Cauliflower Companion Plants
Vegetable85 days to maturity
Cauliflower is a cool-season brassica grown for its tight white curd, and it is the fussiest member of the cabbage family about steady temperatures and consistent moisture. Heat, drought, or transplant stress cause it to button into small heads or develop loose, ricey curds. Many varieties need blanching, where the outer leaves are tied over the head, to keep the curd white.
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Companion Planting Strategy for Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a heavy-feeding brassica plagued by cabbage worms and aphids, so the best companions are strong-smelling alliums and herbs that mask its scent and repel those pests. Keep it away from competing heavy feeders and plants that share its diseases.
Best Companion Plants for Cauliflower
These plants grow well alongside Cauliflower — providing pest control, attracting pollinators, or making better use of your garden space.
Celery's strong aroma helps repel cabbage white butterflies and other brassica pests away from cauliflower, and the two share a love of cool, rich, moist soil.
Onions' pungent scent deters the aphids and cabbage worms that attack cauliflower curds and leaves.
Sage repels cabbage moths and cabbage loopers, protecting cauliflower from the caterpillars that chew its leaves and curds.
What Not to Plant With Cauliflower
Keep these away from Cauliflower. They compete for resources, attract shared pests, or inhibit each other's growth.
Tomatoes are warm-season heavy feeders that compete with cauliflower for nutrients and prefer conditions opposite to its cool-season needs.
Strawberries and cauliflower compete for nutrients and share pests, and the heavy-feeding brassica can crowd and stunt nearby strawberry plants.
How to Grow Cauliflower
- Botanical name
- Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Family
- Mustard/Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
- Sun
- Full sun, 6+ hours daily
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, steady and consistent
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 18-24 inches apart; rows 24-36 inches
- Planting depth
- Sow seed 1/4-1/2 inch deep
- Germination
- 5-10 days at 65-75F
- Days to maturity
- 55-100 days from transplant, depending on variety
- When to plant
- Transplant in early spring after hardening off, or in late summer for a fall crop, timing it for cool weather at maturity
- Harvest
- Cut the head when it is compact, firm, and white, before the curd loosens or separates
Common Cauliflower Problems
Cabbage worms (green caterpillars)
Larvae of white butterflies riddle leaves and curds. Cover plants with row cover, handpick, and apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Browning curds (boron deficiency)
Brown patches and a bitter taste from a lack of boron. Keep pH near 6.5 and apply boron only if a soil test confirms a deficiency, since excess boron is toxic.
Ricey or loose curds
Curds separate into a grainy, fuzzy texture from heat or stress. Plant for a cool maturity, keep moisture steady, and harvest promptly while the curd is tight.
Discolored curds from a lack of blanching
Sun turns exposed curds yellow or off-white. Tie the outer leaves up over the developing head, or grow self-blanching varieties.
Cauliflower Companion Planting FAQ
What are the best companion plants for cauliflower?
Celery, onions, and sage make strong cauliflower companions. Their strong scents repel cabbage white butterflies, aphids, and cabbage moths that attack the curds, while celery and onions share its cool, rich growing conditions. Beans and aromatic herbs also help.
What should you not plant with cauliflower?
Avoid pairing cauliflower with tomatoes and strawberries, which compete for nutrients and prefer different conditions. Tomatoes are warm-season heavy feeders, and strawberries are easily stunted by nearby brassicas.
Why is my cauliflower turning brown or ricey?
Brown curds usually signal a boron deficiency, while a ricey, grainy texture comes from heat or stress. Keep soil pH near 6.5, maintain steady moisture and cool temperatures, and harvest while the curd is still tight and firm.
Do you need to blanch cauliflower?
Most white cauliflower varieties need blanching to stay creamy white, which means tying the outer leaves up over the head once it reaches egg size to shield it from the sun. Self-blanching and colored varieties such as purple, orange, and green do not require it.
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Plan Your Cauliflower Garden
Use our interactive tools to design the perfect garden with Cauliflower and its companions.