Are you into kale companion plants? While you already know the star of this cropping season – your kale – planning what plants to choose can be quite a pain, especially if you want to grow everything. And we completely understand that! A stronghold of horticultural crops can be ostentatiously helpful to your kale! They condition the soil. They magnet good bugs. They prevent pests. And most importantly, they can make your harvest as bountiful as a farmer’s dream. Get to know more about them below!
Benefits of Kale Companion Planting
Kale companion planting offers countless benefits. Most often, these advantages are testaments of years of experience by many gardeners, while some are proven with scientifically backed data through devoted scientists. To name some, companion planting kale can:
- Upgrade soil structure and texture beneficial for root growth
- Improve the bioavailability of nutrients to plants
- Enhance microbial activity in the ground against soil pathogens
- Provide a constant moisture content
- Restrict weed growth
- Help control pests and diseases
- Promote garden biodiversity and sustainability
- Increase economic profit
- Make efficient use of garden space
List of Best Kale Companion Plants
What to plant with kale is a matter of the gardener's decision. Whether one plans to sow easy plants or grow something more complicated but rewarding, we will help you get a clear picture of each crop, which we have listed in the following:
Vegetables
Vegetable-to-vegetable tandem is all you need if your goal is to reap farm-to-fork freshness! Feel free to choose which one suits your taste:
Bush Beans
A humble member of the legume family, bush bean and its cousins (sweet peas, peanuts, french beans, etc.) stand loud and proud when planted next to kale! Many horticultural experiments have already shown its promising abilities to improve soil fertility by providing extra nutrients, thanks to its nitrogen-fixing bacteria tenant that lives rent-free in its root nodules. What happens during the process of free nitrogen fabrication is that some of these nutrients are offered free to nearby plants like kale.
Lettuce
With its crunchy and refreshing leaves, lettuce can easily be misbranded as a botanical sister of kale. But, fun fact: they are not! Your salad staple is actually a close relative of sunflowers, chrysanthemums, and daisies, comprising the Compositae or Asteraceae family. This means the kale and lettuce tandem is an absolute thumbs up, making their garden retreat undetectable to pests, as they have different “scent” profiles that confuse garden bugs.
Artichoke
Your kale won’t be choked with artichoke! Believe it or not, artichokes share the same genetic tree as sunflowers, and that means they are good candidates as a kale companion. As previously mentioned, plants belonging to a different family have unique scent thumb marks, which, when mixed with other plant scents, can put pests in a hard situation in finding their perfect meal, such as your precious kale. Since artichokes can grow relatively big, just ensure to put at least 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) distance from your kale rows.
Herbs
The smell of herbs is a symphony of therapeutic aroma in your garden. As an added bonus, this synchronous smell is as stinky as skunks den to pests, especially to caterpillar species that munch on your kale.
Rosemary
Rosemary is always ready to marry your kale! As with other plants, this garden matrimony offers countless benefits backed by years of scientific studies. Enjoy rosemary’s free pest prevention service with its spectacular sweet-smelling sprigs. Not only that, you can also easily throw some of its aromatic leaves in your kitchen dishes. Because rosemaries are perennial, you may want to plant them along the borders or in pots where they can stay permanently after kale season.
Basil
Another kitchen-wise herb that performs well with kale is basil. Whether sweet, thai, holy, or lemon basil, you can’t go wrong with these essence-filled greens. Cliché as it may sound, basils offer uncontested bug-repulsing properties, keeping your kales bug-free. Your only concern is to plant it at the correct distance so as not to pop its personal bubble, which can affect its growth. It is recommended to plant basil with a spacing of 1 foot (30 cm) away from kale rows and 2 feet (60 cm) away from other basil plants in the same row.
Sage
Scientifically named Salvia officinalis, sage is a perennial shrub that pairs well with many vegetables, including kale. Many scientific studies have demonstrated its indirect and indirect abilities in keeping pests like aphids, cabbage looper worms, flea beetles, and whiteflies at bay, which are common enemies of kale. Because of the fact that it is perennial, it is empirical to strategically plant your sage in garden partitions but still in proximity to sage, where it can indefinitely thrive.
Flowers
If you are looking for a kale companion planting chart, flowers are one of your best bets! You can count on them to transform your backyard into a wildlife-friendly haven, especially for pollinators and parasitic wasps that hunt down pests:
Sweet Alyssum
Dotted with white flowers, this humble creeper serves multiple purposes. Firstly, its ground-carpeting habit ensures that the soil stays moist and weed-free. At the same time, rainwater impact is absorbed, reducing superficial runoff that displaces valuable soil particles and nutrients; this can also keep the leaves clean with minimal dirt splatters. Over time, dried leaves and other organic material can accumulate on the ground, which can improve the soil structure and nutrients. Sweet alyssums benefit does not end here! Its tiny white flowers are an aphid parasitoid favorite – regulating the critters feeding on your kale.
Calendula
Are you looking for some bright yellow flowers to decorate your garden? Calendula is the perfect candidate that meets both aesthetic and compatibility requirements as kale companion plants. A study revealed that when calendulas are grown next to kales, many beneficial insects, including syrphid fly larvae and parasitic wasps, can’t resist the beauty of calendula! These insects are known to predate and parasitize common kale aphids.
Daylily
Daylily helps your kale, well, on a daily basis (pun intended). Its benefit is a bit different and fascinating compared to other flower’s mechanisms. Chinese microbiologists have discovered the little bacterial fauna in the soil: microorganisms that improve soil nutrients and enzymes. Sounds fancy, right? Simply put, these enzymes can help suppress other bad microbes. As a result, your kales can grow bigger and have stronger immunity against root pathogens that can potentially wreak havoc in vegetable gardens.
Other Plants
We know the pain when selecting companion plants for kale, especially with contradicting information on the internet. If you find a crop you want to plant this year but happen to be incompatible according to some websites, here are some scientifically backed facts that will prove them wrong:
Potato
Did someone say no to potatoes? If you still want to plant them as one of your kale companions, you are absolutely free to do so! Why? As we are a firm believer in the religion of science, we highly support your decision. According to an agronomic field trial in Africa, kale plants in potatoes’ presence were shown to increase yield with proper soil amendments such as biochar. This is simply a carbonized organic material, although it can be substituted with other available soil amendments such as plant or animal-based compost.
Tomato
Another member of nightshade family, as in potatoes, tomatoes are also controversial in terms of their qualifications as kale companion plants. They are thought to bring more diseases and pests, a claim that can be highly debatable depending on the local microclimate and the gardener’s expertise in pest control. To refute the claim, one study conducted by Chinese scientists can help you change your mind – kales can help reduce virus transmission in tomatoes. They found out that after cabbage whiteflies – a vector of tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV) – fed on kales, they lose the ability to carry it to tomatoes. What a cool strategy to keep your plants healthy, isn't it!?
Beetroot
Do you fancy growing root crops this year? Well, why not try beetroots?! According to a study in a prestigious scientific journal, beet and kale intercropping, including other mixed crops, are linked to the increase of bioactive compounds that may help alleviate type-2 diabetes. Simply put, there are chemical processes going on inside the plant’s system that may bring health benefits. So, never doubt the power of companion planting!
Does Kale Grow Better in Pots or in the Ground?
Your kale does not generally care be it in pots or in the ground. What matters specifically is the type of soil and the conditions that can support abundant leaves. This includes maintaining proper drainage, providing lots of organic matter, and placing it in sun-drenched spots. If you grow kale directly from the ground, it is better to plant them in raised beds or have your garden have a good ditch system to drain the excess water. In pots, ensure that they’ve got some holes to let the excess water seep through.
What to Plant With Kale?
Your goal this year is to plant in a specific growing method, a prepared list of what grows well with kale in terms of the cultivation technique might be relevant for you. And so here it is!
In Containers and Pots
Kale plants can be planted in tiny or specialized containers specifically crafted to fit in every house space.
- Cilantro
- Onion chives
- Garlic
In the Ground
If you are lucky enough to have a spacious garden, some big plant companions thrive without any fuss when planted next to kale:
Kale Plant’s Care Requirements
Growing a companion plant for kale also requires some techniques and optimal backyard conditions in order to successfully get a bountiful harvest. With this being said, it is important to also tick the list of requirements for its growth and development:
- Provide crumbly and airy soil mix to facilitate root growth and nutrient absorption.
- To grow bigger kale leaves, incorporate compost and other organic matter into the soil.
- Raised beds are preferable when growing outdoor kale plants.
- Select a spot with lots of sunlight to make your kale grow big leaves.
- Water your plant daily or every other day, especially when a dry topsoil is detected.
- Fertilizers are not necessary in compost-rich soils, but they can be incorporated during soil preparations.
- When growing in warm climates, it is best to select varieties that can tolerate above 75°F (23°C) to prevent leaf burns.
- Once a pest or disease is detected, especially aphids, apply the necessary measures to combat these tiny garden nuisances.
Kale Companion Planting for Repelling Pests
One of the holy grails of planting several plants with kale is that it helps immunize crops against possible pests and diseases. If you always face the same problem year by year, perhaps the following plants can give you a hand:
Dill
A family member of the carrots family, dill is an aromatic herb that uses volatile essential oils stuck in its cells to defend your garden's territory against invading pests. Simultaneously, you get an extra benefit! This is because it can also attract a diverse species of good garden bugs. In a study conducted by Brazilian entomologists, it was found that planting dills almost duplicated the species richness and abundance of advantageous insects over a span of 4-month cropping season. You will likely encounter syrphid larvae or Diaeretiella rapae, a parasitoid that brings down bad kale insects.
Green Onion
Your favorite herb for garnishing might be the answer to your everlasting aphid problem! When planted together with kale, green onions are able to increase beneficial arthropod diversity, including 39 species of predatory spider! This simply means that many good bugs prefer to stay in your garden when onions are planted, maximizing the pest-regulating benefits and making your backyard as ecologically-friendly as possible.
Parsley
Another carrot cousin has made it into the list of pest-repelling crops, y’all! Meet parsley, an aromatic herb that offers significant benefits to your kale. Aside from the promise of keeping its partner protected 24/7, it is a good herb to plant when your garden space is a bit cramped. In a field trial conducted by agricultural scientists in Brazil, kales produced bigger and heavier yields when planted next to parsley with tight spaces.
Lavender
Hailing from the always-sunny Mediterranean region, Lavender thrives well with kale. It is a universal fact, proven by multitude of research, that this aromatic botanical can shoo away pests including aphids, caterpillars, beetles, and other pests that pose threats to your kales. Perceptible to human olfactory, its tactic mainly relies on its essential oil produced in the leaves, which is a factor the dizzies pests.
What Not to Plant With Kale
While most garden crops interact in a neutral way with kales, some may be aggressive and can compete with light, nutrients, and space; lower resources mean more susceptibility to pests. In the following, we prepared a list of what not to plant with kale:
African Nightshade
A member of the tomato family, one German study has concluded that African nightshade – a plant that seems to be a mix of mulberry and eggplant with the fruit and leaf shape – can alter the kale's secondary metabolite profile. In simple words, the plant can alter your vegetables' nutritional and phytochemical content. While this may not be easily noticeable, it is still a huge red flag in intercropping if your goal is to make your crops as nutrient-dense as possible!
Strawberries
There is no sufficient scientific basis proving the incompatibility of strawberries and kale. From an agronomist's point of view, growing both plants in the same space is plausible. In the first place, strawberries belong to the rose family while the kale to the cabbage – that's a go signal for companion planting. However, some anecdotal testimony of some home-based growers suggests otherwise: strawberries are rodent-attractive and can also be a breeding ground for other pests and diseases.
Mustard
Theoretically and botanically speaking, mustard is a close cousin of kale. Having said this fact, this means they can be incompatible! Both can magnify their plant “perfume,” making them easily detectable to ruthless garden critters. While seasoned growers who have successfully grown plants in the same plot might raise an eyebrow, it is still wise to observe proper preventive pest measures. And with that, your kale should be spared from these bugs!
Climbing Beans
Several varieties of beans can literally rise above your garden. This means that plants without the ability to trail, including kale, are deprived of space and nutrients, leaving them nothing but shade. When there’s shade, leaves cannot fully photosynthesize and expand to their full potential, resulting in a smaller kale harvest. For this reason, and although beans can be beneficial in terms of soil conditioning, trailing varieties should be avoided.
FAQ
Can We Plant Tomatoes With Kale?
While many gardening websites suggest otherwise, tomatoes and kale can be planted together. Both pertain to a distinct family and have a distinct growing duration and requirements. This means competition is unlikely, qualifying them as compatible garden couples.
Can We Plant Marigolds With Kale?
Yes, marigolds are garden jewels. Planted with kale, not only does it attract beneficial insects needed for the pollination of several crops, but it can also lure other bugs that can control aphids, which kale is quite susceptible to.
