Garlic is a member of the Allium plant family and is scientifically known as Allium sativum. Grown for its pungent flavoring bulb, Garlic is most cultivated and consumed in China, and it’s native to mid-Asia.
Widely known for its extensive potential to fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, Garlic is incredibly beneficial in the health world. It has been proven to help cardiac health and brain functioning.
Growing Garlic through Companion Planting
For the time that Garlic takes to grow, you might consider companion planting with the Garlic to make the best use of the space and have other things to show off for your land space. Companion planting involves grooming two or more plants together within the same space so that one plant does not deter the growth of the other. This article’s next couple of lines will explore some of the companion plants that do well with Garlic.
1. Cabbage
There are some natural pests of cabbage whose presence is repelled just by the presence of Garlic, one of which is cabbage moths. Some non-insect pests of cabbage, such as moose and rabbits, also find the presence of Garlic repulsive. The cabbage being planted in companion with Garlic will help you as a farmer make the best use of the land space and gives you more for the same land space.
2. Dill
If you’re looking for a more flavored garlic variant, you should consider planting dills alongside your Garlic. Dill also serves as a countermeasure for natural pests of Garlic as they attract insects that prey on garlic pests, such as ladybugs.
3. Rue
Asides from the fact that rue is an excellent pest repellant, it is advantageous planting it around a garlic farm because many natural pests of Garlic are kept off the rue. Rue repels onion flies, one of the most voracious pests that plague Garlic farms. Rue also keeps maggots off the garlic farm, thereby keeping the garlic bulbs safe from the risk of bores and infestation by maggots.
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes stand to gain a lot from being planted alongside Garlic. Garlic is a natural repellant to many pests and insects, especially the spider mite, which is the dread of tomato farmers. Garlic also tends to improve the flavor of tomatoes planted around it.
The only caution to planting tomatoes and Garlic in the same space is that tomatoes’ rapid growth can quickly overshadow the Garlic, so ensure enough spacing if this is the companion planting option you opt for.
5. Broccoli
Cabbage loopers, cabbage worms, and Japanese loopers are some of the most voracious pests of broccoli. All of these broccoli pests cannot stand the presence of Garlic. It, therefore, makes these plants great companions in the same space.
6. Chamomile
Chamomile is a tea herb that also works well when planted alongside Garlic. For one, chamomile improves the flavour of garlic bulbs. Secondly, the smell of chamomile can mask the Garlic from pests who depend on smell to locate the Garlic.
7. Eggplant
Eggplant of the nightshade plant family also works well with Garlic because of its defensive prowess for the Garlic as it grows. When you plant eggplants and Garlic together, both plants tend to do well, and according to some statistics, you end up with a more rewarding harvest. One caution to this duo is to harvest the Garlic before the eggplant overshadows it on the farm.
8. Pepper
Pepper stands to gain a lot from being planted around Garlic as well. Garlic is not just a pest repellant; it also repels certain fungal infections around its environment. Some of the fungal diseases that work against pepper the most are deterred by the presence of Garlic.
9. Rose
Although rose is not the first option that crosses the mind when considering options for planting alongside Garlic, it’s also a good one. As earlier stated, Garlic repels many pests, and this characteristic of Garlic works to the benefit of the rose as it repels some of the most vicious pests of roses. Asides from pests, Garlic also deters rose-plaguing fungi.
10. Summer Savory
Most companion plants of Garlic tend to gain more from Garlic than the Garlic does from them. Summer Savory is one of the plants that benefit Garlic by being planted together within a space. This herb assists in the growth of Garlic.
11. Nasturtiums
This flower is a huge pest repellant, so its presence, not just around Garlic, keeps many pests away from the garden. When you think of the combined pest-repellant force of both Garlic and nasturtiums, it’s safe to imagine that the farm space would be well protected from pests.
12. Spinach
Garlic doesn’t take up a lot of space, even when planted on a vast landmass. You might think of plants to cover up the fallow space within garlic plantations; one of those is spinach. Not all species of spinach do well around Garlic, but those that do not exceed 9 inches in height and spread not more than 12 inches apart are good options. The right spinach around your garlic farm would prevent weeds from thriving within the farm space.
13. Potato
Like many other plants, Garlic protects the potato from fungal infections such as the late potato blight and potato scab. So, when you have potatoes planted around your garlic farm, you don’t need artificial fungicides as the Garlic serves that function naturally.
14. Marigold
Marigold pests are repelled by Garlic, especially pests that infest above the ground surface. Both plants repel aphids which could be a terrible disaster for many other garden plants.
15. Beets
Garlic planted alongside beets seems like a controversial pairing, but it is mutually beneficial. Garlic deters fungal diseases that would have been a nightmare for the beets. Garlic and beets draw nutrients at different levels beneath the ground, so there’s no worry about competition. They both loosen the soil structure allowing better soil aeration.
16. Carrots
Carrots and members of its plant family are one group that has a symbiotic relationship with Garlic when planted as companions. Carrots repel garlic pests, and Garlic repays the favour by repelling pests of carrots, making both plants what you would can the perfect companions for each other.
17. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is one of those plants that benefit from the pest-repellant nature of Garlic. Garlic repels certain pests of the Cauliflower plant, such as aphids. If you think of it, Garlic is like a guard over many other plants.
18. Cucumber
What benefit can garlic give to cucumber, you might wonder? Garlic boosts cucumber’s nutrients, ensuring you have a succulent yield at harvest time. Planting this duo in the same space leaves the soil better because they provide it with essential nutrients.
19. Apple Tree
Apple trees and other fruit trees tend to be disrupted by fungal diseases. Guess what just the natural remedy to fungal infections is? You guessed right; Garlic has anti-fungal capabilities, which protect the apple tree from fungal diseases such as scabs.
20. Strawberry
Although some people do not go with the idea of planting strawberries around Garlic, it isn’t such a bad idea. Garlic protects the strawberry from spider mites that plague strawberries and deter their harvest.
Precautionary Measures for Using Garlic Companion Plants
Garlic is a good companion for many plants, and only a few plants do not grow well with Garlic within the same space. Asparagus, Parsley, Sage, Beans, and Peas are terrible companions for any garlic plantation, so keep these plants out of the options for garlic companion planting.
Growing Garlic
Soil preparation for Garlic involves mixing fertilizer into the soil upon which the garlic cloves are to be planted just before the Garlic is sown into the ground.
Plant the garlic cloves by burying them about 2 inches deep into the prepared soil and keeping each clove at least 5 inches from the next in a row. The rows of garlic plants should be distanced at about 8 to 10 inches apart. It’s essential to keep the garlic farm site properly weeded, as Garlic and competition aren’t good pals. Garlic takes about 8 to 9 months to fully mature enough for harvest.