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5 Must Have Plants When Companion Planting Bok Choy

Tasty in stews and soups, bok choy is a firm favorite amongst cabbage lovers. This fast-growing vegetable comes with only a few garden-related problems, yet it’s still worth pairing bok choy companion plants to keep your crop healthy and thriving. Ready to learn more about companion planting bok choy.

In this article, I’ll go over the best and worst neighbors for bok choy, as well as some frequently asked questions to help you get the maximum benefits from your bok choy crop.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Summary of How To Grow Bok Choy

Bok choy is a cool-season crop that grows best between 60 °F and 75 °F. It requires a spot that receives partial sunlight and rich, well-draining soil.

Since bok choy thrives in cooler temperatures, the best time to grow this veggie is in spring, after the danger of frost has passed. Start by sowing the seeds about ¼ to ½ inches deep in the garden. Space the plants about 6 inches apart to give them sufficient root space, and water them every week.

These brassicas mature quickly and can be harvested 45 to 60 days after germination. But ensure that the plant is at least 12 to 15 inches tall before harvesting.

To harvest, use a sharp knife and cut the whole plant off at soil level. Alternatively, you can also cut off its leaves while leaving the plant to grow as it is.

To prevent premature bolting and bitter leaf flavor, fill the soil with nutrients and moisture and harvest before summer. Then voila, your bok choy is ready to assist you with your favorite recipes! 

Best Conditions for Growing Bok Choy

Best ClimateBok choy is best grown in cooler conditions, with temperatures between 60-75°F.
Position Full sun to partial shade
Life Cycle Annual  
Planting Depth¼ to ½ inch (6-12 mm) 
Spacing 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm)
Time to HarvestAfter 45-60 days of planting

Best Bok Choy Companion Plants

Having discussed how bok choy is grown, let’s dig into a few of its ideal pairings in the vegetable garden.

Alliums like garlic, onion, shallots, and leeks are great bok choy companion plants

Alliums

Alliums like garlic, onion, shallots, and leeks are great bok choy companion plants.

This is due to their strong scent that deters off nearly all garden pests, including whiteflies, aphids, spider mites, and larger munchers like rodents and deer.

Nasturtiums are great companion planting bok choy

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums keep bok choy safe from unwanted visitors such as slugs, aphids, and cabbage worms. It does this by repelling them directly, as well as by attracting predatory insects like hoverflies.

So if any pests make it through the first line of defense to feed on your crop, useful predators will be waiting to fight them!

Rosemary are great bok choy companion plants

Rosemary

Rosemary’s potent oils will prevent loopers and moths from laying eggs in your bok choy crops and, like nasturtiums, will also keep hungry worms and aphids at bay.

Aside from its strong-scented protection, rosemary also comes in handy for improving the flavor of bok choy, making both a dynamic duo in any garden space.

Carrots are great companion planting bok choy

Carrots

For gardeners who enjoy making stir fry, carrots can be the perfect addition to their bok choy bed.

Carrots benefit bok choy in two ways. First, it provides cool shade to the plants, preventing them from drying out in the heat. Second, the carrot’s deep roots effectively loosen up the soil, allowing easy water, air, and nutrient penetration into the ground for your bok choy plants to access.

Companion planting bok choy with celery

Celery

Companion planting bok choy with celery comes with many benefits. Celery attracts ladybugs and parasitic wasps to protect your harvest from unwanted infestations. At the same time, it also invites pollinators to your garden, resulting in more bountiful yields – think birds and bees.

As a plus, both plants have similar growing conditions and don’t compete with one another for nutrients, further making them a great match.

Bad Bok Choy Companion Plants

While bok choy has many friends, there are still some combinations you should always watch out for. These are the three bad companion plants that can disturb the growth and health of your bok choy plants.

Companion planting bok choy with strawberries is a big no.

Strawberries

Strawberries, like bok choy, share a similar shallow root system. When planted together, these crops constantly compete for essential nutrients in the soil and can be mutually destructive. 

Additionally, the chemical imbalance between them inhibits the growth of both species, leading to weak and poor yields. Companion planting bok choy with strawberries is therefore a big no.

tomatoes don't go well as bok choy companion plants

Tomatoes

Members of the nightshade family, such as tomatoes, don’t go well as companion plants for bok choy.

This is because of their warm and wet growing conditions, which attract verticillium, a disease-causing fungus that bok choy is vulnerable to. Hence, it is best to keep both of these plants a reasonable distance away from each other.

brassicas don't go well as companion planting bok choy

Other Brassicas

Like bok choy, other brassicas like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower require a wider root space to grow and thrive. Therefore, planting different brassicas together can cause them to compete for space and minerals, resulting in stunted growth.

FAQs: Bok Choy Companion Plants

What can you not plant next to bok choy?

Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage are not good companion plants for bok choy. This is because of their high susceptibility to detrimental insects. Also, avoid planting nightshades like tomatoes and peppers near your bok choy as they prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Can you plant spinach and bok choy together?

Thanks to their similar growing conditions and cold-tolerant nature, spinach and bok choy are powerful companion plants. These plants can easily be grown in partial sunlight and harvested throughout the year to ensure a steady supply all year round.

What is the best place to plant bok choy?

Bok choy is best grown in cool areas with about six to eight hours of daily sunlight.  

Is it worth growing bok choy companion plants?

While bok choy fares well on its own, companion planting it with other crops can enhance its health and flavor. Pairing it with alliums and flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums can help protect it from aphids and cabbage worms while improving its natural taste and yield. A win-win situation!

Final Words on Bok Choy Companion Plants

Companion planting bok choy with the right bok choy companion plants is recommended if you wish to harvest bigger, tastier crops this coming season. Luckily, there are more than enough species of plants and herbs you can add to the mix for optimum results.

So, what are you waiting for? Choose your favorite one from the bunch and pair it with your bok choy crops for a better and more productive yield.

Happy Gardening!

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About the Author

Elle Reed is a passionate gardener and advocate for teaching beginner gardeners how to grow their own food. Elle’s mission is to inspire and empower people to get back to basics, grow their own produce, and embrace a sustainable lifestyle. “Whether it’s a few herb pots in an apartment, a potager or a full garden plot, we can all ‘start somewhere’ to grow our own food, and in doing so, provide healthier food for ourselves and those we love”.