Kale Companion Plants
Vegetable60 days to maturity
Kale is a hardy, cut-and-come-again brassica grown for its nutritious leaves, and it is one of the most cold-tolerant vegetables in the garden, with frost actually sweetening the leaves. It can be harvested leaf by leaf over a long season that stretches from spring into winter. Cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles are the pests to watch.
Companion Checker: what grows well with Kale?
Tap any plant to see whether it pairs well with Kale and why. Green means a beneficial companion, red means keep them apart.
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Companion Planting Strategy for Kale
Kale attracts the same cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles as its brassica cousins, so aromatic onions and pest-confusing herbs make the strongest companions. Combine it with mineral-rich roots and greens that root at a different depth and will not compete for nitrogen.
Best Companion Plants for Kale
These plants grow well alongside Kale — providing pest control, attracting pollinators, or making better use of your garden space.
Beets root at a different depth than kale and contribute minerals to the soil without competing for the nitrogen kale needs.
Celery's strong aroma helps mask kale and deter the cabbage white butterflies and other brassica pests that target its leaves.
Onions repel the aphids, cabbage worms, and flea beetles that commonly attack kale.
What Not to Plant With Kale
Keep these away from Kale. They compete for resources, attract shared pests, or inhibit each other's growth.
Tomatoes are warm-season heavy nitrogen feeders that compete with kale and prefer hot conditions opposite to its cool-season preference.
Strawberries and kale compete for nutrients and share pests, and the heavy-feeding brassica can stunt nearby strawberry plants.
How to Grow Kale
- Botanical name
- Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
- Family
- Mustard/Cabbage (Brassicaceae)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade, 6+ hours daily
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining, fertile soil, pH 6.0-7.5
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches apart; rows 18-24 inches
- Planting depth
- Sow seed 1/4-1/2 inch deep
- Germination
- 5-8 days at 60-70F
- Days to maturity
- 50-65 days from transplant for full-size leaves; sooner for baby leaves
- When to plant
- Sow or transplant in early spring, and again in late summer for a fall and winter crop sweetened by frost
- Harvest
- Pick the lowest, oldest leaves first, leaving the central growing tip to keep producing
Common Kale Problems
Cabbage worms and cabbage loopers (green caterpillars)
Caterpillars chew ragged holes in the leaves. Use floating row cover, handpick, and spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Aphids
Cabbage aphids cluster deep in the crinkled leaves. Hose them off, encourage ladybugs and lacewings, and use insecticidal soap.
Flea beetles (shot-hole damage)
Tiny beetles pit young leaves with small holes, worst on seedlings. Protect plants with row cover and keep them growing strongly.
Harlequin bugs (black-and-orange shield bugs)
They suck sap and leave white or yellow stippling. Handpick adults and egg masses, remove crop debris, and use row cover in warm regions.
Kale Companion Planting FAQ
What are the best companion plants for kale?
Onions, beets, and celery are great kale companions. Onions repel aphids and cabbage worms, celery's aroma deters cabbage butterflies, and beets root at a different depth without competing for nitrogen. Aromatic herbs like dill and rosemary also help.
What should you not plant with kale?
Avoid planting kale with tomatoes and strawberries. Tomatoes are heavy nitrogen feeders that prefer hot weather opposite kale's cool-season needs, and strawberries compete for nutrients and are easily stunted by nearby brassicas.
Does kale taste better after frost?
Yes. Cold weather prompts kale to convert starches into sugars as a natural antifreeze, so leaves harvested after a light frost are noticeably sweeter and less bitter. Kale is one of the most cold-hardy vegetables and often survives well into winter.
How do you harvest kale so it keeps producing?
Pick the oldest, lowest leaves first, snapping or cutting them off while leaving the central growing point and small inner leaves intact. This cut-and-come-again method lets a single plant produce for months.
More vegetable companions
Plan Your Kale Garden
Use our interactive tools to design the perfect garden with Kale and its companions.