Garlic
Garlic is a popular companion plant in many gardens because it grows well near many flowers, herbs and vegetables, enhancing the garden habitat. Planting garlic throughout a garden establishes a healthier environment by deterring common pests that can damage garden plants. Garlic does best in raised garden beds or mounds if planted together with vegetables. Does this Spark an idea?
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting, or co-planting, is a way of gardening that relies on strategically growing different plants together, mixing flowers, vegetables and herbs in a way that is mutually beneficial to all. This type of plan helps strengthen a garden's diversity and creates a more natural, balanced habitat.
Once you know which plants work well together, you can interplant garlic with flowers and herbs, and add it to your vegetable garden to draw birds and insects that are natural predators of common garden pests.
Growing Garlic
Garlic is a useful herb for cooking and also serves as a natural pesticide and fungicide in the garden. Garlic oil can help repel slugs and snails, among other pests.
Select a sunny spot, in soil that drains well and has adequate compost mixed into it. Garlic bulbs hold several cloves. Plant individual cloves upright with the sprout pointing toward the sky, about 2 inches deep, separated by 3 inches. Space the rows by 12-18 inches. Harvest in late summer once the leaves turn brown.
Benefits of Garlic Co-Planting
Garlic is one of the best-known beneficial companion plants for the garden. It grows well with most herbs, flowers and vegetables. Garlic helps keep lettuce healthy by deterring aphids, and enhances cabbage by repelling other common garden pests.
Garlic can also enhance the flavor of some companion vegetables, including beets and cabbage. Roses and raspberries benefit from having garlic planted nearby because it deters the Japanese beetle. Herbs also benefit from being co-planted with garlic; it improves their production of essential oils.
Precautions in Garlic Co-Planting
Some companion planting mixes don't work well. While garlic can provide many benefits in the garden, it should not be planted near any peas, potatoes or legumes (beans). They will not do well when closely planted with garlic. Plant peas, potatoes or legumes in a separate garden area.
Tags: benefit from, common garden, common garden pests, flowers herbs, flowers vegetables, garden pests, Garlic Co-Planting