I plant a lot of garlic, both in a large raised bed and in numerous large, 24-30" diameter pots. I planted approximately 200 cloves last year and plan on planting 300 this year. In my experience, IF you plant the garlic cloves too close to each other, and this would be true for planting anything else in their vicinity, the bulbs will not develop as well. Don't forget that garlic will be in the ground for 6-7 months, its bulbs slowly developing from those single cloves. For maximum bulb size these bulbs need both nutrients and space. I would not want weeds, flowers, or any other type plants competing with my garlic. If one is satisfied with smaller garlic bulbs that's fine. I want to maximize my bulb size however possible.
These are some views of the raised garden last November. One variety of garlic is already coming up. Notice I box in all my garlic so that I can keep other plants away, to give more depth thus better draining, and to keep the various varieties separated. That's sweet potatoes and asparagus growing as well.
