21 Best Companion Plants to Grow With Cabbage
Growing cabbage in your garden? Good news — it’s not a loner. In fact, cabbage loves company. There are several plants that pair really well with it, and when you plant them nearby, they can do all kinds of helpful things like keeping pests away, improving growth, enriching the soil, or even making your cabbage taste better.
This kind of plant partnership is called companion planting, and it’s one of the smartest things you can do in your garden. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, mixing in the right plants around your cabbage can make a noticeable difference in your harvest.
So, let’s dive into 21 awesome companion plants that thrive alongside cabbage—and exactly why they work so well together.
1. Beets
Beets and cabbage make a great team. Since beets grow underground and cabbage grows above, they don’t compete for space or nutrients. You can pack them into the same bed without overcrowding. Beets also help improve the magnesium and iron content in the soil, which can benefit cabbage.
Tip: Make sure both get enough sunlight. Even though they grow in different layers, they still love full sun.
2. Celery
Celery has a strong scent that works like natural pest control for your cabbage. It can help keep common pests like the cabbage white butterfly at bay. Bonus: celery likes the same soil and water conditions, so it’s low-maintenance to grow them together.
Tip: Plant celery in between cabbage rows to create a natural barrier.
3. Chamomile
Chamomile is one of those underrated herbs that’s amazing in the garden. Not only does it attract pollinators and beneficial insects, but it’s also known to improve the flavor of cabbage when grown nearby.
Tip: Let some chamomile flower—it draws in ladybugs and hoverflies that eat aphids.
4. Chard (Swiss Chard)
Chard is another leafy green that grows really well with cabbage. Since they don’t fight for nutrients or space, you can grow them close together. Both prefer cooler temperatures and rich soil, which makes planning easier.
Tip: Harvest chard regularly to keep the garden from getting too crowded.
5. Dill
Dill does double duty in the garden. It attracts wasps and other beneficial insects that prey on cabbage worms, loopers, and aphids. It’s also great for pollination. Just keep in mind, mature dill can sometimes get tall and block sun from other plants.
Tip: Plant dill on the outer edges of your cabbage bed to give it space and light.
6. Lettuce
Lettuce is one of the easiest plants to grow next to cabbage. It doesn’t need much space and actually thrives in the shade created by cabbage leaves. Plus, they both like cooler weather.
Tip: You can do succession planting with lettuce for a constant harvest, as it matures quickly.
7. Mint
Mint’s strong aroma is excellent for deterring all sorts of bugs, including aphids, cabbage moths, and flea beetles. But be careful—mint spreads fast and can easily take over your garden if you let it.
Tip: Grow mint in pots and place them near your cabbage plants to get all the benefits without the spread.
8. Nasturtiums
These are like natural pest magnets—in a good way. Nasturtiums lure aphids and cabbage worms away from your cabbage, acting as a “trap crop.” Plus, their bright flowers add color to your garden.
Tip: Leave some space between nasturtiums and cabbage so pests don’t easily hop back and forth.
9. Onions
Onions are powerful companions. Their sharp smell helps deter cabbage moths, aphids, and other common pests. They also grow in a narrow vertical space, which makes them easy to plant around cabbage.
Tip: Try interplanting onions in the gaps between cabbage heads.
10. Potatoes
Potatoes and cabbage can grow together, but it’s a bit tricky. While they can share space, they’re both heavy feeders and need a lot of nutrients. If your soil is rich and healthy, they can do just fine together. Just make sure to space them well to avoid crowding and competing for water.
Tip: Use plenty of compost or organic fertilizer to support both crops.
11. Radishes
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Radishes grow quickly and can help loosen the soil around cabbage, improving root development. They also mature before cabbage really starts to spread, so they’re great for filling in space early in the season.
Tip: Plant radishes first, then let cabbage take over as radishes are harvested.
12. Rosemary
Like many fragrant herbs, rosemary repels cabbage moths and other flying pests. It’s a low-maintenance herb that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Tip: Plant rosemary near the edges of your cabbage patch where it can enjoy more sunlight.
13. Sage
Sage does exactly what rosemary does—chases away cabbage-loving pests with its strong aroma. It’s especially good for repelling cabbage loopers and flea beetles.
Tip: Try planting sage between cabbage and other brassicas to create a natural pest-repelling buffer.
14. Spinach
Spinach grows quickly, stays low to the ground, and doesn’t compete for much space—making it perfect for underplanting around cabbage. Like lettuce, it thrives in cooler temps and partly shaded areas.
Tip: Mix spinach between cabbage rows to keep weeds down and make better use of space.
15. Thyme
This low-growing herb works well as a natural ground cover, helping suppress weeds and repel insects like cabbage moths. It also adds a pleasant aroma to your garden.
Tip: Trim thyme regularly to keep it compact and productive.
16. Yarrow
Yarrow is a flowering plant that brings in a host of beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps that love feeding on cabbage pests. It also improves soil quality over time.
Tip: Plant yarrow near the edges of your garden or in a pollinator patch nearby.
17. Borage
Borage is known for attracting pollinators like bees and wasps, and it also repels tomato hornworms and cabbage worms. Some gardeners even believe it enhances the growth and flavor of nearby plants.
Tip: Let borage flower freely—it’s a magnet for beneficial bugs.
18. Hyssop
Another great-smelling herb, hyssop helps fend off cabbage moths and other harmful insects. Its small, spiky flowers are also a hit with pollinators.
Tip: Space hyssop a bit farther from cabbage if you’re dealing with limited sunlight.
19. Garlic
Garlic is a serious pest repellent in the garden. It drives away aphids, cabbage loopers, and even some types of beetles. It doesn’t need much room to grow, and it’s easy to tuck in around your cabbage.
Tip: Plant garlic in the fall for a late-spring or early-summer harvest, lining the edges of your cabbage rows.
20. Carrots
Carrots, like beets and radishes, grow below the surface, so they don’t take up cabbage’s personal space. They’re also great for loosening the soil and promoting airflow in the root zone.
Tip: Sow carrots thinly around cabbage and water consistently to avoid stunted growth.
21. Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the most popular companion plants in any garden. Their strong scent repels a variety of pests, including aphids, nematodes, and cabbage moths. Plus, they’re beautiful and easy to grow.
Tip: Border your cabbage bed with marigolds for full protective coverage.
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Final Thoughts
Companion planting isn’t just a fun experiment—it’s a practical, low-effort way to give your garden a real boost. With the right mix of plants around your cabbage, you can improve your harvest, reduce pests naturally, and make your garden more vibrant and diverse.
Try adding a few of these companion plants next time you grow cabbage. Whether it’s flavorful herbs like thyme and rosemary, pest-busting flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums, or productive veggies like radishes and spinach, your cabbage will thank you for the company.
