Bok choy is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that many gardeners enjoy growing. If you’re planning to add this leafy green to your garden, you might want to consider companion planting. This method can help your bok choy thrive and protect it from pests.
Companion planting with bok choy can boost your garden’s health and productivity. By choosing the right plant neighbors, you can create a balanced ecosystem that benefits all your crops. Let’s explore some great companion plants for bok choy that can help you get the most out of your garden space.
In this article, we'll cover
1. Radishes
Radishes make great companions for bok choy. Here’s what you need to know:
• Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus
• Growing Zones: 2-11
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, loose soil
• Water Needs: Moderate, consistent moisture
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall, 2-3 inches wide
Radishes help keep pests away from your bok choy. They deter aphids and cabbage worms that often bother bok choy plants.
Radishes have shallow roots that loosen the soil. This makes it easier for bok choy to get nutrients.
You can plant radishes and bok choy close together. They grow well side by side and don’t compete for resources.
2. Carrots
Carrots make great companions for bok choy in your garden. They grow well together and can help each other thrive.
• Botanical Name: Daucus carota
• Growing Zones: 3-10
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, sandy loam
• Water Needs: Moderate, consistent moisture
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall
Carrots have deep roots that loosen the soil. This helps bok choy roots grow better. The carrot tops also provide some shade for bok choy leaves.
You can plant carrots and bok choy close together. Their different root depths mean they won’t compete for nutrients. Both crops like cool weather, so you can grow them at the same time.
3. Spinach
Spinach makes a great companion for bok choy in your garden. These leafy greens grow well together and have similar needs.
• Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea
• Growing Zones: 3-11
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining soil
• Water Needs: Regular watering
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall
You can plant spinach and bok choy close to each other in rows. They both like cool weather and can be planted in spring or fall.
Spinach helps bok choy by attracting helpful insects. It also provides ground cover to keep the soil moist.
Try growing baby spinach between your bok choy plants. The quick-growing spinach will be ready to harvest before the bok choy needs more space.
4. Lettuce
Lettuce makes a great companion for bok choy. These leafy greens grow well together and have similar needs.
• Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
• Growing Zones: 4-9
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-draining
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall
You can plant lettuce and bok choy close to each other. They both like cool weather and moist soil. Lettuce helps shade the soil around bok choy. This keeps the roots cool and moist.
The two plants don’t compete for nutrients. You can harvest them at different times. This lets you get the most from your garden space.
5. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a great companion for bok choy. Here’s what you need to know:
• Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla
• Growing Zones: 3-10
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-draining
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 1-2 feet tall
Swiss chard helps bok choy by attracting beneficial insects. These insects eat pests that might harm your bok choy plants.
The two plants also have similar growing needs. This makes them easy to care for together. You can plant Swiss chard near bok choy to save space in your garden.
6. Peas
Peas make great companions for bok choy in your garden. They’re easy to grow and add nitrogen to the soil, which bok choy loves.
• Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
• Growing Zones: 2-11
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, fertile
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 2-6 feet tall
You can plant peas near your bok choy to improve soil health. As legumes, peas fix nitrogen in the soil, helping bok choy grow better.
Peas also provide some shade for bok choy when temperatures rise. This can help protect your bok choy from bolting too quickly in hot weather.
7. Cilantro
Cilantro can be a great companion for bok choy in your garden. Here are some key details about growing cilantro:
• Botanical Name: Coriandrum sativum
• Growing Zones: 3-11
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, fertile soil
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 1-2 feet tall
Cilantro helps bok choy by attracting beneficial insects. It brings in parasitic wasps that eat cabbage worms and whiteflies. These pests can damage your bok choy plants.
You can plant cilantro near your bok choy to create a natural pest control system. The herbs work together to keep your garden healthy and productive.
8. Sunflowers
Sunflowers make great companions for bok choy. Here’s what you need to know:
• Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
• Growing Zones: 2-11
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, fertile soil
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun
• Mature Size: 3-10 feet tall
Sunflowers attract beneficial insects that help protect your bok choy. They also provide shade on hot days, which bok choy appreciates.
Plant sunflowers on the north side of your bok choy patch. This way, they won’t block too much sun from reaching your leafy greens. The tall stalks can even act as a windbreak, shielding your bok choy from strong gusts.
9. Beets
• Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris
• Growing Zones: 2-11
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, rich soil
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature Size: 1-2 feet tall
Beets make great friends for your bok choy plants. You can plant them in rows next to each other or mix them together. Beets help keep the soil healthy and full of nutrients.
They also attract good bugs that eat pests. This means fewer pests will bother your bok choy. Both plants like cool weather, so they grow well together in spring and fall.
10. Onions
• Botanical Name: Allium cepa
• Growing Zones: 3-9
• Soil Needs: Well-draining, fertile soil
• Water Needs: Moderate
• Sunlight Needs: Full sun
• Mature Size: 1-3 feet tall
Onions make great companions for bok choy in your garden. They help keep pests away from your bok choy plants. Onions give off a strong smell that bugs don’t like.
You can plant onions near your bok choy to protect it from aphids and other small insects. The two plants grow well together and don’t compete for nutrients.
As a bonus, you can use both bok choy and onions in many tasty recipes. Try growing them side by side for a handy garden-to-table combo.
Understanding Companion Planting
Companion planting helps your bok choy grow better. It uses plant relationships to boost growth and keep pests away naturally.
Benefits of Companion Planting
Companion planting makes your garden healthier. It can:
- Keep bugs away from your bok choy
- Make plants grow faster and bigger
- Improve soil quality
- Save space in your garden
Some plants give off smells that confuse pests. Others attract helpful insects that eat the bad bugs.
Certain companions add nutrients to the soil. This helps bok choy grow without extra fertilizer.
Tall plants can shade bok choy on hot days. Low-growing plants cover the ground and stop weeds.
How Companion Planting Works
Plants help each other in different ways. Some give off chemicals from their roots or leaves. These can:
- Scare away pests
- Make nearby plants taste bad to bugs
- Help other plants grow better
Some companions have deep roots. They bring up water and nutrients for plants with shallow roots.
Tall plants can protect shorter ones from wind and sun. Short plants can cover the soil and keep it moist.
Some plants attract good bugs like bees and ladybugs. These insects help pollinate flowers and eat pests.
Specific Needs of Bok Choy
Bok choy thrives when given the right growing conditions. It needs specific soil, water, and light to produce crisp, tender leaves.
Ideal Soil Conditions
Bok choy likes rich, well-draining soil. Mix compost into your garden bed before planting. This adds nutrients and improves drainage. The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0.
Loamy soil is best for bok choy. It holds moisture but doesn’t get waterlogged. If your soil is heavy clay, add sand to improve drainage. For sandy soil, work in extra organic matter.
Test your soil before planting. Add lime if it’s too acidic or sulfur if it’s too alkaline. Good soil helps bok choy grow strong and resist pests.
Watering Requirements
Bok choy needs steady moisture to grow well. Water deeply once or twice a week. Give it about 1 inch of water each time. Check the soil often. Don’t let it dry out completely.
Use mulch around your plants. This keeps the soil moist and cool. It also stops weeds from growing. Water at the base of the plants to keep leaves dry.
In hot weather, you might need to water more often. Bok choy can bolt if it gets too dry. This makes the leaves bitter. A drip system or soaker hose works well for watering bok choy.
Sunlight and Temperature
Bok choy grows best in cool weather. It likes temperatures between 55°F and 70°F. Plant it in spring or fall in most areas. In hot climates, grow it as a winter crop.
Give bok choy full sun in cool weather. In warmer areas, it benefits from some afternoon shade. This helps prevent bolting. You can use shade cloth to protect plants from intense heat.
Frost can damage bok choy. If a cold snap is coming, cover your plants. Use row covers or cloches to keep them warm. Young plants are more sensitive to cold than mature ones.