About Kale Companion Plants
Kale can tolerate temps down to 20 degrees F. (-7 C.) but becomes rather tough when temps exceed 80 degrees F. (27 C.). If you plant in the cool season, kale should be planted in full sun, but if you plant during the warm season, plant kale in partial shade. It thrives with a pH of 5.5 – 6.8 in loamy, well-draining, damp soil. These are all things to consider when looking for plants that grow well with kale. Obviously, these kale companion plants should have like growing requirements. Kale also doesn’t require nitrogen rich soil, another consideration when choosing companion plants for kale.
Kale Companion Planting
There are a number of veggies, herbs, and flowering plants that make great companion plants for kale. Among the veggie plants compatible with kale are:
Artichokes Beets Celery Cucumber Lettuce Onion Peas Potatoes Radishes Spinach
Kale also enjoys the company of many herbs such as:
Garlic Basil Dill Chamomile Mint Rosemary Sage Thyme
Hyssop, marigolds, and nasturtium companions get a thumb’s up from kale as well. Depending upon who you ask, kale either likes tomatoes or it doesn’t. In my garden, kale is pretty indestructible, and I direct sow it into pots on the deck so I can get at it quickly and easily. At this writing, I have kale tucked into a large decorative pot along with some grasses, a wallflower and some trailing lobelia. It seems to be quite happy there.
