Should Broccoli Be Plant
But here’s what happened to my rhubarb: the broccoli grew so enormously tall that it blocked every ounce of light.To compensate, the rhubarb leaves grew as large as elephant ears and the stalks got long and floppy.But it has a secret to share with you: if you just pick the right plants to sow alongside it, they can all thrive together.For a slightly more compact cultivar that pairs well with other sun-loving companions – such as beets, celery, shallots, and rhubarb – try ‘Montebello Hybrid,’ a sprouting variety from Burpee.For tasty tops and luscious, dark red roots, try ‘Lutz Green Leaf,’ they will be ready to harvest in 65 days.Find large, tasty ‘Lutz Green Leaf’ beet seeds available at Eden Brothers or read about more of our favorite varieties here.In my garden this year, my celery (Apium graveolens) grew tall, strong, and supple.While much of what’s recommended in companion planting is more on the mythical side of things and difficult to prove with cold, hard science, some gardeners swear that celery improves the flavor of broccoli.And don’t forget to read our complete guide for the best tips on growing celery at home.You should sow chamomile seeds about eight to 12 inches apart from your broccoli plants, to give the flowers space to grow.You can find German chamomile seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers.One of the more frustrating aspects of a string of sunny days, among gardeners at least, is how quickly greens tend to bolt when this type of weather is in the forecast.You’ll go into the garden to pick some lettuce for your lunchtime salad, only to find that your plant is flowering.It’s said that while potatoes absorb lots of nutrients from the soil, they don’t mind being planted next to broccoli, as the two have different nutritional needs.Potatoes need plenty of magnesium and phosphate, while broccoli loves its calcium and nitrogen.Since the two plants don’t hog each others’ nutrients, they both grow happily – as long as you keep up with fertilization!Find delicious ‘Red Luna’ potatoes in packs of 10 tubers available at Burpee.You’ll feel more rewarded for your efforts if you eat the entire plant – leaves, crown, stem, and all.The smell of rhubarb leaves, which are full of toxic oxalic acid, is also said to deter whiteflies and other leaf-eating bugs.For a no-fuss herb that’ll soldier through all sorts of weather and even help drive pests away from your broccoli, plant rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) in your garden.According to horticulturist Misty Kuceris of the Burke Nursery and Garden Center in Burke, Virginia, rosemary repels cabbage moths (Mamestra brassicae) and cabbage loopers (Trichoplusia ni), both of which can chew holes through your leaves and crowns and deposit frass all over the plants while they’re at it.If you want to pluck a few stems of rosemary and spread them around your broccoli plants, at least according to gardening lore, their spiky leaves can help keep slugs and snails away too.But I could never use an entire bulb in one meal, so I’d always end up with half an onion hidden away somewhere in the fridge.They taste amazing in a variety of dishes, and each bulb is just enough in terms of size to make an omelet or a soup, so I don’t waste nearly as much garden goodness as I used to.So if you haven’t grown your own shallots yet, check out our growing guide, and go plant some next to your broccoli.Like chamomile and celery, shallots are also said to make your favorite green vegetable taste even better.I couldn’t use it fast enough: it turned into tall columns with thick stalks and progressively smaller leaves.If I had planted it next to my broccoli instead, it would have rested in the shade of the giant leaves, feeling calm and cool rather than stressed and bolty.And don’t forget to read our guide to growing this classic leafy green vegetable.Since they have lower nutrient needs and attract the same types of pests, planting a clump of broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and the like all together can lead to problems.Companion planting is often a mixture of garden folklore and science, and we can learn a lot from trial and error by experimenting with different combinations.And don’t forget to check out our complete guide to growing broccoli to get started!Product photos via Burpee, Eden Brothers, and True Leaf Market