Cabbage Companion Plants
Cabbage is a heavy-feeding brassica that draws its share of pests, so gardeners have long paired it with strong-scented herbs, flowers, and alliums meant to mask its smell, pull pests away, or invite the beneficial insects that keep those pests in check. Low, leafy companions can also share space and shade the soil while the heads size up. Companion planting is a traditional practice rather than a guaranteed method, so treat these pairings as a helpful starting point and expect results to vary with your climate, soil, and pest pressure.
Good companions for Cabbage
| Plant | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Dill | Its flowers attract beneficial insects that help keep cabbage worms and aphids in check. |
| Onions and garlic | Their strong scent is thought to mask cabbage and confuse pests looking for it. |
| Nasturtium | Often used as a trap plant that draws aphids away from the heads. |
| Thyme and sage | Aromatic herbs traditionally used to deter cabbage moths and loopers. |
| Celery | Its strong aroma is said to help mask cabbage from egg-laying moths. |
| Marigold | Bright blooms bring in pollinators and other helpful insects to the bed. |
| Beets | A low grower that shares space well without crowding the cabbage. |
| Chamomile | A traditional companion many gardeners plant nearby to support vigorous growth. |
Keep Cabbage away from
| Plant | Why to separate them |
|---|---|
| Other brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, kale) | They share the same pests, diseases, and heavy nutrient needs, which concentrates problems. |
| Tomatoes | Both are hungry feeders that compete for nutrients and room. |
| Strawberries | A long-standing pairing to avoid, as the two are said to grow poorly together. |
| Pole beans | Their sprawling vines can crowd and shade cabbage as it tries to head up. |
| Grapes | Traditional guidance holds that cabbage planted close by can set back grapevines. |
Tips
Give cabbage rich, steady soil and space each plant well so air moves freely and heads have room to fill out. Tuck aromatic herbs and alliums along the edges and between plants, and add a few flowering companions to pull in helpful insects while you scout for eggs and worms by hand. Rotate cabbage and its brassica relatives to a fresh bed each year, since planting them in the same spot invites a buildup of shared pests and soil diseases.
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Companion planting is a traditional practice; results vary with your climate, soil, and garden. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.