Best Strawberry Companion Plants (and Plants to Avoid Nearby)

Strawberries can be a true cash crop. They're popular all over the world, constantly in demand, and certain species of strawberry can produce fruit multiple times in a season. However, strawberries can be material and labor-intensive - especially in harvesting - so maximizing your yields is critical to see a good profit.

One of the best ways to keep your strawberries healthy and thriving is to give them companion plants! Strawberries can coexist with numerous different species, which in turn, will benefit the berries by providing nutrients, protecting them from diseases and pests, and more.

So in this article, we'll be discussing the best companions to plant with strawberries, as well as some plants which absolutely should not be planted alongside them.

Why Companion Planting Matters for Strawberries

Companion planting, also called co-planting, is an ancient strategy for improving crop health and yields. It's coming back as farmers realize that simply throwing fertilizers at their fields won't always bring the best results. Embracing more natural allelopathic options for improving crop health results in healthier fields, while reducing costs for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Allelopathy, in brief, describes the interactions between multiple plants sharing the same soil. Every plant releases certain chemicals or nutrients into the soil, and may also cultivate necessary root microorganisms as well. In other cases, the chemicals released may keep bugs away, or prevent diseases.

By understanding how plants interact with each other, it becomes possible to find a companion that goes well with strawberries and improves your profits at a low cost. In best-case scenarios, the companions themselves can be harvested, allowing for better space optimization in your fields.

Best Companion Plants for Strawberries

1 - Nitrogen-Fixing Plants

Like most plants, strawberries need plenty of nitrogen in the soil. However, overuse of nitrogen fertilizers can do significant harm to the soil, causing it to acidify and killing off helpful microorganisms below the surface.

One great solution to this is to plant crops which can fix their own nitrogen from the air. Because of this, they actually contribute nitrogen to the soil, rather than absorbing it. This includes nearly all legumes such as soybeans, bush beans, or peas. These can coexist with strawberries nicely, adding nutrients back to the soil, while providing a secondary harvest as well.

Clover is another great choice, as a three-for-one species to plant next to strawberries. Clover is a rare non-legume which contributes nitrogen to the soil. Alongside that, it tends to attract beneficial pollinator insects, while repelling pests such as aphids. It even works well as a cover crop and natural mulch, improving soil quality.

2 - Plants That Attract or Repel Insects

Aside from clover, there are several other options for keeping pests away when you're co-planting strawberries.

Alliums such as chives, onions, and garlic are one of the best choices. Their strong odor repels many pest insects, and some studies have suggested they also help prevent destructive fungus infestations like fusarium wilt. Chives are a particularly good choice since they're small plants, and when they bloom, they'll attract pollinators.

Plus, of course, these are all crops that can be harvested.

Certain herbs will provide the same benefits, including thyme and basil. Like chives, they're small and low to the ground. Their odor deters pests, while attracting pollinators.

Or, if you'd like to beautify your fields while reaping the benefits, try marigolds, such as French marigolds. These lovely flowers are well-known for repelling pests both above and below-ground, acting as a natural pesticide.

On the topic, borage, lavender, and nasturtiums are also flowers which go well with strawberries, and attract plenty of helpful pollinators.

3 - Ground Cover and Structural Support Partners

As mentioned above, clover is a great choice for ground cover, and one of the best all-around companions for strawberries. In addition, leafy greens like lettuce and spinach are also great cover plants to go alongside strawberries. Their nutritional needs are minimal, and they help provide mulch. Plus, of course, they can be harvested.

We'd also recommend asparagus to grow with strawberries. Asparagus is complementary - it grows in strawberries' off-season, and its deep roots won't compete with strawberries' shallow roots. They work together quite well, each enhancing the others' yield.

Plants To Avoid Near Strawberries

Some plants absolutely should NOT be co-planted with strawberries, and can cause harm if nearby.

1 - Disease-Carrying Plants. Verticillium wilt is a fungal infection that many plants are susceptible to, or even carry around while having immunity. Verticillium wilt will absolutely devastate strawberries, so these plants need to be kept far away:

• Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• Potatoes
• Peppers
• Melons 
• Squash
• Cucumber
• Mint
• Okra

If any of these have been planted in a field, you may need to wait 3-4 years before the verticillium infection finally clears out and it's safe for strawberries again.

2 - Heavy Feeders. You also want to avoid plants that will compete with strawberries for resources. This includes most cruciferous vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

If these are planted near strawberries, the result will be stunted plants and low yields all around.

3 - Competitive Root Systems. Finally, certain plants have shallow, wide-spread roots which will compete with strawberries for space and resources. The most notable of these are mint and fennel, although many plants with similar root systems will struggle with strawberries.

Companion Planting Strategies For Different Farming Styles

For large-scale farms, intercropping with legumes for nitrogen enrichment is a great strategy, since these can be harvested and sold separately. Clover is also a good choice if there isn't enough room for harvestable crops, given its all-around benefits to strawberries.

Marigolds around the borders of your farm will help it look nice, while also cutting down on pests.

For greenhouses and hydroponics systems, stick to smaller herbs and alliums. These give you substantial pest resistance, as well as providing at least a small harvest that you can either sell or enjoy for yourself.

If you're looking into organic and regenerative farming, focus on crop rotations. Nitrogen-fixing legumes will do so much to reduce your reliance on synthetic fertilizers, while providing a nice side profit.

In addition, any plants which attract pollinators will help keep your fields healthy and thriving.

When you have questions, we'll help you find the answers you need to take control of your fields and the harvest you care about. Contact Cropler to discover more about our products and the ways we help you proactively protect your operations from the effects of crop diseases. Learn More

Proper Oversight Brings Big Strawberry Yields

Strawberries are not a 'fire and forget' crop. They need a lot of attention and careful management of their land for best results. In addition, because most strawberry plants are short-lived (3-5 years), it's vital to care for them properly to get the most benefit from each plant.

Overall, clover is probably the best all-in-one companion crop for strawberries. Its only real downside is that it can't be harvested. Legumes, alliums, and herbs are all great options as well, which provide some side profit.

Cropler can also help! Our innovative crop monitoring system combines rugged weatherproofed agricultural cameras with a robust always-online data-collection dashboard. Cropler monitors your crops 24/7/365, allowing you to instantly see the health of your fields at any time, while also collecting vital data for planning future plantings.

Click here to learn more, or simply contact us if you have any questions!