Bok Choy Companion Plants

Getting your bok choy to thrive is about more than just soil and water. Choosing the right bok choy companion plants is a powerful way to support healthy growth naturally. This method, called companion planting, helps you grow a more resilient and productive garden. It can improve flavors, deter pests, and make the best use of your space. Let’s look at how to build a supportive plant community around your bok choy.

Companion planting works by using the natural relationships between plants. Some plants attract beneficial insects that eat common pests. Others help to improve the soil by adding nutrients. A few can even act as a natural barrier or shade provider. For bok choy, a fast-growing leafy green, the right neighbors can mean the difference between a good harvest and a great one.

This list includes plants that offer specific benefits when grown near your bok choy. Remember, gardening is local, so results can vary slightly based on your climate and soil.

Best Companions for Pest Control

Bok choy can be bothered by pests like flea beetles, cabbage worms, and aphids. These plants help keep them away.

Aromatic Herbs: Strong scents confuse and repel pests. Dill, mint, rosemary, and thyme are excellent choices. Just be careful with mint—it’s invasive, so grow it in a pot.
Alliums: Onions, garlic, and chives are some of the best companions. Their pungent smell deters many insects that target the cabbage family, which includes bok choy.
Nasturtiums: These flowers are a classic “trap crop.” Aphids and cabbage worms prefer them over your bok choy, drawing pests away. They’re also edible!
Celery: The strong smell of celery can help mask the scent of bok choy from pests, making it harder for them to find their target.

Best Companions for Soil Health & Growth

These plants improve the conditions bok choy grows in, leading to stronger, healthier plants.

Legumes: Bush beans and peas fix nitrogen from the air into the soil. Bok choy is a leafy green that benefits from available nitrogen for lush growth.
Chamomile: Known as the “plant’s physician,” chamomile can improve the health and flavor of neighboring plants, including bok choy, through its root secretions.
Lettuce & Spinach: These are light feeders with shallow roots. They make good space-fillers around bok choy without competing heavily for nutrients.

Plants to Provide Shade & Structure

Bok choy can bolt (go to seed) quickly in hot weather. These taller companions offer partial shade to keep it cool.

Tall Flowers: Sunflowers or cosmos planted on the south or west side of your bok choy can provide afternoon shade, slowing down bolting.
Peppers or Tomatoes: As these summer plants grow tall, they can offer dappled shade for a late-season planting of bok choy underneath.

Plants to Avoid Near Bok Choy

Just as some plants help, others can hinder. Avoid planting bok choy with these:

Other Brassicas: Don’t plant it with broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage. They compete for the same nutrients and attract the same pests, creating a bigger target.
Strawberries: They are susseptible to similar soil-borne diseases and are generally considered poor companions for brassicas.
Vining Plants: Avoid heavy vines like pumpkins. They will sprawl and smother your bok choy, blocking light and taking up all the space.

Planning Your Bok Choy Companion Garden

Now that you know the players, it’s time to design your garden layout. Good planning is key to success.

Step-by-Step Garden Layout

Choose Your Location: Pick a spot that gets at least 4-6 hours of sun but has access to some afternoon shade if you’re in a hot climate.
Prepare the Soil: Bok choy likes rich, well-draining soil. Work in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Map Your Plants: Sketch a simple diagram. Place taller shade plants (like sunflowers) on the west side. Interplant your bok choy with rows or clusters of alliums and herbs.
Plant in Succession: Sow bok choy seeds every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest. This also means you can rotate your companion plants around.
Consider Timing: Plant fast-growing companions like lettuce and spinach at the same time as bok choy. Plant slower-growing ones, like peppers for shade, ahead of time.

Container Gardening with Companions

You can use companion planting in pots too. Choose a large, wide container (at least 12 inches deep). Plant one or two bok choy plants in the center. Surround them with shallow-rooted companions like lettuce, spinach, or chives. You can even add a few nasturtiums to spill over the edges. Avoid pairing with large, aggressive plants in a container.

Ongoing Care with Companions

Companion planting reduces work, but it doesn’t eliminate it. Here’s how to care for your polyculture patch.

Water consistently at the base of plants to keep leaves dry and prevent disease. Your companion plants will have similar water needs. Mulch around all plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Keep an eye out for pests, even with companions. Hand-pick any cabbage worms you see. The presence of nectar-rich flowers like nasturtiums and chamomile will attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings to help you out.

Fertilize lightly. With nitrogen-fixing beans nearby, you may need less. A side-dressing of compost halfway through the season is often enough. Rotate your crops each year. Even with good companions, don’t plant bok choy or any brassica in the exact same spot next season to prevent disease buildup.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Sometimes issues arise. Here’s how to fix them in a companion-planted bed.

Bok Choy is Bolting: This means it’s too hot or stressed. Next time, ensure you have a shade-providing companion planted. Harvest immediately once a central flower stalk forms.

Pests Are Still Present: Your companion plants might need time to establish their scent or attract beneficials. Use floating row covers as a physical barrier for young plants. You can also make a simple spray with crushed garlic and water.

Plants Look Crowded: You might have been to enthusiastic with your planting. Thin seedlings early to give plants room. Good air circulation prevents fungal diseases. Its a common mistake to overlook spacing.

Yellowing Leaves: This could be a nutrient issue. Ensure your soil was well-amended. Legume companions help, but they need to be mature to fix significant nitrogen.

Harvesting and Post-Harvest Tips

Harvest bok choy when the heads are firm and before any sign of bolting. You can cut the whole head at the base, or pick individual outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again approach.

After harvesting your bok choy, you can immediately replant the space with another crop. A good follower is a legume, like bush beans, to replenish the soil nitrogen used by the bok choy. Leave the roots of your legume companions in the ground when you pull them to let the nitrogen nodules break down into the soil.

FAQ Section

What grows well with bok choy?
Many plants grow well with bok choy, including onions, garlic, herbs like dill and mint, bush beans, lettuce, and nasturtiums. These companions help with pest control and soil health.

What should you not plant next to bok choy?
Avoid planting other brassicas (like broccoli or cabbage) close to bok choy, as they compete and share pests. Also avoid strawberries and heavy vining plants.

Does bok choy need full sun?
Bok choy grows best in full sun but appreciates partial afternoon shade in hot summer climates to prevent it from bolting to seed to quickly.

How do I keep bugs from eating my bok choy?
Using companion plants like garlic, onions, and nasturtiums is a great start. Encouraging beneficial insects and using row covers are also effective organic methods.

Can I plant bok choy with tomatoes?
Yes, tomatoes can provide light shade for bok choy planted later in the season. They are not known to have any negative effects on each other and can be compatible.

What is the best fertilizer for bok choy?
Bok choy likes nitrogen-rich soil. Compost, well-rotted manure, or a balanced organic fertilizer work well. Companion planting with beans reduces the need for added fertilizer.

By understanding and using these companion planting principles, you create a garden ecosystem. Your bok choy becomes part of a supportive community, leading to healthier plants and a more enjoyable gardening experience. The results are often visibly better growth and less frustration with pests. Give these combinations a try in your next planting season.