If you’re growing kale, you know it’s a hardy and nutritious leafy green. Knowing what to plant with kale can make your garden even more productive and healthy. This companion planting guide will show you the best friends for your kale plants, and which neighbors to avoid. You’ll learn how to naturally deter pests, improve soil, and get a bigger harvest from your garden space.
What To Plant With Kale – Companion Planting Guide For
Companion planting is like choosing good neighbors for your plants. Some plants help each other grow better, while others can cause problems. For kale, the right companions can keep away bugs that love to eat the leaves. They can also help the soil stay rich and moist. This guide focuses on practical pairings that really work in the garden.
Why Companion Planting Works for Kale
Kale is generally tough, but it has a few common pests. Cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles can be a real nusiance. Certain companion plants repel these insects with their strong smells. Others attract beneficial bugs that eat the pests. Some plants simply have different root depths, so they don’t compete heavily with kale for water and food.
Using companions means you might not need to use as many sprays or treatments. It’s a natural way to manage your garden’s health. Plus, it makes great use of every inch of your garden bed.
Best Companion Plants for Kale
Here are the top plants to grow alongside your kale. These are tried-and-true partners that offer clear benefits.
Herbs with Strong Scents
Many herbs confuse or repel pests with their powerful aromas. Plant these around the edges of your kale patch or in between rows.
- Dill: Attracts parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms.
- Rosemary: Its strong scent deters cabbage moths and bean beetles.
- Sage: Helps repel cabbage moths and carrot flies.
- Thyme: Deters cabbage worms and adds ground cover.
- Mint: Repels flea beetles and aphids (best grown in a pot to control its spread).
Flowers that Protect and Attract
Don’t forget to add flowers to your vegetable garden! They are not just pretty; they are hardworking companions.
- Nasturtiums: A classic trap crop. Aphids love them more than kale, so they draw pests away. Their peppery leaves are also edible.
- Marigolds: Their roots release a substance that can deter soil nematodes. They also repel various insects above ground.
- Calendula: Attracts pollinators and aphid-eating hoverflies.
- Sweet Alyssum: Forms a living mulch, keeping soil cool and attracting beneficial insects.
Vegetable Allies
Other vegetables can be excellent neighbors for kale, creating a diverse and resilient garden bed.
- Onions, Garlic, and Chives: Their strong smell masks the scent of kale from pests like cabbage moths.
- Beets and Celery: These have different growth habits and don’t compete heavily with kale’s root zone.
- Potatoes: Kale can grow well with potatoes, as they occupy different soil layers.
- Beans and Peas: These legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, which is a nutrient kale loves. Just give kale a little extra space so it’s not shaded out.
- Lettuce and Spinach: As quick-growing, shallow-rooted plants, they make good fillers between kale plants early in the season.
Plants to Avoid Planting Near Kale
Just as some plants help, others can hinder. Here’s what you should keep away from your kale.
- Other Brassicas: Avoid planting kale with broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. They are all in the same family, attract the same pests, and compete for the same nutrients, making them a target-rich environment for problems.
- Tomatoes: They are heavy feeders and can compete with kale. Some gardeners also find they inhibit each others growth.
- Strawberries: They are also susceptible to some similar pests and may not be the best bedfellows.
How to Arrange Your Kale Companions
Planning your layout is key. Follow these simple steps for success.
- Start with a Plan: Sketch your garden bed on paper before you plant. Mark where your kale will go.
- Place Tall Companions: Put taller plants like dill or borage on the north side so they don’t shade the kale.
- Interplant Herbs and Flowers: Scatter short herbs like thyme and flowers like alyssum between kale plants.
- Use Borders: Plant a border of onions, garlic, or marigolds around the entire bed.
- Consider Succession: Plant fast-growing lettuce between kale. You’ll harvest the lettuce long before the kale needs the space.
Common Kale Problems and Companion Solutions
Here’s how to use companions to tackle specific issues you might face.
- Aphids: Plant nasturtiums as a trap crop, or dill to attract ladybugs (who eat aphids).
- Cabbage Worms/Moths: Interplant strongly-scented herbs like rosemary, sage, or thyme. Use dill to attract predatory wasps.
- Flea Beetles: Try mint (in a pot) or thyme as a ground cover to deter them.
- Poor Soil Nutrition: Grow beans in the area the season before you plant kale to boost nitrogen levels.
Seasonal Companion Planting Tips
Your companion strategy can change with the seasons, especially since kale grows in both cool spring and fall weather.
In early spring, use quick-growing companions like lettuce and spinach. They’ll be harvested before summer heat arrives. In the fall, you can plant kale alongside beets or turnips for a late-season harvest. Garlic planted in the fall around kale will be ready to protect it the following spring.
Remember, kale tastes sweeter after a frost. Some of it’s companions, like thyme and sage, are perennial and will be their year after year.
FAQ: Your Kale Companion Questions Answered
Can I plant kale next to tomatoes?
It’s generally not recommended. Both are heavy feeders and may compete for nutrients. Its best to give them separate space in the garden.
What is the best companion for kale to keep bugs away?
Onions, garlic, and strong-smelling herbs like rosemary and sage are among the best for repelling common kale pests like cabbage moths.
Can you plant kale and lettuce together?
Yes, they are good companions. Lettuce grows quickly and can be harvested before the kale gets to large, making efficient use of space.
What should you not plant near kale?
Avoid other plants in the brassica family, such as broccoli and cabbage, as they share pests and diseases. Tomatoes are also poor companions.
Do marigolds help kale?
Absolutely. Marigolds help deter nematodes in the soil and repel above-ground insects with their scent. They are a fantastic all-around companion for many vegetables, including kale.
By choosing the right companions, you set your kale up for success. You’ll have fewer pest issues, healthier soil, and a more vibrant, productive garden. Start with a few pairings like onions and marigolds, and see the difference it makes. Your kale plants will thank you with lush, abundant leaves for your table.