Choosing Strawberry Companion Plants: What to Plant with Strawberries?

Strawberry Companion Plants – It is possible to have a positive interaction between plants when they are placed in close proximity to one another. Companion planting is a practice that biologists aren’t fully sure how it works, but it has been used for generations to improve growth conditions, attract helpful pollinators, manage pests, and take use of available space.

When it comes to pests, strawberries are particularly vulnerable, so it makes perfect sense to plant them beside neighbors who can help keep intruders away when they are in season. Other strawberry buddies give shade, which helps to keep strawberries cool in the afternoon sun when it becomes a bit too intense.

Strawberries return the favor by acting as a useful living mulch, which keeps weeds under control and the soil cool and wet while also increasing soil fertility. Do you have any ideas about what to grow with strawberries? Continue reading for more helpful hints.

Strawberries are a simple crop to grow in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 10. Strawberry plants thrive when they are properly planted and cared for in beds, rows, strawberry jars, or baskets, among other places.

Strawberries may also be used to beautify your lawn or yard. Allow them to spread over a rock wall, or plant them as an edible edging around flower beds or walks to provide a decorative touch. Strawberries grown as ground cover will grow into a dense, lush mat of lush green foliage that will provide fruit even if the plants are not given any attention.

Strawberries must be given full light for most of the day in order to be effective in their cultivation. Plants growing in low light produce an excessive amount of foliage and few berries as a result. Strawberries grow best in a loam soil that is rich in nutrients and has a pH range of 6.0 to 6.3, which is ideal for growing strawberries. Planting should be avoided in low regions that are susceptible to late spring frosts.

There should be no evidence of potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, or any other form of berry being grown on the ground where you wish to put your seeds. Root rot and tomato ring-spot may occur as a result of this kind of soil.

The Best Strawberry Companion Plants to Grow with

When choosing a strawberry variety, look for ones that are well-suited to your geographic location. Strawberry plugs should be ordered in advance since they are quite popular at all nurseries.

When shopping for strawberry plants at your local greenhouse or garden supply store, only accept plants that seem to be virus-free and healthy in appearance. When just one type of strawberry is planted, the majority of them yield a bountiful harvest.

Some types, such as Apollo and Spring Giant, thrive best when planted next to one another in order to ensure enough pollination of the flowers. Generally, planting various types is a prudent decision since if one variety is harmed by disease or cold, you will not lose your whole planting.

In addition, planting many types allows you to lengthen the fruiting season since different cultivars mature at various times. Consult with your local nursery or garden center to determine which types can thrive in your climate.

All of the plants listed below make excellent strawberry companion plants:

Borage – This herb is a nice guy all around, with gorgeous blossoms that attract pollinators and helpful insects while also increasing the resistance of strawberry plants to disease. Borage is a member of the mint family. The use of borage, according to many gardeners, helps strawberries taste even sweeter.

Insect repellents such as garlic and onions – The strong fragrance of garlic, onions, and other members of the allium family make good strawberry partners since they deter marauders from feeding on delicious berries.

Thyme: Plant thyme around the perimeter of a strawberry crop to stop worms from eating the strawberries. Aphids, scale, and caterpillars are all attracted to thyme, as are syrphid flies (also known as hover flies), which are helpful insects that feed on soft-bodied pests such as aphids, scale, and caterpillars.

Spinach and lettuce – Many gardeners feel that inter-planting lettuce and spinach with strawberries increases the output of all three plants, which is supported by scientific evidence. The leafy plants may also act as a barrier between ripe fruit and hungry birds.

Beans – Legumes are natural fertilizer providers, since they serve as a home for bacteria that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil.

Caraway: It is a plant that may be used to attract parasite flies and wasps, which are small, useful insects that are safe for humans but voracious consumers of grubs and other pests such as cutworms, beetles, scale, caterpillars, and other grub-eating insects.

Herbs – Dill, fennel, coriander, mint, sage, and many more make wonderful strawberry partners since they assist in deterring slugs and other pests from the plants. Take note that certain herbs, like mint, should be grown in pots since the plants are vigorous and may quickly take over a strawberry patch.

Marigolds – Pests are deterred by the unique perfume of the sunny blossoms of marigolds, which are a magnificent combination of strawberries and marigolds. French marigolds are said to be effective in repelling root knot nematodes, which may cause significant harm to the roots of strawberry plants.