It has long been known that planting different crops together can significantly increase yield, as well as protect plants from various pests and diseases. But if you choose your neighbors incorrectly, you can only make the situation worse. So how not to make a mistake in such a difficult question? Well, the answer to this question is quite extensive, so in this article we will look at the question of whether it is possible to plant garlic with tomatoes.
Basic principles
Many cultures get along well. They help each other extract nutrients from the soil, fight pests, and also attract beneficial insects.
The correct proximity of vegetables will allow you to use less fertilizer. This improves the taste of the fruit and reduces soil depletion.
You don't have to memorize all the types of compatible crops. It is important to understand the basic principles of a neighborhood.
Firstly, you should not plant plants from the same family next to each other. They are susceptible to the same diseases, which makes care more difficult.
Secondly, vegetables with different needs for heat and moisture cannot be planted together. Also, crops should not block each other's access to sunlight.
What is the compatibility of tomatoes and garlic
Of course, the very first thing on which the growth of vegetables depends is the soil. Winter garlic grows well on light sandy loam soils. At the same time, spring garlic prefers light and medium loamy soils.
But tomatoes grow well in light sandy and loamy soils. Therefore, tomatoes go well with garlic. However, a good harvest can only grow on soils with a high content of nutrients.
Therefore, the soil must be fertilized and it is better to do this in the fall. I wrote about proper soil fertilization in a material called “How to increase soil fertility in your garden.”
Let me remind you that you need to apply organic and mineral fertilizers. Of the organic fertilizers, I prefer humus. I also add one of the best potassium-phosphorus fertilizers - wood ash.
Source
Tomatoes
In order for tomatoes to produce a good harvest, they should be planted together with carrots, strawberries, legumes, Chinese cabbage, lettuce and garlic. Basil protects tomatoes from harmful insects and caterpillars, and also improves the taste of the fruit. Desirable neighbors also include sage, mint and lemongrass.
Carrots, parsnips and parsley attract spiders, ladybugs and mantises. These predatory insects kill tomato pests but do not cause damage to tomatoes.
You can plant dill next to your tomatoes. But the greens will need to be removed when the tomatoes begin to bear fruit.
Tomatoes love the presence of pepper. It saves tomatoes from aphids. Both crops have the same heat and water requirements.
The enemies of tomatoes include the following vegetables:
- cucumbers;
- potato;
- eggplants.
Cucumbers and tomatoes have different requirements for temperature, humidity and soil conditions. Planting them together leads to low yields of both crops. In addition, cucumbers and tomatoes require different types of fertilizers.
Tomatoes and potatoes suffer from the same diseases. Growing together increases the risk of mold damage. For the same reason, tomatoes are not planted next to eggplants.
Bad neighbors also include fennel, beets, zucchini, corn and cabbage. It is not recommended to plant tomatoes near apple and apricot trees.
Should I plant garlic and tomatoes?
And first, let's find out whether it's worth planting garlic and tomatoes at all? And the answer to this question is definitely yes. But let's take a closer look at it.
- Firstly, garlic contains phytoncides; these organic compounds give it taste and smell, and can also protect tomatoes from spider mites, aphids and cruciferous flea beetles. It will help cope with diseases such as late blight.
- Secondly, the tomato will also help your neighbor reduce the likelihood of scab infestation.
- Thirdly, garlic contains allicin, a powerful antioxidant, which, in turn, will improve the quality and extend the shelf life of the fruit.
Both of these plants will also improve the quality of the soil for each other. Now you have learned that garlic and tomatoes make excellent neighbors. But don’t rush to plant them right away, because first you need to create the right conditions for both plants.
Pepper
This culture goes well with garlic and onions. They protect peppers from infection.
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Even weeds can be beneficial for peppers. Nettle, dandelion and chamomile contribute to the rapid ripening of the vegetable.
Enemies of this crop include fennel, peas, beans and kohlrabi. These plants should be kept away from peppers.
How to plant
It is important to know how to plant friendly plants correctly so that the positive effect manifests itself in full force. To do this, you can use different planting patterns: in a checkerboard pattern, alternating plants in the same bed, planting them between rows, etc.
Method No. 1: linear meter.
Any plant can be planted this way. Seedlings are located as spots on 1 square meter of land.
Method number 2: chessboard.
As in the first case, you can focus on zones of 1 square meter, alternating seedlings of several plants that are friendly to each other.
Method number 3: row spacing.
You can plant garlic in spaces between beds of other plants. In this case, it is especially good to alternate it with strawberries.
Let's look at effective cohabitation using the example of strawberries.
In the fall, when the beds are disinfected, cleaned and dug up with fertilizer, plant winter garlic on the beds with strawberries, and then carefully mulch both crops. You can use rotted organic fertilizer with ash, hay, tops, and sawdust.
In early spring, when the snow melts and strawberries and garlic begin to grow, the mulch is removed and the beds are watered with a solution of potassium permanganate, followed by fluffing up the soil. Just be careful not to damage the sprouted garlic cloves and roots!
Garlic and strawberries have the same care needs, so caring for them is easier due to their close proximity.
When the garlic shoots form, break them off as well as the strawberry tendrils so that both plants can concentrate on developing a healthy, large fruit.
Let's consider another neighborhood option. Like winter garlic, carrots are sown for the winter in pre-fertilized soil. You will have to add one and a half to two times more fertilizer to give a good start to carrot growth. At the end of September, both crops are sown, mulched and well watered. It is best to alternate rows, leaving 15-20 centimeters of free space between them. Leave a space between the cloves of approximately 10-13 centimeters. This is necessary so that in spring and summer, when the above-ground part of the carrot begins to grow, the garlic does not languish in the shade.
As soon as the snow melts from the beds, they should be covered with polyethylene to stimulate greening and active fruit growth. Plants live under film cover until May. It is in May that the carrot fly looks for a place to lay eggs. By removing the film from the beds, you stimulate the spread of phytoncides, which repel it, which has a positive effect on the growth and development of carrots.
Despite the fact that winter varieties usually ripen in mid-July, proximity to carrots extends their life. Therefore, both crops are harvested at the same time. This growing method has a positive effect on the shelf life of both garlic and carrots.
Remember that even the most mutually friendly plants require annual crop rotation. It is not enough to simply swap their beds; the location must be radically changed.
In addition to micronutrients, each crop releases a certain amount of toxins into the soil and attracts harmful insects and fungal microflora. All this can easily lead to sad consequences, the result of which will be the loss of crops and seed material.
Keep records that are updated every year to ensure that the same crops are not grown in the same location.
cucumbers
Green onions repel pests from cucumbers. If you plant it in dense rows around the garden bed, it will protect vegetables from gray rot and powdery mildew.
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Spicy herbs should not be planted together with cucumbers. They spoil the taste of the fruit. The only exception is dill, which has a good effect on productivity.
What to plant between garlic rows?
Adding an article to a new collection
In small garden plots it is sometimes difficult to allocate space for all the crops. Experienced gardeners often combine plantings to use space more efficiently. Particularly often they compact the bed where winter garlic grows, which they begin to harvest in mid-summer.
The antibacterial properties of garlic have been known for a long time. The phytoncides contained in this plant repel many pests and suppress the development of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, some crops will do well in garlic rows, especially if they are wide enough. What plants can be planted there?
Flowers
The proximity of some garden flowers can affect the yield of vegetables. Flowering plants protect garden crops from pests.
Marigolds repel caterpillars, harmful worms, snails and aphids. This flower is planted next to melons, pumpkins, potatoes and cucumbers. It also protects vegetables from harmful fungi.
Chamomiles should be planted next to legumes and leafy vegetables. These flowers support plant growth and prevent fungal diseases.
Petunias are beautiful and unpretentious flowers. They protect tomatoes, peppers and beans and infestations of aphids and beetles.
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It is useful to plant nasturtiums in greenhouses. These flowers are excellent at fighting aphids, slugs and moths.
Plant lavender around your rose bed. It is not only beautiful, but also useful. Lavender will repel pests from roses.
The listed flowers are distinguished by a pronounced and rich smell, which pests are afraid of. For humans, their aroma is safe and even pleasant.
Planting methods
Planting garlic with a peg
Garlic can be planted in two ways:
- Dig up a piece of land and make ridges . Make grooves on them. For spring garlic, a depth of 5 cm is sufficient. For winter crops, you need to make 15 cm. Place the cloves in these furrows with a distance between them of 10 to 15 cm. Water with water and cover with loose soil.
- Use a peg to make holes in the garden bed . Their depth depends on the type and varies from 5 to 15 cm. Between rows is up to 40 cm. We lay out the cloves in them. Try to keep them bottom down. Cover with soil and water. This method of planting will take more time, but you will collect more garlic.
Herbs and greens
Thyme, basil and lemon balm protect parsley and beans from pests. Onions and garlic prevent fungal diseases in neighbors. Spicy vegetables should not be grown next to cabbage, beans and peas.
Sage works well against cabbage moths. It works better than insecticides. This herb should be planted near cabbage beds.
Mint has a spicy and rich smell that repels pests and ants. This herb is recommended to be planted next to cauliflower and broccoli.
Mixed planting: planting or harm
Mixed cultivation (alelopathy) is a special type of cultivation of several crops in one bed, planted according to a certain pattern. Is such a landing relevant? For which crops is it needed and why?
The advantage of planting multiple crops is that each plant performs its own function, protecting each other. Even the American Indians cultivated plants according to this principle. The most popular combination: corn, peas and pumpkin. Peas saturate the soil with nitrogen, pumpkin fights weeds, and corn serves as support. The main task is to choose the right crops. Some plants growing near others can improve their flavor. For example, celery and onions improve the taste of tomatoes. Cucumbers next to sunflowers will grow crispy and juicy.
But garlic rarely wins in any neighborhood, despite all its beneficial properties. A bed of garlic should not be located next to peanuts or lentils. These crops stop developing and bearing fruit normally. Planting perennial onions next to garlic will not grow. But garlic grows excellently with raspberries and currants, having a beneficial effect on berry crops.
When planting different crops in the same bed, it is necessary to strictly follow the planting pattern. Plants should not block sunlight from each other. It is necessary to take into account the height of each plant that will grow together, ensuring tiered planting. The main crops should be higher than the compactors. This planting creates favorable conditions for the root system.
The disadvantages of the method include the fact that allelopathy is a too complex planting method. It requires deep knowledge of all crops, their properties, growing times, and even a lot of experience. It is better for novice gardeners not to risk planting, because incorrect planting of at least one plant will lead to the destruction of the crop.
Crop rotation of winter garlic
These varieties are planted in the fall, even before the onset of frost. It is important not to miss the right time so that the plants have time to form a powerful root system.
- Late planting can lead to freezing of the planting material and poor future development.
- Planting garlic is also unfavorable and premature. Because the plant will begin to grow actively and then will not tolerate the drop in temperature well.
The optimal period is late October-early November.
The best guideline for regions with different weather conditions is about a month before prolonged frost. More information about planting garlic before winter.
To reap a good harvest, it is important to properly prepare the site. The soil is cleared of plant residues and weeds. When digging a bed, you need to break up large clods of soil. At the same time, it is recommended to apply fertilizers. It is advisable for organic connoisseurs to refrain from using fresh manure. Otherwise, there is a high probability of infections or fungal diseases.
The beds are formed up to 10 cm high and about 70 cm wide. The row spacing is no narrower than 20 cm, and the holes are made in 10 cm increments. The holes for planting material (cloves) are made no deeper than 5 cm.
All garlic is first sorted - small cloves, diseased or deformed are discarded. It is recommended to disinfect all planting material. You can soak the garlic for about 20-25 minutes in a 1% solution of copper sulfate. Or use wood ash: dilute a glass of ash in 2 liters of water and boil for about 25-30 minutes.
The garlic is kept in a warm solution for approximately one and a half to two hours.
If winters are very frosty, it is necessary to cover the plantings (use spunbond or other geotextiles).
Crop rotation in garlic beds is reflected in detail in the table.
| Then plant garlic before winter | What to plant after garlic | |
| Grain green manure | Thanks to the branched root system, natural loosening of heavy and compacted soil occurs. | Suitable plants:
|
| After mustard | The culture enriches the soil with potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Effectively fights stem nematode. Sowed in July-August, after harvesting the main crop. Before flowering, mustard is plowed into the ground. After 20-25 days you can plant garlic. | An excellent option is to sow the area after winter garlic with green manure in order to get beds with fertilized, structured soil for the next season. The best crops: peas, alfalfa, rye, buckwheat, white mustard. It is recommended to mow greens before flowering, otherwise later the plant stems will thicken and decompose worse. In addition, young greens contain many nutrients. The mown mass is left on the beds and dug up in the fall. |
After which you can plant garlic before winter:
| Greens for salads (dill, parsley, arugula, lettuce, spinach). | |
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