What Grows Well With Kale? 12 Best Companion Plants and How to Plant Them
Introduction, why companion planting with kale matters
Kale is tough, but it gets even better when you stop growing it alone. Companion planting reduces pests, boosts soil, and squeezes more harvests from the same bed. For example, planting onions or garlic near kale helps repel aphids, while beans and peas add nitrogen that leafy greens love. Nasturtiums trap cabbage moths, and nasturtium flowers also draw pollinators to nearby herbs.
If you have wondered what grows well with kale? this guide gives clear answers, not vague lists. You will get the 12 best companion plants for kale, why each one works, and exactly how to plant them. Expect spacing tips, timing advice like interplanting lettuce for quick turnover, and combo layouts for pest control, soil health, and continuous harvests. Read on to learn the plant pairings and simple step by step plans you can use in your next planting.
How companion planting helps kale, quick science and real benefits
If you are asking what grows well with kale, prioritize functions not looks. Companion plants can reduce pests, feed the soil, provide cooling shade, and boost pollinators, all of which increase kale yields.
Pest control: plant nasturtiums at the bed edge as a decoy for aphids, and interplant garlic or chives to repel cabbage moths. Biological control: sow dill or cilantro on the perimeter to attract parasitic wasps that eat caterpillars.
Nitrogen and soil health: sow a clover living mulch or bush beans nearby to add nitrogen, especially before heavy feeding in spring. Clover also suppresses weeds and retains moisture.
Shade and microclimate: tall plants such as sunflowers or corn give partial afternoon shade in hot summers, preventing kale from bolting.
Pollinator support: include borage, calendula, or alyssum to draw bees, improving seed set for nearby herbs and assisting overall garden biodiversity.
12 best companion plants for kale, overview and why each works
If you ask what grows well with kale, here are 12 top companion plants grouped by the benefit they bring, with one-line reasons for each.
Pest repellents and trap crops
- Nasturtiums, attract aphids away from kale and lure cabbage white butterflies to their flowers.
- Marigolds, emit compounds that deter root nematodes and many soil pests near kale roots.
- Garlic, planted between rows, helps repel cabbage moths and flea beetles with its scent.
- Chives, deter aphids and improve brassica flavor when interplanted around kale.
- Mint, keeps cabbage moths and some beetles at bay, grow in pots to prevent spread.
Nitrogen fixers and soil builders
6. Bush beans, fix nitrogen and give kale a nutrient boost when roots decompose.
7. Peas, add nitrogen and can be trellised to save space beside kale.
8. Clover, living mulch that fixes nitrogen and suppresses weeds under kale.
Pollinators and beneficial insects
9. Dill, draws parasitoid wasps that prey on caterpillars eating kale.
10. Borage, attracts bees for better pollination and is said to improve leafy vigor.
11. Calendula, brings predatory insects and deters some pests with its scent.
Nutrient accumulators
12. Comfrey, deep roots mine nutrients, use its leaves as a rich mulch around kale.
How to plan your bed, layout and timing for kale combos
Start with a sketch, even a rough rectangle. Mark where sun hits, then put kale on the north side so it does not shade smaller companions. For space, give full-size kale like Lacinato 18 to 24 inches between plants, and curly or baby kale 12 to 18 inches. Rows can be 24 to 36 inches apart for walkway access.
Planting layout idea, simple block method. Plant kale in a 3 by 3 block, surround with low growers like beets or chard at 6 to 9 inches spacing, and scatter quick crops such as radishes or baby lettuce between kale for fast harvests. Put taller supports or pole beans to the north edge to climb without blocking light.
Succession timing, practical plan. Start transplants 6 to 8 weeks before last frost for spring, sow every 3 to 4 weeks through summer for fall harvest. For fall crops, transplant in late summer so plants establish before first frost. In hot climates, time fall plantings for late summer to avoid mid-summer heat stress.
Seasonal tips, do this. Use row cover for spring flea beetles, mulch to keep roots cool in summer, and expect sweeter leaves after a light frost. These steps answer what grows well with kale, and they make planting combos beginner friendly.
Profiles of the top six companions, plant care and exact pairing tips
Nasturtiums: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, space 10 to 12 inches for trailing varieties, 6 to 8 inches for compact types. Plant after last light frost, or sow in late summer for fall blooms. Nasturtiums attract aphids away from kale, and their edible flowers make a pretty border around kale beds.
Chives: Seed thinly 1/4 inch deep or divide clumps, space 8 to 12 inches. Start in early spring or plant established clumps any time in mild weather. Chives repel aphids and improve kale flavor, so plant them in islands among kale or along walkways.
Beans: Plant seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep. Space bush beans 3 to 6 inches, pole beans 6 to 12 inches with a trellis. Sow after soils warm. Beans fix nitrogen, which benefits heavy feeders like kale in subsequent plantings, or intercrop with summer kale in mixed beds.
Calendula: Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, thin to 8 to 12 inches apart. Direct-sow in spring or fall in mild climates. Calendula draws pollinators and predatory insects, place near kale rows to boost natural pest control.
Mint: Start from transplants or root divisions, plant crown about 1 inch below soil, space 12 to 18 inches, or better, grow in containers to prevent spread. Plant at the bed edge, not crowded with kale, to keep its vigorous growth from overtaking the patch.
Spinach: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, 3 to 4 inches apart, thin to 6 inches. Plant in early spring or late summer for fall harvest. Spinach is a fast, cool-season filler that makes efficient use of space between young kale plants.
Plants to avoid near kale, and why they clash
Avoid planting other brassicas nearby, for example broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, or Brussels sprouts. They share the same pests and diseases, so a caterpillar outbreak or clubroot can wipe out the whole lot. Rotate brassicas to a new bed for at least three years.
Do not plant fennel near kale. Fennel releases chemicals that stunt many vegetables, so keep it at least 10 feet away or in a separate bed.
Also avoid crowding kale with heavy feeders like dense tomato trellises, which compete for light and nutrients and make scouting for cabbage worms harder.
Safer choices, when you ask what grows well with kale, include beans and peas for nitrogen, aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage to repel pests, and marigolds or nasturtiums as trap crops.
Troubleshooting common problems when mixing kale with other plants
Too much shade, nutrient stress, pests or disease can undo even the best companion combos. Quick fixes you can use today:
Shading: plant taller companions to the north of kale so they do not cast shade, train peas and beans up a trellis, and thin crowded chard or brassicas so light reaches lower leaves. If a neighbor already overhangs, trim it back.
Nutrient competition: add 2 inches of compost around plants at planting, then feed with fish emulsion or balanced organic fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks. Interplant legumes like bush beans to boost nitrogen naturally if you wonder what grows well with kale?
Pests and disease: use floating row covers early to block flea beetles, hand pick caterpillars, apply Bt for loopers, water at the base in the morning to prevent fungal diseases, and remove infected leaves immediately.
Pruning and timing: prune lower leaves for airflow, stagger plantings of quick crops such as radishes or lettuce between kale rows, and sow kale every few weeks for continuous harvest and less competition.
Final tips and a simple planting plan you can use this season
If you’re asking "what grows well with kale?" pick plants that repel pests, fix nitrogen, or occupy different root zones.
4×6 foot bed: 4 kale plants spaced 18 inches down the center; 4 trellised bush beans at the back; carrots sown between kale at 2 inch spacing; nasturtiums around the edges; chives at the corners.
Keep a simple log of planting dates, pest notes, harvest weights and photos. Try it, adjust for your soil and sun, and record yields.
