Companion plants for strawberries play a significant role in supporting the health, productivity, and flavor of your strawberry plants. Strawberries are one of the most beloved fruits in the home garden, and choosing the right plants to grow alongside them can improve yields, deter pests, and make the most efficient use of space. Whether you're planting in a raised bed, a backyard plot, or containers, utilizing effective companion planting strategies can lead to a healthier, more resilient berry patch.
This guide explores the best companion plants for strawberries, why they work, which ones to avoid, and how to arrange your garden to maximize these natural relationships.
Why Companion Planting Works for Strawberries
Strawberries, like many fruiting plants, benefit from a garden design that mimics nature. In forests and meadows, diverse plants grow in harmony, supporting each other by sharing nutrients, attracting beneficial insects, and minimizing the spread of disease. The practice of pairing certain plants together is based on centuries of agricultural observation and tradition, with some modern scientific backing.
Companion plants for strawberries serve various purposes:
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Repelling harmful insects such as aphids and slugs
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Attracting pollinators and beneficial predatory insects
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Improving soil fertility
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Providing shade or ground cover
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Breaking up soil to promote root growth
With careful selection, you can create a garden that naturally reduces the need for chemical inputs and encourages a more self-sustaining ecosystem.
Best Companion Plants for Strawberries
Several plants have proven effective at enhancing strawberry growth and protection. Here are some of the top choices and the roles they play in a strawberry garden.
1. Borage (Borago officinalis)
Borage is widely regarded as one of the most beneficial companion plants for strawberries. Its star-shaped blue flowers attract bees, which increases pollination rates and berry production. In addition to enhancing pollination, borage is believed to improve the flavor and vigor of strawberries when grown nearby.
Key Benefits:
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Attracts pollinators
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Repels pests like tomato hornworms
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Enriches soil with trace minerals when used as mulch
How to Use: Plant borage around the perimeter or in gaps between strawberry rows. Its tall growth may overshadow strawberries if too dense, so space appropriately.
2. Spinach and Leafy Greens
Strawberries grow well with low-growing greens like spinach, lettuce, and arugula. These companions don’t compete heavily for nutrients and help shade the soil, reducing weed growth and moisture loss.
Key Benefits:
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Ground cover reduces soil erosion
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Can be harvested earlier in the season before strawberries mature
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Offers good interplanting in tight spaces
How to Use: Alternate rows of strawberries with rows of leafy greens. You can harvest the greens early, opening up space for strawberry runners.
3. Thyme
Thyme is a low-growing herb that works exceptionally well as a living mulch. Its aromatic oils are known to repel pests like worms, aphids, and beetles. It also thrives in similar soil conditions to strawberries.
Key Benefits:
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Natural pest repellent
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Attracts pollinators when in flower
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Helps retain soil moisture
How to Use: Plant thyme along borders or as a filler between strawberry plants. Choose creeping varieties to avoid overcrowding.
4. Chives and Onions
Alliums such as chives, green onions, and garlic can help deter pests that target strawberry leaves and fruit, including aphids and spider mites. Their strong aroma acts as a barrier to pests, and they also have mild antifungal properties.
Key Benefits:
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Pest deterrence (aphids, mites)
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Antifungal properties may reduce disease
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Minimal competition for resources
How to Use: Interplant alliums sparingly throughout your strawberry bed or use them to frame your planting area.
5. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds are popular companion plants for strawberries due to their pest-repelling properties. They release compounds from their roots that suppress nematodes in the soil and emit a scent that deters beetles and aphids.
Key Benefits:
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Repels nematodes and flying pests
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Attracts predatory insects like ladybugs
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Adds bright color to the garden
How to Use: Plant marigolds at corners or intervals along the edge of your strawberry rows. Avoid overcrowding.
6. Beans
Legumes like bush beans and peas can improve nitrogen availability in the soil, which benefits heavy-feeding plants like strawberries. As legumes grow, they fix nitrogen from the air into a form that plants can use.
Key Benefits:
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Nitrogen fixation improves soil fertility
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Minimal shade when using compact varieties
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Complementary harvest cycles
How to Use: Plant compact bush varieties in alternating rows or in a nearby bed. Avoid pole beans unless well-spaced to prevent shading.
7. Lupines
Lupines also fix nitrogen and serve as both ornamental and functional additions to your berry patch. Their deep taproots help break up compact soil and improve drainage.
Key Benefits:
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Soil conditioning through deep roots
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Nitrogen enrichment
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Attracts pollinators with colorful blooms
How to Use: Place lupines at the back or edge of the strawberry bed to avoid shading smaller plants.
8. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums make excellent trap crops. They attract aphids and beetles, drawing them away from your strawberry plants. Their edible leaves and flowers are also a delightful addition to salads.
Key Benefits:
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Trap crop for aphids
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Ground cover reduces weeds
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Attracts pollinators
How to Use: Plant nasturtiums around the outside of your strawberry beds to lure pests away.
Companion Plants to Avoid Near Strawberries
Just as some plants can benefit strawberries, others can hinder their growth. Avoid planting these near your strawberry patch:
1. Cabbage Family (Brassicas)
This includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. These plants have different nutrient needs and may stunt strawberry growth through root competition and shading.
2. Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants
These nightshades can carry diseases such as verticillium wilt, which also affects strawberries. Avoid rotating strawberries into soil recently used for nightshades.
3. Potatoes
Also part of the nightshade family, potatoes attract many of the same pests that damage strawberries. They also have aggressive root systems.
4. Melons
Melons are heavy feeders and sprawling plants that can quickly crowd out strawberries. They also require significant space and water.
Designing Your Garden With Companion Plants for Strawberries
The layout of your strawberry garden can impact how successful companion planting is. Use these tips to design an effective, cooperative system.
Use Rows and Borders
Plant strawberries in rows with herbs like thyme or chives acting as borders. Add beneficial flowers like marigolds or borage at the corners or edges to control pests and attract pollinators.
Raised Beds or Containers
In raised beds, intersperse small leafy greens between strawberry plants. For container gardening, mix in creeping herbs or edible flowers.
Vertical Elements
Use trellises for companion crops like peas or beans to avoid shading your strawberries. Keep vertical plants to the north side of the strawberry bed if growing in the northern hemisphere.
Succession Planting
Grow fast-maturing greens early in the season before strawberries spread. This gives you two crops in the same space with minimal competition.
Organic Mulching and Soil Health
Companion planting works even better when paired with good soil management. Use organic mulch—like straw or chopped borage leaves—to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and add nutrients. Mulching around strawberries also helps keep berries clean and reduces disease.
Compost from legume or herb trimmings can be applied back to the soil, returning valuable nutrients and maintaining fertility.
Managing Pests Without Chemicals
Using companion plants for strawberries creates a natural balance in the garden, helping reduce the need for insecticides. But pest pressure can still appear. Here's how companion planting works as integrated pest management:
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Marigolds and chives repel root and leaf pests.
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Nasturtiums act as sacrificial plants for aphids.
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Thyme and garlic discourage beetles and slugs.
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Borage draws beneficial insects that feed on pests.
These tactics, combined with handpicking and natural sprays (like neem or soap), make for a more sustainable garden approach.
Seasonal Considerations
Companion planting is not a one-time setup. Consider the seasons:
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Spring: Intercrop early greens or alliums.
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Summer: Introduce pollinator flowers and herbs as strawberries begin fruiting.
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Fall: Add cover crops like clover or winter peas to improve soil over winter.
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Winter: Remove diseased plant material and refresh mulch to prevent pathogens from overwintering.
Rotate companions year to year for best results.
Final Thoughts on Companion Plants for Strawberries
A successful strawberry patch is more than just berry plants in the ground—it’s an ecosystem. Using companion plants for strawberries not only boosts your harvest but also enhances the beauty, resilience, and ecological balance of your garden. Herbs, flowers, legumes, and greens all play a role in supporting the health of your strawberries.
By avoiding incompatible plants and incorporating helpful allies, you’ll create a more productive space that naturally fends off pests, improves soil, and delights both the eye and palate. Whether you're an experienced grower or just starting out, companion planting is a practical and rewarding way to cultivate vibrant, flavorful strawberries season after season.