Companion planting means placing different species of plants near one another in a garden bed for mutually beneficial reasons. Companion planting can enhance the attractiveness of your garden design, fight common pests, attract beneficial insects, and amplify the overall flavor of your strawberry plants.
Figuring out what works well together and learning about the ways that individual plants can bolster each other can significantly improve productivity in your garden. When it comes to the sweet plump, succulent fruit of strawberry plants, garden pests are just as enamored with them as humans are. Luckily, there are lots of plants that repel these parasitic insects and also attract beneficial ones to the garden bed.
Interplanting vegetables with strawberries can also conceal succulent berries from birds and other garden pests. Many plants can also produce profound scents that can mask the fragrance of strawberries, which also protects them. Vegetables and herbs are excellent at attracting beneficial insects that will prey on destructive insects.
Strawberries can also help other plants through companion planting. The low-lying spread of strawberry plants makes them an optimal as a ground cover to control weeds around plants like rhubarb, asparagus, and horseradish.
Best Strawberry Companion Plants
Here is a robust list of plants that will offer some pest protection for your strawberry plants and help you grow a hardy bumper crop of strawberries. Plant these garden friends alongside strawberry plants and enjoy the extraordinary benefits of companion planting.
Asparagus
Asparagus and strawberries are natural interplanting partners in the garden bed. They spread their roots on alternate planes of the soil, and they both emerge from the ground soon after the last frost. These two garden mates use the soil effectively without competing with one another and contributes to nutrient return.
Bush Beans
Bush beans work well to repel garden beetles and other pests that feed on strawberry plants. Beans also release beneficial nitrogen back into the soil as they grow, which feeds nearby strawberries and boosts their fruit production.
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Borage
Borage is an herb that works double duty for strawberries in the garden bed. Not only does borage repel damaging insects, but it also attracts beneficial insects and pollinators to the strawberry patch.
Caraway
Caraway attracts insects that feed on pests that can cause significant damage to strawberries. Such insects included parasitic flies and wasps that will protect strawberries from fruit seeking pests like aphids and mites.
Catnip
Catnip deters damaging insects such as aphids and mites from destroying the leaves of strawberry plants. Strawberry plants are particularly prone to attracting both of these garden pests.
Chives
Chives are an herb that does double the work of most companion plants. Not only can growing chives close to your strawberries improve their flavor, but they also shield your plump red berries from unwanted destructive pests.
Yarrow
Yarrow attracts beneficial pollinators to your garden, which can boost the yield of your strawberries.
Onions
These pungent vegetables make great strawberry companion plants. Their unappealing odor is a natural deterrent of many garden pests that feed on the leaves and fruits of the strawberry plant.
Sage
Sage is another one of those herbs that emit a strong odor and has also been successful in masking the sweet scent of your strawberries in the garden, making it more difficult for destructive pests to find your berries plants.
Spinach
Not only do spinach and strawberries make an excellent combination in the salad bowl, but they are also super compatible in the garden. Spinach contains saponins, which act as a natural repellent of destructive garden pests.
Thyme
Thyme is a scented herb that repels certain varieties of parasitic worms that seek to destroy strawberry plants.
Plants to Avoid in your Strawberry Patch
Unfortunately, some plants are not meant to be interplanted and can cause the demise of your strawberries if they are used as companions. In this case, strawberry plants are prone to a disease called verticillium. Plants like tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, melons, peppers, roses, mint, and okra may actually contribute to this deadly disease in strawberry plants. It is essential to note that strawberries should not even be planted in beds that have recently housed those plants on this list.
Strawberries are also not the best companions for plants that are in the cabbage family. Not only aren’t they good neighbors, but they are destructive neighbors, as they hamper the growth of cabbage family members. Common cabbage groupings include collard greens, kale cauliflower, kohlrabi, bok choy, and brussel sprouts.
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This is a great site
I really enjoy learning about the garden as covid has invaded us i have started my own garden and these tips n tricks are very helpful thank u
Thank Deda! We are so happy to hear that you have jumped into gardening with us please let us know if you have questions and connect with us on the social networks so we can see your garden grow. Happy gardening!
Question i have hulu berries one red three white. And i have two packs however i have other red berries where can i get just the white ones?
Hi Michelle, The Home Depot carries Hula Berries, if you are unable to find them at a local store a Google search will help you find some suppliers.
What kind of strawberries do you recommend planting? I like small varieties.
Hi Mary, the first thing to do when choosing plants and plant varieties to grow is to check your growing zone. You can do that here https://www.kellogggarden.com/blog/gardening/how-to-find-your-planting-zone/ Zones 7-10 should already have planted their strawberries, zones 3-6 should be planted latest this month. Once you know if you can grow strawberries then next you want to look into varieties. Picking varieties can be based on climate, sun exposure, taste, size, and growing area. Some strawberries do better in-ground, some in containers. Just so we don’t leave you without some choices to consider, here are some strawberry varieties to look at: Fragaria Virginiana, Fragaria Viridis, and mara des bois.
Why do I see straw laid down around strawberries in fields? Is that something I should do in my raises garden beds around my strawberry plants?
Hello, straw acts as mulch for strawberry plants. If you’d like to use it in your beds add a layer of straw 1 to 2 inches deep during the growing season. Straw prevents weeds from growing and can help keep dirt off of your fruit. The best kind of straw for mulching strawberries is oat, wheat, or soybean straw. Mulching your strawberries may also decrease your water usage and improve the soil quality as the straw decomposes. Happy gardening!
How recently do you mean when it says to not plant strawberries in a bed that recently held tomatoes and peppers? If I pulled those out in the fall and don’t plant the strawberries until spring and re-amend the soil, is that okay?
Hi Dalynn, strawberry plants are prone to a disease called verticillium. Tomatoes and peppers can contribute to this deadly disease in strawberry plants so it’s important to ensure that your beds are free of it before planting. If you’ve thoroughly amended your beds then you shouldn’t have to worry as long as your tomato and pepper plants didn’t experience any verticillium this past season. We hope this helps, happy gardening!
Garlic and onions – The pungent smell of garlic, onions and other members of the allium family are excellent strawberry companions that discourage marauders from feasting on juicy berries.
I have a 2′ x 4′ raised bed. How many strawberry plants can I put in there
Hi Kathy, generally you should space your strawberry plants about 10-14” apart and the rows 1½-2’ apart. So, with your raised bed dimensions you could plant approximately 4 strawberry plants. Select a location with at least 5-6 hours of sun a day. Strawberries only need about 4-6 inches of soil for their roots. If your strawberries have runners you will want to direct them back into the raised bed so they take root there.
You can get more information about growing strawberries here: https://www.kellogggarden.com/blog/growing/raised-beds-or-in-ground-different-ways-to-grow-strawberries/
I read marigolds are a good companion for strawberries is this true?
Hi Linda, this is absolutely true. Marigolds make great strawberry companion plants because they help protect them from pests. Marigolds have a scent that deters rabbits and other nibblers as well as masks the smell of other crops and flowers, providing a shield of protection from pests. To read more about the benefits of companion planting marigolds check out this article: https://www.kellogggarden.com/blog/gardening/flower-gardening/marigold-how-to-care-for-and-grow-companion-plant-and-more/. We hope you have a great season, happy gardening!
May I plant rosemary with strawberries? I love this site
Hi Glenda, rosemary and strawberries can be grown together. For more information on companion planting, check out our free Companion Planting Guide here: https://www.kellogggarden.com/companion-planting-guide-ebook/. We’re so pleased to hear you’re enjoying our website and we hope you have a great season!
What about mustard greens and mustard spinach? I’m not sure if they fall under “lettuces – good”, or ” cabbages – bad”?
Hi, that’s a great question! Mustard greens and spinach mustard, also known as komatsuna, are both in the Brassicaceae family and it is not recommended to plant them near strawberries because they are prone to the same types of diseases and mildews which can exasperate the problem.
Hi I was wandering if petunias are compatible with strawberries please, I have marigolds planted with them and I’d like to plant petunias if it’s ok to do so thank you very much
Hi Teneale, petunias generally make good companion plants. This is because their strong scent tends to repel bugs. However, we always recommend you keep an eye on newly planted companions. You can learn more about petunias here, https://www.kellogggarden.com/blog/gardening/how-and-when-to-plant-petunias/ We hope this helps. Best of luck with your strawberries!
I have a 2’x8’x17″ raised garden bed. Can I grow asparagus and strawberries in that same bed if I plant the asparagus fairly deep? If I can, how many of each can I plant? Thanks in advance for any insight you have on this!
Hi Tara, people sometimes approach companion planting differently. However, many gardeners prefer to plant asparagus and strawberries together in a 2 to 3 ratio. These plants also need plenty of space to grow. With the space in your box, we recommend planting 4 asparagus plants and 6 strawberry plants. Plant your asparagus first and then the strawberry plants between them. Be sure to plant the asparagus at least 12 inches deep if planting with strawberries. We hope this helps!