This garlic companion planting guide is filled with information about companion plants for garlic. Use this information as a standalone guide or add it to your garden binder, in addition to your other vegetable companion planting charts and guides.
Do you grow garlic in your garden? If so, there are certain things you’ll want to bear in mind when companion planting with it.
Many plants do well alongside garlic, while some detract from its growth or nutritional value.
Having a better understanding of which ones make ideal companions and which should be avoided will help ensure that your garlic thrives!
Today I’m going to walk you through all the best — and worst — plants to plant along with your delicious bulbs of garlic. Let’s get started!
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What Is Companion Planting?
Companion planting might sound like a fancy term, but it’s actually just a strategic way of pairing up plants in your garden.
Think of it as a buddy system for plants! With companion planting, you can create a natural, symbiotic relationship between different crops, which can help improve soil health, deter pests, and even boost crop yields.
By planting certain plants together, you can keep harmful insects away and encourage beneficial ones to hang around.
It’s like creating a little community garden in your backyard, complete with all sorts of pals for your plants to hang out with. So don’t be afraid to get creative and try out some new planting combinations – your garden (and your plants) will thank you!
Why Companion Plant?
When you companion plant, you are allowing nature to work for you rather than against you. Many people who consider themselves to be terrible in the garden might have an easier time if they would just learn a bit more about companion planting!
Companion planting is truly a win-win situation! When you pair certain plants together, they can actually benefit one another in a variety of ways. It’s like having a garden sidekick!
By using this technique, you are letting nature do the heavy lifting for you. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to make their life a little easier?
So, for those of you who maybe haven’t been blessed with a green thumb, have no fear! Companion planting may be the answer to your gardening woes.
With a little bit of knowledge, you’ll be able to create a thriving garden that is both beautiful to look at and beneficial to the environment.
Free Printable Garlic Companion Planting Guide PDF
Want to take the information in this article with you? Download the free printable garlic companion planting guide!
Take this PDF with you to your garden when you’re ready to plant and you’ll know exactly what can (and cannot) go near your garlic.
Add it to your garden or homesteading binder and use it again and again!
Click here to access your printable garlic companion planting guide PDF!
Garlic is an Excellent Companion Plant Itself
Garlic is not just a flavorful addition to your meals, it also makes for an excellent companion plant in your garden.
Known for its ability to deter pests as well as its disease-resistant properties, when you plant cloves of garlic, it helps protect its neighboring plants by repelling unwanted critters such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies, just to name a few.
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Additionally, when garlic is planted in your garden, it will attract beneficial insects that you do want in your garden such as ladybugs and bees! Plus the scent of the garlic plant helps to confuse and deter hungry herbivores from snacking on your other crops.
And because it is a cool weather plant, you can get your garlic started with your very earliest seedlings.
A garlic plant’s natural antimicrobial properties help to suppress soil-borne diseases in surrounding plants. Not only that, but garlic also helps improve the flavor and aroma of a few plants, including many vegetables, fruits, and herbs such as tomatoes, peaches, and basil.
It’s no wonder why garlic is a go-to choice for any green thumb looking to take advantage of companion planting in their garden. In fact, many consider it to be one of the best companion plants available! Who knew a plant so delicious could be so helpful in nurturing other plants?
So, if you’re looking to add some pizzazz to your garden this season, consider planting some garlic alongside your other favorite crops. You’ll not only have a delicious harvest but also a natural pest control solution.
What could be better than that?
Benefits of Garlic Companion Planting
Garlic is definitely a good companion plant for many gardens and situations. Garlic is not only a tasty addition to many recipes, but it also has incredible health benefits.
It’s no wonder why garlic has become a popular companion plant in gardens all over the world.
When planted alongside other plants, garlic can help repel pests and reduce the risk of diseases. In addition to its pest-repelling properties, garlic also promotes healthy soil by releasing sulfur, which is essential for plant growth.
If that’s not enough, garlic can even improve the flavor of neighboring plants!
What Bugs And Pests Will Garlic Deter?
Pungent plants such as garlic are great for deterring pests while still attracting pollinators. Garlic is fantastic for deterring many pests, both in and out of the garden. Here are just a few common garden pests and critters that will avoid your garlic patch:
- aphids
- spider mites
- caterpillars
- armyworms
- cutworms
- beetles (including Japanese beetles)
- slugs
- mosquitoes
- whiteflies
- cabbage fly (along with cabbage loopers, cabbage moths, and cabbage worms)
Adding garlic to your garden is a safe and effective way to deter pests without adding a bunch of chemicals. That’s why anybody who is looking into what companion plants to grow should definitely think about including garlic.
Good Garlic Companion Plants
When planning out your garden, it is a good idea to know what plants do (and do not) work well together.
The following fruit trees and plants grow well with your garlic bulbs and will make great garlic companion plants:
- Broccoli
- Calendula
- Nasturtium
- Chamomile
- Oregano
- Kale
- Lettuce (along with other leafy greens)
- Hot Peppers (including Hot Cherry Peppers)
- Bell Peppers
- Tomatoes (all varieties of tomato plants)
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Apple trees
- Peach trees
- Apricot trees
- Cherry trees
- Nectarine trees
- Pear trees
While this is not a comprehensive list and other plants may do well when planted near garlic, these plants are considered to be the very best garlic companion for garlic plants around. Combat pests and prevent fungal infections and fungal diseases by taking advantage of garlic benefits.
Garlic Companion Plants to Avoid
Not every plant will work well with garlic. There are some options that you should avoid planting garlic near.
The following plants are not considered to be great companion plant options for growing garlic and should not be planted near garlic or in the same garden beds.
- Chives
- Leeks
- Onions
- Shallots
- Squashes
- Sage
- Beans (including pole beans and bush beans)
- Peas
- Asparagus
When exploring companion planting with garlic, these plants should definitely be avoided. Plant them on the other side of your garden from where you’ve stuck your garlic.
More Companion Gardening Tips
Still looking for more companion gardening tips? Check out these resources!
- Companion Planting Cheat Sheets
- Garlic Companion Planting Guide – Best and Worst Plants to Plant with Garlic
- Free Printable Garden Planner
- Onion Companion Planting Guide
- How Long To Germinate Tomato Seeds?
Charlene has been dabbling in and learning about the homesteading lifestyle for almost 20 years. She recently started a real-world homestead with her extended family and is excited to share 20+ years of knowledge and experience with the world!
While she certainly doesn't know everything about homesteading and is learning more every day, she is excited to learn and grow along with YOU!
Charlene blogs about about homesteading at https://secretlifeofhomesteaders.com/.
Esme Slabbert
Monday 15th of May 2023
Amazing, never heard of companion planting. I will share this with our Son and DIL as they have a small nonprofit farm and are busy getting set up to plant for the season. I visited you via Love Your Creativity Link Party #201 If not already part of SSPS, and are interested, find my entries: 102+103, and then navigate toward the bottom of my page for the Senior Salon Pit Stop linkup, we hope to meet you there virtually.