Introduction:  I had planted 1 1/2  raised beds of kale one year, and then the next, I planted one of the beds in Fava beans and let the other rest. Of course, given the self seeding habits of kale, the bed and a half that had been planted in kale had lots of volunteer kale in them. I had planted the Fava in the bed that was only half planted in kale. The kale grew so that the Fava bed was roughly divided; about one half was plain fava beans and the other half was well mixed with kale. It looked to me to be a perfect chance to study interplanting of kale and fava beans.

Hypothesis: Given that kale is a high nitrogen feeder, being interplanted with Fava beans should increase the kale's yield. Given that the extra nitrogen that beans generate stays in the soil for next year(s) rather than being immediately removed by the beans, I predict that the fava bean production will not be affected positively or adversely by being interplanted with kale

Materials:

Optimum	What was had
-3 equal plots of garden area	-2 equal plots of garden area
-fava beans to fill 2 of the areas	-fava beans filling 1 plot
-kale seeds to fill 2 of the areas	-kale seed filling 1 1/2 plots
-normal garden tools	-normal garden tools

Method: (To reproduce with Optimum control rather than with what was had)

1.Plant 2 plots with kale seed (single year variety).

2.Plant the empty plot & one of the kale plots with Fava beans

3.Keep well watered until beans start to flower, then keep watering but less.

4.Take detailed notes as to the development of each plot (ie. growth speeds etc.)

5.Pick kale until end of plant's normal lifespan (can vary considerably in between plants), take notes.

6.Pick beans until beans finish their season. Take detailed notes of average size, total production in each plot etc..

Results:  Kale bore about 1 1/2X in the bean/kale plot as in the no-bean plot. Beans in the bean/kale plot bore the same as in the  no-kale plot.

Conclusion:  The kale in the bean plot grew better and more than the plain kale plot and since the kale had no observable negative effect on the beans it is a good companion planting. It is not a great companion planting, since to be called that, both plants would have to benefit.