Companion planting, the art of strategically placing plants together to enhance growth, deter pests, and improve overall garden health, is a time-honored practice in gardening. Among the plethora of crops, garlic stands out not only for its culinary uses but also for its remarkable ability to repel pests due to its strong aroma and natural compounds. Choosing the right companions for garlic can maximize its benefits while creating a harmonious and thriving garden ecosystem. Here, we explore some of the best garlic companion plants to consider for your garden.
Garlic Companion Plants
1. Beets
Beets make excellent companions for garlic due to their minimal soil disturbance and complementary growth habits. Beets’ shallow roots help to aerate the soil without competing with garlic for nutrients, while their presence can deter pests such as aphids and nematodes. Additionally, garlic’s strong aroma is believed to repel beet pests like leafminers and flea beetles, offering mutual protection for both crops. Planting beets alongside garlic can optimize space utilization in the garden while promoting a healthier growing environment for both crops.
2. Brassicas
Brassicas, including cabbage, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts, can benefit from being planted near garlic. Garlic’s pungent scent helps deter common brassica pests like cabbage worms, aphids, and cabbage loopers, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Conversely, brassicas provide a natural living mulch, shading the soil and retaining moisture, which can benefit garlic by suppressing weeds and conserving water. This symbiotic relationship fosters a balanced ecosystem, promoting the health and productivity of both garlic and brassicas.
3. Carrots
Carrots are compatible companions for garlic, as they have different root depths and growth habits, minimizing competition for nutrients and space. Planting garlic alongside carrots can help deter carrot fly, a common pest that damages carrot crops. In return, carrots provide a living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. This intercropping technique not only maximizes garden space but also enhances biodiversity, contributing to a healthier and more resilient garden ecosystem.
4. Chamomile
Chamomile is a beneficial companion plant for garlic, offering various advantages for both crops. Chamomile’s delicate flowers attract pollinators like bees and beneficial insects, which can enhance garlic pollination and pest control. The strong scent of garlic helps repel pests like aphids, while chamomile’s aromatic oils deter pests such as cabbage moths and mosquitoes. Additionally, chamomile’s shallow root system can complement garlic’s deep roots, improving soil structure and nutrient uptake. Intercropping garlic with chamomile can promote biodiversity and create a visually appealing and fragrant garden space.
5. Cauliflower
Cauliflower and garlic make excellent companions in the garden, as they have similar cultural requirements and can mutually benefit each other. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, cabbage worms, and cabbage loopers, which are common pests of cauliflower. In return, cauliflower provides shade and acts as a natural living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. Planting garlic and cauliflower together maximizes garden space while promoting a healthy and productive garden ecosystem.
6. Dill
Dill is a beneficial companion plant for garlic, offering various advantages for both crops. Dill’s feathery foliage attracts beneficial insects like predatory wasps and hoverflies, which prey on common garlic pests such as aphids and caterpillars. The strong scent of garlic helps repel dill pests like aphids and spider mites, offering mutual protection for both crops. Additionally, dill’s shallow root system can complement garlic’s deep roots, improving soil aeration and nutrient uptake. Interplanting garlic with dill not only enhances pest control but also promotes biodiversity and creates a visually appealing garden space.
7. Eggplant
Eggplant is a suitable companion for garlic, as they have different growth habits and can complement each other in the garden. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles, which are common pests of eggplant. In return, eggplant provides shade and acts as a natural living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. Planting garlic and eggplant together maximizes garden space while promoting a healthy and productive garden ecosystem.
8. Peppers
Peppers and garlic make excellent companions in the garden, as they have complementary growth habits and can benefit each other. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles, which are common pests of peppers. In return, peppers provide shade and act as a natural living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. Intercropping garlic with peppers not only maximizes garden space but also enhances biodiversity, creating a balanced and resilient garden ecosystem.
9. Spinach
Spinach is a suitable companion for garlic, as they have different growth habits and can complement each other in the garden. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles, which are common pests of spinach. In return, spinach provides shade and acts as a natural living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. Planting garlic and spinach together maximizes garden space while promoting a healthy and productive garden ecosystem.
10. Strawberries
Strawberries make excellent companions for garlic, as they have different growth habits and can complement each other in the garden. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, spider mites, and slugs, which are common pests of strawberries. In return, strawberries provide ground cover, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. Intercropping garlic with strawberries not only maximizes garden space but also enhances biodiversity, creating a balanced and resilient garden ecosystem.
11. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are suitable companions for garlic, as they have different growth habits and can complement each other in the garden. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies, which are common pests of tomatoes. In return, tomatoes provide shade and act as a natural living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. Planting garlic and tomatoes together maximizes garden space while promoting a healthy and productive garden ecosystem.
12. Fruit Trees
Fruit trees, such as apple, pear, and peach trees, can benefit from being planted near garlic. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, codling moths, and borers, which are common pests of fruit trees. In return, fruit trees provide shade and act as a natural living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. This symbiotic relationship fosters a balanced ecosystem, promoting the health and productivity of both garlic and fruit trees.
13. Roses
Roses and garlic make suitable companions in the garden, as they have complementary growth habits and can benefit each other. Garlic’s strong aroma helps repel pests like aphids, spider mites, and rose slugs, which are common pests of roses. In return, roses provide shade and act as a natural living mulch, suppressing weed growth and conserving soil moisture, which benefits garlic during its growth cycle. Intercropping garlic with roses not only maximizes garden space but also enhances biodiversity, creating a visually appealing and fragrant garden space.