Sometimes, this is a matter of choosing plants with different growth habits that do not compete with one another or those that have different nutrient needs that make efficient use of soil. Broccoli does not mind having most other vegetables as close neighbors. A few plants, however, are known to negatively affect the growth and flavor of broccoli. Learn the differences so you can cultivate the best broccoli crop possible.
Growing Broccoli
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a member of the cabbage family, along with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and collard greens. It is an excellent plant to grow, because not only is it one of the most nutritious of all vegetables, but it is fairly easy to maintain.
A cool-season vegetable, broccoli fully matures in 55 to 80 days from transplants, 100 to 150 days from seed. In areas where frost comes late, you can grow it in spring, and then plant it again for a fall crop. Broccoli dislikes temperatures higher than 75°F, so midsummer is not the time for broccoli. It likes temperatures between 45 and 75°F, but it is frost tolerant and will even survive occasional temperatures down to 20°F. Although it likes full sun for at least six hours per day, broccoli is one of the few vegetables that will produce in partial shade. It prefers soil that’s slightly acidic, with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5, and needs consistently moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Broccoli is the perfect season-extender for early and late garden harvests.
Best Broccoli Companion Plants
Some gardeners claim that the following vegetables improve the flavor of broccoli:
Celery Potatoes Onions
Herbs that act as an aromatic to help repel common garden pests that feed on broccoli include:
Dill Rosemary Basil Mint Garlic Thyme
Broccoli growers may want to consider bone meal or another calcium-rich soil amendment to areas of the garden that are growing broccoli because broccoli is a notorious calcium-hog. Plants that require little calcium are good companions include:
Beets Nasturtiums Marigolds
In general, it is best to interplant broccoli with plants that do not need a lot of room and those that enjoy some shade in the late spring and early summer when broccoli growth is most robust. Plants that fit this category include:
Cucumber Lettuce Radishes Spinach Swiss chard Shallots
Opinions are mixed on whether other members in the cabbage family are good companions for broccoli. On the one hand, all these plants have similar needs for nutrients and watering, which means that planting them close to one another should be an effective strategy. Other experts suggest that because many of the same pests feed on these plants, it’s best to keep them apart in the garden in order to discourage mass insect attacks.
Worst Broccoli Companion Plants
The rather short list of plants to avoid near broccoli includes:
Tomatoes Eggplant Pepper Mustard Pole beans Lima beans Snap beans Squash Strawberries
Some heavy-feeding plants are also not well suited for planting near broccoli, which is also a heavy feeder. For this reason, avoid these plants that will compete for nutrients in the soil:
Asparagus Cantaloupe Sweet corn Pumpkin Watermelon
