Companion Planting: Garlic
Allium sativum
Spacing: 4 per square foot. Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Plant these nearby
- Tomato: Garlic's sulfur compounds may deter spider mites on tomatoes.
Keep these apart
- Bush Beans: Alliums are traditionally kept off legume beds on the theory that they inhibit nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but WSU Extension's review of companion-planting research found no scientific basis for that specific mechanism — treat this as garden tradition, not measured evidence. (source)
Common pairings, answered directly
- Can I plant garlic next to tomato?
- Yes. Garlic's sulfur compounds may deter spider mites on tomatoes.
- Can I plant garlic next to bush beans?
- Better not to. Alliums are traditionally kept off legume beds on the theory that they inhibit nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but WSU Extension's review of companion-planting research found no scientific basis for that specific mechanism — treat this as garden tradition, not measured evidence.
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Companion planting for Garlic: which plants to grow next to it, which to keep apart, and the reason behind each pairing.
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