Tradition
Good
avoidgood
1 chart entry: 1 recommend, 0 advise against.
0 cited, 1 uncited.
Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Brassicaceae
Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
BrassicaceaeCan you plant cabbage and cauliflower together?
Charts say yes. Nobody has tested cabbage with cauliflower, as far as we could find. Both are in the Brassicaceae family, so they share pests and diseases.
Why we can't give a firm answer
Garden charts recommend it. 1 garden chart entry recommends growing them together. It cites no source. Charts pass on gardening tradition; they are not tests.
List of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)Same family, shared pests. Cabbage and cauliflower are both in the Brassicaceae family, so the same pests and diseases can move from one to the other.
Crop Rotation in the Vegetable Garden (Steil · 2025 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden)
What to plant with cabbage and cauliflower
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
SpinachWith cabbage: 46% more harvestWith cauliflower: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
CeleryWith cabbage: 27% more harvestWith cauliflower: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
PeaWith cabbage: 11% more harvestWith cauliflower: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
OnionWith cabbage: 8% more harvestWith cauliflower: Bigger combined harvest
BroccoliWith cabbage: Lures pests awayWith cauliflower: Lures pests away
What to keep away from cabbage and cauliflower
Nothing in our data is a bad neighbour of cabbage or cauliflower.
The evidence in detail
For readers who want to dig in: every chart entry, study and yield trial behind the answer above, with the numbers.
Tradition, research and yield trials
Same family, shared pests and diseases. Both in Brassicaceae: often susceptible to the same diseases and insects. Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden
Research
No papers found on this pair.
Yield trial
No intercropping yield trial.
Untested folklore
What happens above and below ground
Each animation illustrates a mechanism a study reported for this pair. Pick a card to focus on it.
Everything at once.
Companion plants for both cabbage and cauliflower
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With cabbage | With cauliflower |
|---|---|---|
| Spinach | 46% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 3 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for cabbage and spinach | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for cauliflower and spinach |
| Celery | 27% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for cabbage and celery | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for cauliflower and celery |
| Pea | 11% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 3 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for cabbage and peas | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for cauliflower and peas |
| Onion | Fewer pests and draws in pest-eating insects8% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 8 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for cabbage and onions | Bigger combined harvestField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for cauliflower and onions |
| Broccoli | Lures pests awaySame family (Brassicaceae): shares pests and diseasesField trial, 3 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for cabbage and broccoli | Lures pests awaySame family (Brassicaceae): shares pests and diseasesField trial, 2 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for cauliflower and broccoli |
 Okra | Bigger combined harvestField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for cabbage and okra | Less diseaseGreenhouse or pot trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for cauliflower and okra |
Harvest from the same space compares a bed with both crops against the same area split into single-crop beds, counting the harvest of both crops (the land equivalent ratio in yield trials).
The evidence, with sources
- GoodCabbage helps CauliflowerCauliflower: helped by Mixture of Chinese cabbageList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
- Both in Brassicaceae: often susceptible to the same diseases and insectsCrop Rotation in the Vegetable Garden (Steil · 2025 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden)
All neighbours of cabbage and of cauliflower, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown cabbage and cauliflower together?
Tell other gardeners what happened: spacing, pests, harvest, or ask a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.