Growing garlic is one of the most rewarding things you can do in your garden. To get the best bulbs, you need to know about bad companion plants for garlic. Some plants just don’t get along with your garlic cloves and can cause real problems. This guide will help you avoid those mistakes so your garlic can thrive.
Companion planting is like setting up a good neighborhood for your veggies. Some plants help each other by deterring pests or improving soil. Others compete for resources or attract harmful insects. Knowing which plants to keep apart is key to a healthy, productive garden.
Bad Companion Plants For Garlic
Garlic is a powerful, pungent plant that acts as a natural pest repellent for many of its neighbors. However, its strong chemical profile and growth habits make it incompatible with certain vegetables and herbs. Planting garlic near these can stunt growth, reduce yields, and invite disease.
Why These Plants Are Bad Neighbors
There are a few main reasons why a plant ends up on the “bad companion” list for garlic. Understanding these helps you make better choices even for plants not listed here.
- Competition: Some plants have root systems that compete directly with garlic for water and nutrients.
- Chemical Interference: Garlic releases compounds into the soil (a process called allelopathy) that can inhibit the growth of sensitive plants nearby.
- Pest & Disease Sharing: Planting related species together can create a hotspot for shared pests and fungal diseases.
- Opposite Needs: Some plants have vastly different requirements for water, soil pH, or feeding, making them poor partners.
The Top Plants to Keep Away From Garlic
Here is your essential list of plants to give plenty of space to your garlic patch. Keeping these seperated is a simple step toward a better harvest.
1. Beans and Peas (All Types)
This is one of the most important rules. Garlic can seriously hinder the growth of legumes like pole beans, bush beans, peas, and even peanuts. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of garlic are thought to disrupt the beneficial nitrogen-fixing bacteria that legumes rely on their roots. This means your beans won’t grow as well and won’t enrich your soil with nitrogen as they should.
2. Asparagus
Asparagus and garlic are a terrible long-term pair. They compete for the same nutrients in the soil. More critically, some gardeners find that the allelopathic chemicals from garlic roots can reduce asparagus spear production. Since asparagus is a perennial that stays in place for years, you don’t want to plant a competitive annual like garlic anywhere near it.
3. Sage and Other Strong Herbs
While garlic gets along with many herbs, sage is a notable exception. Both garlic and sage prefer relatively dry, poor soil conditions, leading to competition. More importantly, the strong essential oils from sage (and to a lesser extent, rosemary) can interfere with garlic’s development. It’s best to keep them in different garden beds.
4. Parsley
Parsley seems like a harmless herb, but it often struggles when planted directly next to garlic. Observations from many gardeners suggest that parsley’s germination and growth are supressed by garlic. The two have different growth cycles, with parsley being a biennial, which might contribute to the incompatibility.
5. Other Alliums (Sometimes)
This one requires a bit of nuance. Generally, you should not plant garlic close to other plants in the allium family, like onions, leeks, and shallots. The reason is they are susceptible to the same pests (like onion maggots and thrips) and diseases (like white rot). Grouping them together makes it easy for problems to spread. However, some gardeners do plant them in the same general bed for convenience, accepting a slightly higher risk.
Plants That Have Mixed Results
Some garden books and websites give conflicting advice on the following plants. The general consensus is to err on the side of caution and avoid planting them too close to your garlic.
- Strawberries: Some sources claim garlic protects strawberries from pests. Others insist garlic stunts the berry plants growth. If you try it, watch carefully and be prepared to move them.
- Potatoes: There’s debate here. Garlic may help repel the Colorado potato beetle, but they can also compete for space and nutrients. It’s often recommended to keep them a few feet apart rather than interplanting directly.
How to Plan Your Garden Layout
Now that you know what to avoid, here’s how to practically apply this knowledge when designing your vegetable garden.
Step 1: Map Your Beds
Draw a simple sketch of your garden beds for the season. Mark where your permanent plants (like asparagus or perennial herbs) are located first. These are your fixed points.
Step 2: Place Your Garlic
Choose a sunny, well-draining spot for your garlic. On your map, draw a circle around the garlic plot. This is your “no-plant zone” for the incompatible plants listed above.
Step 3: Use Companion Planting to Your Advantage
Instead of focusing on the bad neighbors, think about the excellent companions for garlic. Plant these beneficial friends nearby to create a supportive guild. Great companions include:
- Fruit trees (garlic helps deter borers and pests)
- Tomatoes (garlic repels red spider mites)
- Carrots (garlic deters carrot root fly)
- Beets and Spinach
- Eggplant and Peppers
- Roses (garlic helps prevent black spot)
Step 4: Implement Crop Rotation
Never plant garlic in the same spot two years in a row. Rotate it with unrelated crops to prevent soil-borne diseases and nutrient depletion. A good four-year rotation plan is ideal. For example, follow garlic with a heavy feeder like tomatoes, then legumes to fix nitrogen, then leafy greens before returning to garlic.
What to Do If You’ve Already Planted Them Together
Don’t panic if you realize you’ve made a pairing mistake. Here are your options:
- If the plants are still small: Carefully dig them up and transplant them to a new, suitable location. Water them well after moving.
- If they are too established to move: Monitor them closely. Ensure they have plenty of water and a balanced organic fertilizer to reduce competition. Be extra vigilant for signs of pests or disease.
- Make a note for next year: Gardening is a learning process. Jot down the combination that didn’t work in your garden journal so you remember for future seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What should not be planted next to garlic?
You should avoid planting beans, peas, asparagus, sage, parsley, and (usually) other alliums like onions right next to garlic. These are the worst companions due to competition or chemical interference.
Can I plant garlic next to tomatoes?
Yes! Tomatoes and garlic are excellent companions. Garlic helps to repel pests like red spider mites that can bother tomato plants. This is a combination you should definitely try.
Where is the best place to plant garlic?
The best place is in full sun with loose, fertile, and very well-draining soil. Raised beds are often ideal. Avoid low spots where water collects, as garlic bulbs will rot in soggy soil.
What are good companion plants for garlic?
Great companions include tomatoes, carrots, beets, spinach, fruit trees, roses, and herbs like chamomile and summer savory. These plants benefit from garlic’s pest-repelling properties without suffering any negative effects.
Does garlic affect other plants growth?
Yes, it can. Garlic releases sulfur compounds into the soil which act as a natural fungicide and pesticide. This helps many plants but can inhibit the growth of certain sensitive ones, like legumes. This is why choosing the right neighbors is so important for a succesful garden.
Planning your garden with companion planting in mind is a simple way to boost your harvest naturally. By keeping those bad companion plants for garlic at a distance, you give your cloves the space and resources they need to grow big and flavorful. Remember to rotate your crops each year and take notes on what works best in your unique garden space. With a little planning, you’ll be harvesting beautiful, healthy garlic bulbs in no time.