maturate seasons beyond what you ’d normally do without it . A garden bed dedicated to lettuce will go off in late spring or early summer , but when large plants like tomatoes or helianthus protect those brain of dough , they can last a little longer because they are n’t suffering under the summertime sun .

This horticulture method can do good farmers with several acres of land , a small container garden on a balcony , and every garden size of it in between .

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Cauliflower as Companion Plants

I used to think you could n’t plant anything with Brassica oleracea botrytis because of how big the leaves can grow . But these plants can still be good neighbors even if they interest a mickle of blank . allow ’s look at what you may carry with these cole craw around .

Most of the Brassica oleracea botrytis plant is above ground , meaning it does n’t take up much space below the surface . you may utilize that space by embed crops that need plenty of soil , like potatoes or common beet . The Brassica oleracea botrytis leaves can help protect rootage and tuber as they develop .

Cauliflower does n’t need a mountain of the same nutrients as its companions , so it wo n’t have to vie for them as much . However , they need a spate of nitrogen , so you ’ll still call for to fertilize them throughout the growing season .

Close-up of a bean bush in the garden. This annual plant produces climbing stems and lush dark green foliage. The leaves have a characteristic trifoliate shape, which means that each leaf is divided into three leaflets. Leaflets are wide, heart-shaped, with pointed tips. Bean fruits are elongated pods containing edible seeds. The pods are thin, long, green,

I associate cauliflower ( and the rest of the Brassica lot ) with pests . They ’re susceptible tocabbage loopers , cabbage worms , cabbage root maggot , army worm , aphids , cucumber beetles , snails , slugs , flea beetle , and thrip . Nearly every plant is susceptible to something , but it seems like cauliflower attracts pests that eat up a slew of its companions , so you ’ll need to keep an oculus out for pest invasions .

Cauliflower needs 1 - 2 inches of water each hebdomad , which may limit what you could found nearby . If you pick out a companion that also likes body of water , you must render even more water for the thirsty plant life in that small area . Keeping companion industrial plant in containers nearby is a well way to make sentience of your lacrimation schedule .

Companion Plants for Cauliflower

Let ’s look at some plants that will lick well with cauliflower . Some plants provide benefits , while others are recommended because they do n’t make any problems .

Beans

Since cauliflower call for plenty of nitrogen to develop its leaf and brain , you ’ll want to keep plenty ofbeans nearby . Beans take in nitrogen from the air , then affix it in nodule on their roots . While this nitrogen wo n’t become uncommitted until the bean rootage decompose after the season , you ’re essentially improving your next time of year ’s crop in advance – and any fertilizer you lend will go straight to the cauliflower !

Both bush and rod beans are doable , but you ’ll need to keep in line celestial pole beans with trellis to preclude them from overcome cauliflower with their vine . You must also ascertain they do n’t cast too much shade over the Brassica oleracea botrytis . Alternating wrangle of each plant will work , as will growing Brassica oleracea botrytis in front of a row of noggin on the side that receives the most sunlight .

recall that edible bean are strong weather lovers , so this pairing is best during those joint between the seasons ; late summertime into early surrender when you plant the evenfall Brassica oleracea botrytis crop or in the spring before you harvest your final cauliflower head word .

Top view, close-up of growing beets in the garden. Beetroot plants have a rosette of dark green, glossy leaves at the base and a thick, fleshy taproot below the soil surface. Beet leaves are large, with a heart-shaped base and protruding purple veins. The plant forms a bulbous taproot, which is the main edible part of the plant. It is large, rounded, covered with a brownish skin.

Beets

Cauliflower roots are shallow , but despite that , beetrootusually mate well with them . you could institute them pretty near to each other as long as the Brassica oleracea botrytis wo n’t get shade out by beet greens or frailty versa . Remember that cauliflower can have pretty monolithic greens itself , and you ’ll desire to keep the beets out from under them .

Though a beet ’s root is often the more democratic crop , its greens are just as important . They ’re full of magnesium and will avail your cauliflower develop well . countenance drained leaves fall to the ground , and if you ’re not a fan of eat the jet , bequeath them behind to play as a mulch and enrich the soil .

Celery

Celeryis a honest familiar for Brassica oleracea botrytis because they both take a circumstances of water to be glad . They should take in 1 - 2 inches per week and should n’t be allowed to dry out out , although you also do n’t want body of water to pee-pee around either plant life type .

A huge benefit Apium graveolens dulce offers is keeping awaycabbage moths . These moth will gobble up your harvest cursorily , so consider get a few celery plants to keep them at bay .

Cucumber

Cucumbers make good companionsfor cauliflower as long as you ensure both plants have everything they need . They ’re both incredibly hungry plants that will call for 1 - 2 column inch of H2O each calendar week and possibly more if you live in a dry area . You ’ll also need to fertilize them regularly since they ’re both heavy feeders .

develop cucumber vine can aid you extend your cauliflower harvesting into former summertime since they ’ll provide plenty of shadowiness once they climb trellises . Cauliflower will bolt once the weather condition warms up unless you give them shade .

Corn

clavus is another companionto help you get more out of your brassica crop . It may not be tall enough to help your Brassica oleracea botrytis go the former summertime heat , but when plant seeds in July for a fall harvest , the edible corn straw will render plenty of shade .

Depending on when you planted corn , it should be ready to harvest at the close of summer when the cauliflower is at an early stagecoach . you’re able to leave the stalks in the ground or use a shade cloth if the temperatures are still too spicy for cauliflower to be happy .

Dill

Dillattracts a potpourri of pollinatorsand beneficial insects that will benefit your intact garden . Many of the critters it bestow in eat aphid , which can be a detriment to your cauliflower . dill weed and cauliflower both have shallow radical system , so you may desire to keep dill in a container nearby so they do n’t compete for water .

A big draw of suffer dill near a brassica plot is that it repels lolly moth . You ’ll have them around anytime you ’re originate brassicas , so implant a few dill plant will assist you lower the population .

Onions

Onions and cauliflower get along well since their theme system and foliage do n’t interfere with each other . you could plant them jolly snugly together if you have a small distance . Like beets , though , it ’s best not to put the onion directly under the cauliflower foliage !

You ’ll want onion nearby because they snub major brassica pestis , include cabbage loopers , rabbit , and aphid . All three of these critter harm your craw otherwise but will keep their length since they do n’t care the onion olfactory perception .

Nasturtium

If you have a set of whitefly and aphids bugging your Brassica , apply genus Nasturtium as a lying in wait crop nearby . earmark these pests to junket on the plant while you remove them from your chief crop . When it ’s time to get rid of the plant , you ’ll get rid of many pests .

Nasturtiumgrows beautiful flowers that pull many good insects that will go after brassica pests . They contribute in a hatful of ladybird that go after aphids as well as hoverflies , parasitical WASP , and lacewings that go after cabbage worms andwhiteflies .

Nasturtium does n’t want as much water as most vegetable crop , so you’re able to constitute it on the edge of your one-year beds or keep it in container .

Close-up of a growing celery in the garden. Celery plants are herbaceous and have a group of long thin stems that grow from a central base. Celery leaves are dark green and grow in a rosette at the base of the plant. The leaves are pinnate and compound, which means they are divided into several segments, giving them a delicate and lacy appearance.

Potatoes

Potatoplants develop their tuber middling deeply in the priming , so they wo n’t compete with shallow cauliflower roots . The leafage has a short shaggy growth drug abuse that should n’t get in the way of your moolah unless you plant them too close .

spud and cauliflower have different requirements and wo n’t vie for the same nutrients . They call for the same amount of water each week , making them sluttish to care for in the garden .

Rosemary

You ’ll require to keep several rosemary plants around because of everything it will deter ! Cabbage moths , escargot , slugs , and several fly sort hate the scent and will stay far off .

Rosemaryis drouth - tolerant and will grow best in a container . It prefers ironical soil and only needs to be water about once a workweek , if even that . This scurvy - maintenance schedule may be unmanageable to keep up with if it ’s in the land next to your Brassica oleracea botrytis . instead , consider plant some rosemary at the very close of cauliflower rows , but do n’t launch the trickle irrigation up to it ; as long as it has a little morsel of water now and again , it ’ll perform well .

Sage

Sageis another herb that will go to battle for your cauliflower . It repels major pests like flea beetles , cabbage maggot , wampum worms , cabbage moth , and kale loopers . When salvia give way to heyday , it will appeal all sorts of pollinators .

Sage and rosemary make outstanding fellow traveler for each other , so you could plant them both with Brassica oleracea botrytis to assist keep pesterer aside . Sage also choose dry experimental condition , so keep open them near but separate from your brassicas is idealistic . While it will tolerate more water than rosemary will , it does choose a drier soil base than your Brassica oleracea botrytis .

Spinach

Spinachis an well-fixed - to - grow leaping crop that will get well with cauliflower . This fast - produce plant will move as a living mulch and help suppress locoweed while your Brassica oleracea botrytis seedlings develop .

They both have shallow radical systems but should n’t compete too much if there ’s enough space between the plant . They both like water supply and sun and will bolt once the temperature get too warm , so caring for them simultaneously will be a breeze .

Sunflowers

If you need more pollinators in your garden , sunflower are the way to go . They attract bee , butterfly stroke , and other beneficial insects you ’ll want to have around .

As far as brassica crops go , sunflowers bring home the bacon a little shade for cauliflower that ’s getting close to reap time in the spring , plus they can offer specter deep in the season when you ’re starting your new plants .

Swiss Chard

Swiss chardis one of those fellow traveller plants I mentioned that does n’t necessarily profit Brassica oleracea botrytis but does n’t cause problems . Chard and Brassica oleracea botrytis are content to live with each other without giving or pickings . It sound like an easy friendly relationship !

Both plant have shallow root system , but when fitly space , they wo n’t get sweep up and fight for water . They do n’t need the same nutrients , so they ’re not vie for that , either . Pair these two peaceable resident physician with some herbs that bring in beneficial insects ( especially ones like dill that can draw in predators for common brassica pests ) , and you ’re good to go .

Thyme

This aromatic herb can mask the fragrance of cauliflower and keep bugs away . Most pest insects do n’t like the odor of thyme , to begin with , so they ’ll remain away from the start . Thymeis undecomposed to keep around because it will repulse earworms , maggots , hornworms , mosquitoes , and whiteflies .

Thyme will also draw in pollinators and good worm when it flowers , and many of them will eat pestilence like aphid . This herbaceous plant can also behave as a ground cover charge if you allow it to spread out so it can help suppress weeds .

Thyme is another herb that prefers dry conditions , so this is another one to put in a container or on the edges of your brassica bed , where the grease will dry out faster .

Close-up of ripe cucumber fruits in a sunny garden. The cucumber plant produces hanging vines with large, heart-shaped leaves. They are dark green and covered with fine hairs on the surface. The fruits are medium, cylindrical in shape, with a smooth and thin green skin and with pimples.

Final Thoughts

Cabbage moths and other pests can desolate Brassica oleracea botrytis , but fortunately , many beneficial associate plant avail keep them away . With a little planning , you cansurround your Brassica oleracea botrytis with helpful plantsthat will make them well-to-do to care for .

Close-up of growing corn plants in a sunny garden. Corn plants are tall, erect and strong. They have long thin leaves that grow alternately along the stem. Corn leaves are long and linear, dark green in color. They have prominent parallel veins and a slightly rough texture. The fruit of the corn plant is cob, which is covered with numerous husks, and inside it are rows of yellowish grains.

Close-up of a growing dill in the garden. Dill plants have thin, hollow stems with finely divided leaves. The leaves are bright green, feathery and soft, reminiscent of tender ferns. They grow alternately along the stem.

Close-up of a growing onion in the garden. Onion plants have a unique structure, consisting of underground bulbs and above-ground leaves. Onion leaves are long, narrow and tubular, resembling green hollow tubes. They emerge from the top of the bulb and grow upward. The bulb consists of concentric layers of fleshy, densely packed leaves.

Close-up of blooming nasturtiums in a sunny garden. Nasturtiums are short, creeping or climbing annuals with rounded, slightly shield-like leaves. The leaves have a waxy texture and are dark green in color. Flowers bright orange and yellow. They have a unique funnel or tube shape with five separate petals.

Close-up of freshly dug potatoes in the garden. Potato is a perennial herbaceous plant with green branching stems covered with compound leaves. The leaves consist of oval leaflets with a rough texture. Tubers are oval, firm, covered with a brownish-pink skin.

Close-up of rosemary on a blurred background. Rosemary is an evergreen perennial, woody shrub with upright stems and bushy appearance. The leaves are needle-like and densely arranged on the stems. They are dark green above and lighter below.

Close-up of sage in a sunny garden. Salvia are shrubby perennials with lignified stems and bushy growth. Sage leaves are oblong and covered with fine hairs, giving them a slightly fluffy texture. They are grey-green in color.

Close-up of growing spinach plants in a sunny garden. Spinach has a rosette growth habit with dark green succulent leaves that form a cluster at the base. The leaves are bright green, tender, flat, with a slightly wrinkled texture. Spinach plants produce small, inconspicuous flowers. They are green and grow on tall thin stems called inflorescences.

Close-up of blooming sunflowers in the garden. Sunflowers are tall, upright plants with large flowers and leaves. They have strong stems covered with coarse hairs and broad, heart-shaped leaves. Sunflower leaves are large, rough, coarsely serrated along the edges. The flower heads consist of a dark central disc containing hundreds of small individual flowers surrounded by bright yellow petals.

Close-up of a Swiss chard plant in a sunny garden. Swiss chard is a biennial plant with a rosette habit. It has dark green, large and slightly wrinkled leaves that grow from a central stem. The stems have a bright red-pink hue. Swiss chard leaves are broad, glossy and delicate with prominent veins.

Top view, close-up of Thyme on a blurred background. This is a low-growing perennial plant with hanging or creeping stems. Thyme leaves are small, oval in shape, densely grouped along the stems. They are dark green in color and have a slightly fuzzy texture.