Garlic Companion Plants: Full List of Pairings

Garlic Companion Plants: Simple Guide for Beginners

Garlic is a fantastic companion plant in the garden. It belongs to the allium family (like onions and leeks) and has a strong, pungent aroma that naturally helps with pest control. This powerful smell keeps many common garden pests away, while garlic’s antifungal properties help protect plants from diseases. When grown near other plants, garlic can improve their growth, flavor, and soil health.

Garlic is often planted in the fall, but its companion plants are usually added in early spring. Companion planting works by placing compatible plants together so they benefit each other (here’s a full beginner’s guide if you’re new to the idea). 

Now, here’s a simple guide to the best companion plants to grow with garlic for a healthier, more successful garden!

Best Companion Plants for Garlic

Garlic grows well with many different plants, like fruit trees, leafy greens, flowers, and herbs. These beneficial plants enjoy garlic’s natural pest-repelling properties, and garlic also benefits from having them nearby. Here are the best garlic companion plants:

Fruits and Vegetables to Grow with Garlic

• Beets, Carrots, and Parsnips: Garlic helps protect these root crops from pests like carrot flies. In return, carrots can keep some bugs away from garlic. Beets even taste better when grown near garlic!

• Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, and Brussels Sprouts: These brassicas (like cabbage) do well with garlic because it scares off pests like cabbage moths and fungus gnats. Garlic offers natural pest control in the garden.

• Cucumbers: Garlic improves soil nutrients for cucumbers and helps them grow better while keeping pests at bay.

• Eggplants, Peppers, Potatoes, and Tomatoes: Garlic protects these plants from bugs and diseases. It also makes tomatoes and pepper plants taste better. Garlic’s strong smell keeps away many pests that love tomato plants.

• Lettuce and Spinach: These leafy greens help cover the ground, keeping weeds away from your garlic. In return, garlic’s pest-repelling properties protect them.

• Strawberry Plants: Garlic helps protect strawberry plants from pests like spider mites. Planting garlic near strawberries is a great idea for a healthier garden.

• Fruit Trees: Plant garlic around fruit trees like peach trees and apple trees to protect them from pests and diseases like apple scab. Garlic thrives in full sun, so planting it near smaller trees can work well.

Flowers to Grow with Garlic

• Geraniums: Garlic can keep bugs away from geraniums, making them a good match.

• Marigolds: Marigolds are great for repelling pests, but garlic adds extra protection, helping to prevent fungal infections and pest issues.

• Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums are fantastic companion plants that help cover the ground, while garlic protects them from bugs like aphids.

• Roses: Plant garlic near rose bushes to keep pests like aphids and spider mites away. Roses and garlic have a symbiotic relationship, where they help each other thrive.

Herbs to Grow with Garlic

• Chamomile: Chamomile can improve the flavor of garlic and make it healthier.

• Dill: Garlic protects dill from pests, and dill can help garlic taste better, making them a great combination in your garden.

• Rue: Rue helps deter onion flies, which can be harmful to garlic, making it a great companion.

• Summer Savory: This herb helps garlic grow faster and stronger, leading to a bountiful harvest.

• Tarragon: Tarragon helps garlic grow bigger garlic bulbs, improving your crop yield.

• Yarrow: Yarrow boosts garlic growth and improves the soil, making it better for garlic and other plants in your garden.

What Not to Plant with Garlic

Some plants don’t like being near garlic. They can harm each other’s growth, so it’s best to keep them separated.

• Asparagus: Garlic can stunt asparagus growth and might give it a strange flavor.

• Beans and Peas: Garlic can slow down bean and pea growth. However, garlic can benefit from the nitrogen that beans and peas added to the soil when planted after them in fall.

• Chives, Onions, and Shallots: These plants are in the same family as garlic (allium sativum) and attract similar pests, which can hurt all of them if planted too close.

• Parsley: Garlic and parsley compete for nutrients, which can slow down their growth.

• Sage: Sage can slow down garlic growth, so keep them far apart in your garden beds.

Happy Garlic Companion Planting!

See what plants from this list you’re interested in growing, then plant a few near the garlic in your garden. This age-old gardening practice helps your plants grow strong and healthy without needing chemical pesticides. Garlic’s powerful aroma naturally keeps many pests away, and its antifungal properties improve soil health, leading to better results in your garden.

Looking for more tips on companion planting with other alliums? Check out the guide to onion companion plants.