What Should I Plant Next to Strawberries?

Strawberries are low-growing, spreading plants that ripen fruit close to the ground — which makes them vulnerable to slugs, botrytis (grey mould), and vine weevil. They also need good pollination for large, well-formed fruit. The right companion plants can address all of these challenges while also making productive use of the space around the strawberry bed during the season.

Borage — the Legendary Strawberry Partner

Borage and strawberries have been grown together in cottage gardens for centuries, and growers consistently report improved fruit size and sweetness near borage plants. The likely mechanism is pollinator attraction: borage is one of the richest nectar sources available to bees, and the increased bee activity around strawberry flowers leads to better pollination and therefore larger, more fully developed fruit. Borage also self-seeds freely, coming back year after year without replanting. Let it grow at the edges and ends of the strawberry bed where it will not shade the plants.

Thyme and Marigolds for Slug and Pest Deterrence

Creeping thyme planted as a border around the strawberry bed creates a strongly aromatic barrier that slugs are reluctant to cross. It also remains low-growing and does not compete with strawberries for light. French marigolds interplanted in the strawberry bed deter aphids and nematodes. Both plants are small enough to fit between strawberry plants without competition. Thyme has the added advantage of being drought-tolerant and very long-lived, making it a permanent low-maintenance companion.

Garlic and Chives for Fungal Disease Reduction

Botrytis grey mould is the most damaging disease of strawberries in damp climates, particularly in the period when fruit is ripening. Garlic planted at intervals around the strawberry bed releases airborne sulphur compounds that have mild fungicidal properties. Several trials have shown reduced botrytis incidence near garlic plantings. Chives work similarly and have the advantage of not needing replanting each year as a perennial. This is a preventative measure rather than a cure, but in high-humidity growing conditions it is worth implementing.

Lettuce and Spinach as Productive Companions

Lettuce and spinach are harvested in spring before strawberry plants begin their main growth push and before fruit appears. They provide productive use of the bed during winter and early spring, improve soil structure with their fine roots, and can be cleared before they compete with the strawberries. They do not host any pests that are significant for strawberries. This is a practical space-efficiency pairing rather than a pest-management one.

What to Avoid Near Strawberries

Brassicas and strawberries should not be grown in the same bed — they share verticillium wilt, a soil-borne disease that can devastate strawberry plants if they follow brassicas that were infected. Fennel should be kept well away. Tall plants like corn or sunflowers will shade strawberries and reduce fruit production significantly — strawberries need full sun. Do not plant strawberries where tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes grew in the previous two or three years because of shared soil pathogens.