Ever wish your garden could produce more… without adding another raised bed?
Here’s a simple way to do it.
Let’s use garlic as an example.
Garlic might be one of the easiest, healthiest crops you can grow. But while it’s growing, you can slip something else right between the rows.
This is called interplanting garlic—a simple way to grow more food in less space.
Same space. Two harvests.
If you’ve got a small garden—or just don’t like wasting space—this is an awesome win.
How to plant garlic with other crops
Here’s how it works:
- Plant your garlic cloves in the fall, like usual.
- In spring, when the green tops are still short (under a foot tall), tuck in a second crop between the rows.
That’s it.
What to plant between garlic rows
This part matters...
When choosing what to grow with garlic, think small and polite. Nothing spreading or bushy. No root hogs.
Here are a few good options I’ve tried over the years:
- Carrots
- Romaine lettuce
- Baby salad greens
- Spinach
- Green onions
- Radishes
- Beets (cylindra)
- Strawflower (everlastings)
These slip right in while the garlic is still maturing.
You'll want to avoid these (they’ll crowd your garlic):
- Summer and winter squash
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Calendula
- Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower (kale might be OK)
- Anything that spreads wide or needs lots of root space
Here's what happens after you harvest garlic
Then, after you harvest the garlic, your second crop keeps growing, with plenty of room to st-r-e-t-ch out.
It’s one of those easy tricks that takes just a little time and makes gardening feel more fun.
And the best thing? It’s one of the easiest ways to grow more food in a small garden without adding more space.
Kind of cool, right?
Watch: "Grow Garlic a New Way"
I made a short video called “Grow Garlic a New Way” that shows exactly how this works.
You’ll see the timing, spacing, and care tips. I think you’ll like it.
And if you know someone who could use this simple trick, feel free to share it.
Thanks for being here,
~ Marion
P.S. I’m not able to grow sunflowers here in Kodiak, Alaska—but I’m wondering if they might work in this setup. What do you think?
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