Companion Plant Guide
Nasturtium
Trap crop for cabbage worms.
Vegetable · Brassica family
Kale companion plants
Brassica oleracea
What to plant beside kale, what to keep apart, and how to grow it — sun, spacing, soil and the pairings used in this guide.
Photo: ZAVI on Unsplash
Overview
Growing kale beside the right neighbour
Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a vegetable in the Brassica family. Nutrient-dense leafy green that tolerates cold well.
Cabbage whites lay on nasturtium first — check and clear those leaves weekly.
Give plants 12–18 in in sun or part shade. Aim for well-draining, fertile, moist soil. In most gardens the crop sits in USDA zones 2-11 and is ready in about 55-75 days.
Grows well with
What to plant with kale
The strongest companions for kale in this guide are Nasturtium. Each pairing below is a reason to share a bed — pest masking, roots that do not compete, or insects that hunt the pests kale attracts.
Keep apart
What not to plant with kale
Keep kale away from Tomato. These neighbours compete for the same food, release chemicals that stunt growth, or otherwise hold the crop back.
Tomato
Both heavy feeders — brassicas and tomatoes compete.
In the bed
How to grow kale
| Sun | Sun or part shade |
|---|---|
| Spacing | 12–18 in |
| Soil | Well-draining, fertile, moist soil |
| Hardiness | Zones 2-11 |
| Days to maturity | 55-75 |
These notes sit beside the companion lists — they are how kale actually occupies the bed, not a substitute for local climate.
- Very cold hardy, improves after frost
- Continuous harvesting extends season
- Remove yellowing lower leaves
- Space well for air circulation
Questions
Kale companion planting FAQ
What can I plant next to kale?
Plant Nasturtium beside kale. Nasturtium: Trap crop for cabbage worms.
What should I not plant with kale?
Keep kale apart from Tomato. Tomato: Both heavy feeders — brassicas and tomatoes compete.
How much sun does kale need?
Kale wants sun or part shade. Space plants 12–18 in apart in well-draining, fertile, moist soil.
How long does kale take to mature?
Most kale crops in this guide mature in 55-75 days, in hardiness zones 2-11.
Compare every pairing at a glance
Open the guide, pick kale, and see what thrives alongside it — and what quietly holds it back.
Open the pairing guide