Companion Plant Guide
Thyme
Pest deterrent for brassicas.
Vegetable · Brassica family
Broccoli companion plants
Brassica oleracea
What to plant beside broccoli, what to keep apart, and how to grow it — sun, spacing, soil and the pairings used in this guide.
Photo: Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
Overview
Growing broccoli beside the right neighbour
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a vegetable in the Brassica family. Cool-season brassica that needs consistent moisture.
Aromatic herbs around broccoli confuse the cabbage moth long enough for heads to set.
Give plants 18–36 in in full sun. Aim for well-draining, fertile, moist soil. In most gardens the crop sits in USDA zones 2-11 and is ready in about 70-100 days.
Grows well with
What to plant with broccoli
The strongest companions for broccoli in this guide are Thyme and Dill. Each pairing below is a reason to share a bed — pest masking, roots that do not compete, or insects that hunt the pests broccoli attracts.
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects.
Keep apart
What not to plant with broccoli
Keep broccoli away from Tomato. These neighbours compete for the same food, release chemicals that stunt growth, or otherwise hold the crop back.
Tomato
Both heavy feeders — brassicas and tomatoes compete.
In the bed
How to grow broccoli
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Spacing | 18–36 in |
| Soil | Well-draining, fertile, moist soil |
| Hardiness | Zones 2-11 |
| Days to maturity | 70-100 |
These notes sit beside the companion lists — they are how broccoli actually occupies the bed, not a substitute for local climate.
- Start indoors or direct sow
- Keep soil consistently moist
- Provide shade in hot weather
- Harvest main head first for side shoots
Questions
Broccoli companion planting FAQ
What can I plant next to broccoli?
Plant Thyme and Dill beside broccoli. Thyme: Pest deterrent for brassicas. Dill: Attracts beneficial insects.
What should I not plant with broccoli?
Keep broccoli apart from Tomato. Tomato: Both heavy feeders — brassicas and tomatoes compete.
How much sun does broccoli need?
Broccoli wants full sun. Space plants 18–36 in apart in well-draining, fertile, moist soil.
How long does broccoli take to mature?
Most broccoli crops in this guide mature in 70-100 days, in hardiness zones 2-11.
Compare every pairing at a glance
Open the guide, pick broccoli, and see what thrives alongside it — and what quietly holds it back.
Open the pairing guide