Strawberry Companion Plants
Fruit120 days to maturity
Strawberries are a low-growing perennial fruit that spreads by runners and rewards gardeners with sweet berries in late spring and early summer. Their shallow roots and soft fruit that rests near the ground make them prone to slugs, birds, and gray mold. Most plants are June-bearing, everbearing, or day-neutral, which changes when and how heavily they fruit.
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Companion Planting Strategy for Strawberry
Strawberries are shallow-rooted perennials that benefit from low companions acting as living mulch to suppress weeds and from aromatic plants that deter the slugs and worms reaching their ground-level fruit. Avoid heavy-feeding brassicas that compete for nutrients and plants that share their soil diseases.
Best Companion Plants for Strawberry
These plants grow well alongside Strawberry — providing pest control, attracting pollinators, or making better use of your garden space.
Lettuce is a compact, shallow-rooted cool-season crop that fills the space between strawberry plants as living mulch and is harvested before the berries spread, without competing for deep nutrients.
Spinach shares strawberries' cool-season timing and shallow roots, acting as a ground cover that shades soil and suppresses weeds while being harvested before the berries need the room.
Low-growing thyme works as an aromatic ground cover whose scent deters worms and other pests, and its small flowers draw pollinators that improve strawberry fruit set.
What Not to Plant With Strawberry
Keep these away from Strawberry. They compete for resources, attract shared pests, or inhibit each other's growth.
Cabbage and other brassicas are heavy feeders that compete aggressively with strawberries for nutrients and can stunt their growth.
How to Grow Strawberry
- Botanical name
- Fragaria x ananassa
- Family
- Rose (Rosaceae)
- Sun
- Full sun, 6-10 hours daily
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, more during fruiting
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining soil high in organic matter, pH 5.5-6.8
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches apart; rows 3-4 feet apart
- Planting depth
- Set the crown right at the soil surface - do not bury the crown
- Germination
- Propagated from bare-root crowns or runners; alpine seed germinates in 2-4 weeks at 65-75F
- Days to maturity
- Berries ripen about 4-6 weeks after flowering; bare-root plants often crop the year after planting
- When to plant
- Plant bare-root crowns in early spring 2-4 weeks before the last frost, or in fall in mild-winter climates
- Harvest
- Pick fully red berries every 1-3 days, leaving the cap and a bit of stem attached
Common Strawberry Problems
Gray mold (Botrytis fruit rot)
Fuzzy gray rot on ripening berries in damp weather. Mulch to keep fruit off the soil, improve airflow, pick ripe berries promptly, and remove infected fruit.
Slugs and birds eating the fruit
Both feast on ripening berries at ground level. Use straw mulch, drape netting over plants, and set slug traps or iron-phosphate bait.
Verticillium wilt and crown rot
Soil-borne diseases that wilt and collapse plants. Plant certified disease-free stock in well-drained soil, and avoid beds that recently grew tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes.
Spider mites
Tiny pests that stipple and bronze leaves in hot, dry spells. Spray leaf undersides with water, keep plants well watered, and use insecticidal soap or release predatory mites.
Strawberry Companion Planting FAQ
What are the best companion plants for strawberries?
Lettuce, spinach, and thyme are strong companions for strawberries. Lettuce and spinach act as living mulch that shades the soil and suppresses weeds, while low-growing thyme deters pests and draws pollinators to improve fruit set. Borage and bush beans are also popular pairings.
What should you not plant with strawberries?
Keep strawberries away from cabbage and other brassicas, which are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and can stunt the berries. Also avoid beds where tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes recently grew, since they share verticillium wilt.
How far apart should you plant strawberries?
Space strawberry plants about 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 3 to 4 feet apart so runners can fill in. Set each plant with the crown right at the soil surface, since burying the crown causes rot and planting too high dries out the roots.
Why are my strawberry plants not producing fruit?
First-year plants often put their energy into runners, and many gardeners pinch off early blossoms to build stronger plants for the next season. Poor fruiting can also come from too much shade, excess nitrogen, aging plants, or frost damage to the blossoms.
More fruit companions
Plan Your Strawberry Garden
Use our interactive tools to design the perfect garden with Strawberry and its companions.