What Grows Well With Strawberries?
Are you wondering how do you get the most out of the strawberries in your garden? One way to do that is through companion planting. In this article, I’ll give you the details on companion planting and what grows well with strawberries.
Growing strawberries in your home garden mean you get fresh from the vine, chemical-free berries for you to use in your pastries, desserts, salads, or to enjoy eating as is. You can give your strawberries the best soil and potting mixture, but companion planting can help your strawberries become sweeter and juicier.
The Benefits Of Companion Planting
Companion planting is planting combinations of one or two different plants that can help each other with absorbing nutrients, managing pests, and attracting pollinators. It is a method that goes back hundreds of years and has been tested and trusted by gardeners all over the world.
Essentially, you get better, healthier plants when companion planting. In the case of strawberries, you can expect a higher yield and more delicious berries. However, you cannot just plant whatever you’d like next to your strawberries. What grows well with strawberry plants depends on several factors that I'll explain. Some plants are better than others, while some can spell disaster for your strawberries. Therefore, it’s common for strawberry growers to ask what grows well with strawberries.
The Best Companion Herbs For Strawberries
Herbs make great garden companions. Whatever level of gardening you are at, you probably have herbs already or are looking to expand your herb garden.
Dill
Dill is an excellent herb to have as it is a common ingredient in a lot of recipes. If you’re having slug troubles with your strawberries, dill is a natural slug repellant. You can plant dill every five to six feet from your strawberry rows.
Borage
If you want to increase the yield of your strawberries, plant borage every four feet in the center of matted strawberry rows. Borage attracts pollinators that will make your garden more productive overall. This is one of the best choices if you're wondering what grows well with strawberries.
Caraway
Caraway seeds have a lot of nutritional benefits, but the plant can help your strawberries too. Caraway can attract common pests their way instead of onto your strawberries. Plant caraway every four feet along each strawberry row.
The Best Companion Vegetables For Strawberries
You may find some of these common vegetables are already growing your garden. If you are planning how to layout your vegetables, these are what to plant with strawberries.
Spinach
Spinach is one of the healthiest leafy greens because it contains a lot of nutrients. Spinach also contains the natural compounds, saponins, which repel bugs and pests. Plant your spinach every two to three feet near the bottom area of your strawberry rows.
Onions
Onions are incredibly easy to grow and are tough, but won't take over your strawberries. If the chopping raw onions have ever bothered you, it also does the same with pests and insects. By planting onions near your strawberry patch, you keep them away and improve the nitrogen levels of the soil.
Asparagus
Delicious and nutritious asparagus will be like best friends for your strawberries. They both have the ability to grow immediately after the last frost. Since their roots are on different levels, they can get the most nutrients they need out of the soil.
The Best Companion Flowers For Strawberries
Flowers make any garden more attractive, but they have benefits beyond landscaping. The following are the choices of flowers that will give you an idea of what grows well with strawberries.
Marigolds
Marigolds are beautiful flowers and are one of the best strawberry companion plants. Marigolds’ scent drives natural predators and pests away.
Lupin
Nobody wants beetles anywhere near their garden, especially their strawberry patch. The scent of Lupin flowers will drive beetles away as well as fix the nitrogen levels of your soil.
Strawberry Companion Plants To Avoid
Strawberries are some of the easiest to cultivate in your home garden, but that doesn’t mean you should take them for granted. Verticillium is a disease that is deadly to strawberries, and these common garden plants can cause it, so avoid planting them close to your strawberries:
- Bramble and berry plants
- Chrysanthemums
- Eggplant
- Melons
- Mint
- Nightshades
- Okra
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Roses
Additionally, if the plants listed above have been planted in the same spot within the last five years, be sure not to plant your strawberries there.
On the other hand, strawberries can hurt certain plants if you intend to make them neighbors. The cabbage family is vulnerable to strawberries, so be sure to not to plant these next to your berries:
- Bok choy
- Broccoflower
- Brussel sprouts
- Celery
- Collard
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
Conclusion
Now that you know what grows well with strawberries, you can be more confident about your techniques and skills as a gardener. You also gained more knowledge on how to improve your strawberries and the whole garden. You’re now also aware of the plants that can harm your strawberries. Soon, you will find out that your next harvest of strawberries is sweeter and juicier than ever before.
Companion planting is something every gardener should take advantage of. Not only will you be diversifying your garden, but you will have a more robust and productive garden. Pests, beetles, and insects that can cause harm to your garden will be driven away. Yields will be greater and will have better quality. Plan out your strawberry companion plants today to make the most out of your berries.