Strawberry Companion Plants | Best Vegetables, Herbs + Flowers

The best companion plants for strawberries include Bush Beans, Onions, Spinach and Loose Leaf Lettuce. Herbs that grow well with Strawberries are Basil, Thyme, Chives and Carraway. Plant flowers like Borage, Lupin and Nasturtium and Marigold to attract pollinating insects to grow loads of Strawberries.

Vegetables	Herbs	Flowers
Bush Beans	Basil	Borage
Onions	Thyme	Lupin
Spinach	Chives	Nasturtium
Loose leaf lettuce	Caraway	Marigold

Benefits of Companion Planting Strawberries

• Increase the amount of strawberries you grow
• Keep pests away from strawberries
• Help to make important nutrients available to plants
• Increase strawberry flower pollination

Best companion vegetables for strawberries

Leafy green vegetables like loose leaf lettuce and spinach grow well with strawberries. I have grown strawberries in my raised garden vegetable successfully with lettuce. Both are happily growing next to each other and the strawberries will send out runners and plug the holes between the lettuce.

Bush beans and snow peas are great companions to strawberries as they grow vertically and will not get in the way of the growing strawberry. I have planted snow peas along the back of my raised garden beds with strawberries at the front and all are growing very well.

Onions are a great companion to strawberries as they help to deter pests. You could also plant chives or shallots which will also work in a similar way to help to keep pest insects from eating your strawberries.

Best companion herbs for strawberries

Caraway has been know by gardeners for many years to attract parasitic wasps and flies that will eat strawberry pests. Planting Caraway nearby can help you get more strawberries on your plant by keeping pests away.

I have also had success with planting other herbs such as basil, chives and parsley with strawberries with success. These herbs will grow well together with strawberries as they like similar amounts of water.

Best companion flowers for strawberries

Flowers planted as companions will help attract pollinating insects which will help your plant to grow strawberries. Flowers like marigolds and chrysanthemum will attract passing bees encouraging them to visit strawberry flowers to collect the nectar. The bees will pollinate the strawberry flowers which will give you more strawberries on your plant.

Lupin is a legume that produces beautiful purple flowers that attract pollinating insects so is a great companion to strawberries. Lupin also fixes nitrogen in the soil and can over the long term help to feed the strawberry plant. This flowering plant can grow to around 3 feet high so make sure you have the space before planting.

Companion planting strawberries with blueberries and raspberries

The berry family all grow well as companion plants so plant strawberries with your raspberries and blueberries. They all like similar soil and can grow in a slightly acidic environment. They like similar amounts of water and will produce lots of berries for you to eat.

What to consider when companion planting strawberries

Strawberries grow runners

Strawberries will send out runners to grow new plants and can spread through your garden. Any plants you grow with strawberries may be taken over by the strawberry plant if they are left to grow on their own.

Make sure you have the space for the expanding strawberry patch or remove runners to keep your strawberry under control. Strawberries grown in garden beds will actually help to keep weeds away like a ground cover.

Strawberries need pollinators

Strawberries need pollination to occur for the strawberry to grow from the flower. Attracting pollinating insects to your garden by planting wildflower seeds, quick flowering annuals like Alyssum and herbs like borage will all help you to get more strawberries.

Insects will move pollen from one flower to another when they are collecting nectar from the strawberry plant and complete the pollination process.

Strawberries need water

Strawberries need to be watered regularly for the best results so plant them with flowers, herbs and vegetables that like a similar amount of water. Herbs like basil, parsley and vegetables like lettuce and spinach all like to have regular water so work great as companions to strawberries.

Companion planting strawberries in pots

Strawberries are quick to take up space in pots when they send out runners but you can keep them contained by trimming these off and planting them together with borage or marigolds. You can also plant strawberries together with herbs like basil, chives or parsley.

I have started a new pot with strawberries and some tiny herb seedlings to create a small edible garden to add to my larger patch. I will add some straw mulch to the top of the pot once the seeds have grow around 3-4 inches tall.

The benefits of companion planting with strawberries

Companion planting has many benefits including increasing biodiversity in your garden to support a range of insects and soil microbes in a balanced way.

You can achieve these benefits by companion planting strawberries with flowering plants to attract insects that are beneficial and deter those that want to eat your strawberries.

Strawberries can be protected from pests by certain plants like onions or chives because of the fragrance that the plants release.

Strawberries can also benefit from companion planting with nitrogen fixing legumes. Lupins are a great example but other legumes like bush beans can be planted with strawberries to improve the nitrogen content of the soil.

Companion planting with strawberries – summary

Companion planting is a great way to help your strawberries become more productive, grow well and to fill your garden bed space. Interplanting strawberries with other vegetables herbs and flowers will look great in your garden and increasing insect biodiversity and soil microbe populations.

I hope I have inspired you to diversify your garden planting and try companion planting with strawberries at home.