Collards companion plants include plants that will help you grow collard in the best possible way. Collards are sun-loving and prefer growing in slightly acidic soils. We have gathered some of the companion plants that make collards thrive.
Most of these companion plants are edible and can ward off pests from collards. Continue reading to learn more about these plants and planting tips, then decide what suits you best.
Contents
9 Best Collard Companion Plants
Collard companion plants consist of plants that grow well with Collards. These plants have similar growing needs that will help you grow Collard greens much better.
Here are nine best collard companion plants that are going to make your Collards happy.
1. Celery
It belongs to the Apiaceae family and is native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Celery makes a good companion plant because of its ability to ensure pest control around Brassicas.
Although celery requires constant maintenance when grown at home, our gardens are never quite complete without it. It is biennial but is grown as an annual for its long edible stalks.
Lettuce is a great alternative to celery, but can you plant lettuce and collards together? No, collards produce certain secretions that can cause hindrance in lettuce growth.
– Growing Season
This cool-season crop needs to be planted in the early spring or fall. By the time frost settles in, the plant will be fully mature. It takes about one week for germination to take place. The crop becomes fully mature in three to four and a half months.
– Specific Needs
The plant requires constant watering to avoid stiff and small stalks. Mulch around the plant when it is 6 inches tall to keep the soil moist and the roots cool.
To propagate, cut the bottom root to about 2 to 3 inches and place it in a water-filled jar. Place the jar near a window for it to get good sunlight, and within a few days, you will be able to see new roots coming in and leafy stalks sprouting up.
2. Potato
The potato plant is a herbaceous annual and belongs to the family of Solanaceae. It is grown for its edible tubers and is native to Central and South America.
The perennial is a great choice to plant near Brassica family plants because it has a shallow root system that neither takes up much space nor consumes all the nutrients necessary for you to grow Collards.
– Growing Season
Small potatoes become ready within ten weeks. However, it takes almost eighty to a hundred days for the Potato to fully mature. The best time to plant potatoes in cooler regions is early to mid-April. However, in warmer regions, September is the best month to plant it to reach maturity by February.
– Specific Needs
The plant requires a mild temperature during the initial stages of its growth and cold weather as the tubers develop. Potatoes are propagated vegetatively, meaning small tubers or pieces of tubers are planted.
3. Pennyroyal
Being a member of the Mint family, Pennyroyal is even more aromatic than the Mint plant itself. It is a perennial herb native to the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. When used carefully, it is the most effective for repelling mosquitoes. It makes a good combination plant because of its pest-repellent aroma.
– Growing Season
The plant grows best in Summer. Pennyroyal has a fast growth rate. It can only get as tall as 6 inches on reaching maturity extending to a further 6 inches bearing flowers and spreading up to 24 inches.
– Specific Needs
The plant needs to be watered regularly to be able to thrive. The soil must always be moist. Perryroyals, too, are vegetatively propagated. The easiest way is to split off the roots and then replant them.
4. Chamomile
Chamomile is a beautiful European annual and perennial herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It bears white flowers with a canary yellow center.
More common names include German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, and Barnyard Daisy. German and Roman Chamomile are their types. It helps improve the growth behavior of collard greens, making them good combination plants. It also enhances the flavor of the collards.
– Growing Season
Chamomile thrives in a cool climate but it loves to grow near sunny windows indoors. It has a fast growth rate.
Visible seedlings can be seen within four to five days. It reaches a height of 24 inches and 12 inches in width on reaching maturity.
– Specific Needs
Chamomile grows best in well-drained soil under full sun or partial shade. In extremely hot weather conditions, the plant requires constant watering. However, the young plant requires less than an inch of watering per week.
Its propagation depends upon its type: German Chamomiles propagate by seeds, while Roman Chamomile propagates best by division.
5. Marigold
Marigold is a true annual. It completes its life cycle in one go and one season. Like Chamomile, Marigold also belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is native to Southern North America.
Warm-colored flowers and fern-like foliage characterize the plant. It can be planted as a border near the collard greens to keep any pests away.
– Growing Season
The Marigold blooms start in early summer and last till late fall. The best season to plant is in spring, immediately after the last frost. It has a fast growth rate that allows it to reach maturity within a few months. The plant can reach a height of 4 to 48 inches and acquire a width of 6 to 24 inches.
– Specific Needs
Marigolds prefer to grow in full sun, evenly moist, and well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH. Make sure to water them regularly if the weather is hot and sunny.
The easiest and simplest way to propagate the Marigold is through seeds. Sow the seeds 1 inch apart and water regularly after planting, and witness them blooming within eight weeks.
6. Garlic
Garlic is an edible bulb and is one of the most popular herbs grown all over the world. It is a perennial but is mostly grown as an annual. It belongs to the Lily family and makes a good choice to plant next to your collard green because of its ability to ward off various pests and having numerous health benefits.
– Growing Season
The best season to plant garlic is fall, so the crop can be harvested by mid-spring or summer. It has a slow growth rate.
The plant takes nine months to fully mature, reaching a maximum of 18 inches in height and 12 inches in width.
– Specific Needs
Garlic prefers to grow in the sun even though it remains underground till it is time to harvest it. The soil must be moist and well-drained with a slightly acidic pH.
Garlic is among the list of one of the easiest plants to propagate. Store good quality bulbs at room temperature but with a fairly high humidity level, and plant them the next growing season.
7. Marjoram
Marjoram is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the family of Lamiaceae. It is a low-growing plant with a shrubby appearance, aromatic grayish-green leaves, and bears small white or pink flowers. It is native to Europe and makes a good combination plant because of its soil-improving ability.
– Growing Season
Spring is the best season to plant Marjoram for it to bloom in summer. It has a slow growth rate. The plant can grow up to 1 to 2 feet tall and wide.
– Specific Needs
The perennial needs to be placed under the full sun for at least six hours a day, and it prefers to grow in well-drained, sandy, and loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH. Marjoram grows best when it is propagated through division. A single plant produces great herbs that last for years
8. Dill
Dill is an annual, culinary, and multi-branched herb with feathery, green foliage. It bears flat, wide flowers that cause the top part of the plant to bend over.
It is native to Europe and Asia and is a great option to plant next to your collards because it wards off cabbage worms by attracting wasps who feed off the worms.
– Growing Season
The best time to sow dill is after the spring frost has passed. Blooming occurs in late summer and early fall. Dill has a fast growth rate.
Seedlings sprout within 10 to 14 days of planting. It can reach up to 3 to 5 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in width once it fully matures.
– Specific Needs
Dill thrives in full sun and well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH and needs to be watered regularly. The simplest way to propagate dill is through cuttings. They begin to root in water fairly quickly, after which you can plant them in posts in a couple of weeks and thereafter transplant them to you garden.
9. Onion
The onion is a member of the Amaryllidaceae and is native to Asia. They have blue-green leaves emerging from a bulb, a leaf structure with layers. They enhance the flavor of their companion plants and improve the soil quality.
As a side note – avoid planting onions if you already have peas in your garden, as they do not grow well together.
– Growing Season
The best season to plant onions is spring, that is, between mid-March and mid-April. Onions have a fast growth rate. The plant can reach a height of 12 to 18 inches and have a width of 6 to 12 inches.
– Specific Needs
Onions need as much sunlight as possible to thrive and prefer to grow in well-drained, sandy soil with heaps of organic matter. Water the plant to about 1 inch per week to swell the bulbs.
The easiest way to propagate Onions is through seeds. Fill a tray with seeds and keep them indoors for six to 12 weeks before planting them outside.
Note: Collards do not grow well with plants like broccoli, tatsoi, turnip, and kale because they are all members of the same Brassica family, meaning they use the same elements from the soil and will leave your collards deprived of nutrients if used as companions.
And in case you are wondering why there are no fruit trees in our guide, it is because their growing needs differ so much from Collards.
Conclusion
Collards are used in cuisines all over the world. Adding companions is going to boost the growth of your greens and will help them to thrive.
Whatever plant you choose for companion planting, always remember the following points from the article above:
- Plant potatoes if you have limited space next to your greens, as they have a shallow root system.
- If you notice a decline in your Collards growth, plant Chamomile next to it.
- Garlic makes a great companion that not only wards off pests but also has health benefits.
After learning the benefits of these plants as companions, you can choose the right one for you.
References
- https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/50561
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/garlic
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/dill/grow-your-own
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