What To Plant With Cabbage To Keep Bugs Away

If you’re growing cabbage, you’re probably wondering what to plant with cabbage to keep bugs away. The good news is, nature provides some excellent helpers. Companion planting is a simple, natural way to protect your brassicas from common pests like cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles. By choosing the right neighbors, you can create a healthier, more resilient garden without reaching for harsh chemicals.

This method works by using certain plants to mask scents, repel insects, or attract beneficial predators. It’s a time-tested strategy that makes your garden work smarter. Let’s look at the best companions to shield your cabbage.

This list focuses on plants that directly repel or distract the most common cabbage pests. Interplant these among your cabbage rows or use them as a protective border.

Strong-Scented Herbs: Nature’s Aromatic Shield

Many pests find their host plants by smell. Strong herbs confuse them with their powerful fragrance. This makes it harder for bugs to locate your cabbage.

Dill: Repels aphids and spider mites. It also attracts beneficial wasps that prey on cabbage worms.
Rosemary: Its strong scent deters cabbage moths and the white cabbage butterfly. It’s a perennial, so plant it where it can stay.
Sage: Helps ward off the cabbage moth and flea beetles. It’s a great perennial herb for garden borders.
Thyme: Repels cabbage worms. Its low-growing habit makes it a good living mulch around cabbage plants.
Mint: Excellent for repelling ants, aphids, and flea beetles. Warning: Plant mint in pots, as it can be very invasive in garden beds.
Oregano: Offers general pest repellent properties and attracts beneficial insects.

Flowers That Fight Back

These aren’t just pretty faces. Certain flowers are powerful pest control agents.

Nasturtiums: A classic trap crop. Aphids and cabbage worms prefer nasturtiums over cabbage. Plant them as a sacrificial border to lure pests away from your crop.
Marigolds: Their roots release a substance that suppresses nematodes in the soil. The smell also repels various insects. French marigolds are considered the most effective.
Calendula: Attracts aphid-eating ladybugs and other helpful predators. It also may deter asparagus beetles, which can sometimes bother brassicas.

Alliums: The Pungent Protectors

Plants from the onion family are some of the best companions for cabbage. Their strong smell masks the scent of cabbage from pests.

Onions & Garlic: Deter cabbage loopers, aphids, and the cabbage root fly. They are easy to grow and tuck in between plants.
Chives: Repel aphids and Japanese beetles. Their purple flowers also attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
Leeks: Serve a similar function as onions and garlic, providing a strong aromatic barrier.

Other Vegetable Companions

Some vegetables make good neighbors by improving the environment or repelling specific threats.

Celery: Believed to repel the white cabbage butterfly. Its growth habit also makes it a good space-filler.
Beets & Spinach: These low-growing crops make good use of space without competing heavily. They don’t repel bugs directly but promote efficient gardening.
Beans: Bush beans can help repel cabbage moths. They also fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit heavy feeders like cabbage.

Plants to Avoid Near Cabbage

Just as important as good companions are bad neighbors. Some plants can hinder cabbage growth or attract more pests.

Strawberries: They are heavy feeders and can compete with cabbage for nutrients. Some gardeners believe they also make cabbage more susceptible to slugs.
Tomatoes: They attract similar pests and are also heavy feeders, leading to competition.
Grapes: Cabbage is said to inhibit the growth of grape vines.
Other Brassicas: Avoid planting broccoli, cauliflower, or kale right next to cabbage. They share all the same pests and diseases, making it easy for problems to spread quickly.

How to Plant Your Cabbage Companions

Knowing what to plant is half the battle. Here’s how to put it into practice for the best results.

Step 1: Plan Your Garden Layout

Sketch your cabbage bed. Decide whether you’ll use interplanting (mixing plants in the same row) or border planting (ringing the bed with protectors). A combination often works best.

Step 2: Timing is Everything

For the strongest defense, you’re companion plants should be established when pests arrive. Start herbs and flowers indoors or plant them a few weeks before your cabbage transplants go in. This gives them time to grow and produce their protective scents.

Step 3: Planting Patterns

Interplanting: Place shorter herbs like thyme or oregano between cabbage plants. Plant alliums like onions in alternating rows.
Borders: Use taller herbs like rosemary or dill at the ends of rows. Plant a dense border of nasturtiums or marigolds around the entire bed.
Check Spacing: Always follow spacing guidelines for your cabbage variety to ensure good air circulation, even with companions.

Step 4: Ongoing Care

Water and weed your companion plants just as you would your cabbage. Healthy companions are more effective. Deadhead flowers like marigolds to encourage more blooms, which strengthens their pest-repelling power.

Why This Works: The Science Behind Companions

Companion planting isn’t just an old wives’ tale. It functions through several ecological principles.

Masking Odors: Herbs and alliums release volatile compounds that hide the cabbage’s scent from seeking insects.
Trap Cropping: Plants like nasturtiums are more appealing to pests, drawing them away from your main crop.
Beneficial Insect Attraction: Flowers like dill and calendula provide nectar and pollen for predatory insects (like ladybugs and parasitic wasps) that eat cabbage pests.
Biochemical Effects: Some plants, like marigolds, release natural substances from their roots that suppress soil-borne pests.

Additional Natural Pest Control Tips

For a complete defense strategy, combine companion planting with these practices.

Row Covers: Use lightweight fabric covers over your cabbage plants to physically block moths and butterflies from laying eggs. This is especially helpful in early season.
Hand-Picking: Check the undersides of leaves regularly for clusters of yellow eggs or small green caterpillars. Remove them by hand.
Healthy Soil: Strong plants resist pests better. Amend your soil with compost and ensure proper pH for cabbage (around 6.5-7.0).
Crop Rotation: Never plant cabbage or other brassicas in the same spot two years in a row. This breaks the life cycle of soil-borne diseases and pests.

FAQ: Natural Pest Control for Cabbage

What is the best plant to keep bugs off cabbage?

There’s no single “best” plant, as different plants repel different pests. For overall protection, a combination of dill (for wasps), nasturtiums (as a trap crop), and onions (for scent masking) is incredibly effective.

What can I spray on my cabbage to keep bugs away?

You can make a simple, natural spray. Mix 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap with 1 quart of water. Add a few drops of peppermint or rosemary essential oil for extra repellency. Spray directly on pests like aphids, or use as a deterrent on leaves. Always test on a small area first.

Do marigolds really help cabbage?

Yes, they really do. Marigolds help repel a variety of insects with their smell and suppress harmful nematodes in the soil with their roots. Plant them densely around your cabbage bed for the best effect.

How do I protect cabbage from caterpillars naturally?

Use the triple defense: 1) Plant thyme and rosemary to repel the moths that lay eggs. 2) Use dill to attract parasitic wasps that eat caterpillars. 3) Cover plants with row covers to prevent egg-laying in the first place.

Can I plant lettuce with cabbage?

Yes, lettuce is a neutral companion. It grows quickly and stays low, making efficient use of space between slower-growing cabbage heads. It doesn’t repel pests, but it also doesn’t attract shared problems.

By integrating these companion plants and strategies, you can significantly reduce pest damage on your cabbage. It creates a more diverse, balanced, and beautiful garden ecosystem. Remember, the goal isn’t total elimination of pests, but managment that keeps your plants healthy enough to produce a great harvest. With a little planning, you can enjoy robust, hole-free cabbage leaves all season long.