What Are the Best Companion Plants for Kale?
Kale grows best with dill, sweet alyssum, cilantro, beets and nasturtiums. 10 plants in our chart pair well with kale, mostly by deterring or trapping pests and attracting pollinators and beneficial insects; 3 of those pairings are research-supported.
| Plant | Why | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| DillPollinators & beneficials | Flowering dill feeds the parasitic wasps and hoverflies that attack cabbage worms and aphids on kale. | Research-supported |
| Sweet AlyssumPest control | Sweet alyssum's tiny flowers feed hoverflies and parasitic wasps; hoverfly larvae eat the aphids that attack kale. | Research-supported |
| CilantroPollinators & beneficials | Flowering cilantro feeds parasitic wasps and hoverflies that attack cabbage worms and aphids on kale. | Research-supported |
| BeetsSpace & timing | Compact beets fit between kale plants and root at a different depth. | Practical |
| NasturtiumsPest control | Nasturtiums often draw aphids and cabbage white butterflies away from kale as a sacrificial trap crop; results vary, and infested nasturtiums must be pulled. | Traditional |
| OnionsPest control | Onion-family scent is said to mask kale from cabbage moths and aphids; trials show small effects at best, but the narrow, upright plants take little space. | Traditional |
| ThymePest control | Thyme scent is said to confuse cabbage moths looking for kale to lay eggs on; some trials found fewer eggs, others no difference. | Traditional |
| CeleryPest control | Celery's scent is a traditional deterrent for cabbage white butterflies on kale; both need rich, moist soil. | Traditional |
| RadishesPest control | Radishes are a traditional trap crop that draws flea beetles away from young kale; results are inconsistent. | Traditional |
| MintPest control | Potted mint near kale is a traditional deterrent for flea beetles and cabbage moths; trial results are inconsistent. | Traditional |
Good companion plants for kale, strongest evidence first.
What Should You Not Plant With Kale?
Don't plant kale near tomatoes. The conflicts come mainly from competition for space, light or water; none of the 1 are research-supported and the rest are practical or traditional rules.
| Plant | Why | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| TomatoesCompetition | Both are heavy feeders that compete for nitrogen. The old rule to keep tomatoes and cabbage-family crops apart rests on competition, not proven harm — some growers even report fewer diamondback moths near tomatoes. | Traditional |
Plants to keep away from kale.
Which Kale Companion Claims Are Backed by Research?
3 of the 11 kale pairings in our data are research-supported: dill, sweet alyssum and cilantro. Of the rest, 1 rests on practical horticulture and 7 are traditional claims.
Research-supported pairings rest on documented biology: shared pathogens, pollination, nematode suppression or insects that feed on specific flowers. Practical pairings are plain logic about space, shade and timing. Traditional companions such as nasturtiums, onions, thyme and celery are harmless to grow with kale, but don't rely on them for pest control — row covers, crop rotation and regular checks do more.
How Should You Plant Kale With Companions?
Space kale about 18 inches (45 cm) apart, with beets or onions between plants and a clump of dill or sweet alyssum every few feet. Nasturtiums at the bed ends act as a trap.
Companions still need room of their own, so work out how many kale and partner plants fit in a bed with the plant spacing calculator. Planting dates for kale and its companions follow your local spring and fall frost dates, so cool-season partners can be sown together in early spring or late summer for a fall crop.
Which Crops Share Companions With Kale?
Cabbage, broccoli and dill share companion plants or growing conditions with kale, so their companion guides help plan the same bed or rotation.
- The guide to companion plants for cabbage overlaps with this one: both crops grow well with dill, sweet alyssum and cilantro; as members of the same plant family, the two should rotate together.
- The guide to companion plants for broccoli overlaps with this one: both crops grow well with dill, sweet alyssum and cilantro; as members of the same plant family, the two should rotate together.
- The guide to companion plants for dill covers a crop grown in similar conditions, and dill is a good companion for kale too.
To check kale against every other plant at once, or test a whole bed plan, use the companion planting chart and garden checker.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best companion plant for kale?
- Dill is one of the best-supported companions for kale. Flowering dill feeds the parasitic wasps and hoverflies that attack cabbage worms and aphids on kale.
- What should you not plant with kale?
- Avoid planting kale near tomatoes. The most important conflict is with tomatoes: Both are heavy feeders that compete for nitrogen. The old rule to keep tomatoes and cabbage-family crops apart rests on competition, not proven harm — some growers even report fewer diamondback moths near tomatoes.
- Can you plant kale and cabbage together?
- Yes, kale and cabbage can share a bed; neither is known to help or harm the other. Both belong to the cabbage family (Brassicaceae), so they share pests and diseases — rotate them together and don't follow one with the other.
- Does companion planting really work for kale?
- Partly. 3 of the 11 kale pairings in our data are backed by research, 1 is practical space or timing rules, and 7 are traditional. Flowers that feed beneficial insects and separating crops that share diseases have the strongest evidence.
Companion data: PlantoScan's own editorial compilation, written from general horticultural knowledge, plant pathology and published intercropping research. Evidence labels are our editorial judgment; results vary with climate, soil, variety and pest pressure.