Strawberries repay a little planning around what grows beside them. Strawberries are a low, runnering fruit that forms a productive patch for years, grown for fresh eating, jam and a ground-covering fruit bed that fills a sunny spot. They need full sun, soil with a pH of 5.5–6.5, 12–18 inches of space and 90–180 days to reach maturity, so their neighbours need to suit the same bed and the same season. This guide lists the companions for strawberries from our crop data, how each one is thought to help, and which close relatives to keep apart.
There are 5 companions listed for strawberries here: Borage, Lettuce, Onions, Sage and Thyme. Companion planting is traditional garden practice rather than proven science, so benefits below are described in those terms — what gardeners have long said and done. Strawberries are in the Rosaceae family, need moderate water, and are started indoors or sown direct; they are hardy and tolerate cold, so they can go out early in the season. Check any pairing first with the companion-planting finder.
Best companion plants for strawberries
| Companion | Why it is grown with strawberries |
|---|---|
| Borage | Borage flowers draw bees that also visit strawberry flowers, and its leaves are traditionally said to encourage strawberry growth. |
| Lettuce | A fast, shallow-rooted filler that uses the space between slower plants and shades the soil; harvest it before the main crop needs the room. |
| Onions | Take up little space at the bed edge; their strong scent is traditionally said to confuse pests that hunt by smell. |
| Sage | Sage's strong scent is traditionally said to deter slugs, the strawberry bed's worst enemy. |
| Thyme | Thyme creeps between strawberry plants as a living mulch and is traditionally said to confuse pests with its scent. |
Borage is the first companion to reach for with strawberries, and they sit low and spread by runners, so companions that grow upright or fill gaps without smothering the crowns work best. Sow it direct at the edge of the bed and let it flower — the blue stars bring bees in from all over the garden, and those bees then visit everything around it. It self-seeds, so deadhead a few plants if you do not want it everywhere next year.
How companion planting works
Companion planting works through four overlapping mechanisms.
Pest confusion. Many pests find their host plant by scent. Strong-smelling companions such as Onions, Sage, Thyme are traditionally said to mask that scent, so the pest passes by. It is a delaying effect, not a barrier.
Pollinator and beneficial-insect attraction. Several companions here flower — Borage — drawing pollinators and beneficial insects in. Let a few flower.
Nitrogen fixing. Nitrogen fixing does not apply here — none of the listed companions is a legume.
Ground cover and root layers. Ground cover does apply: lettuce fills the gaps between plants, shading the soil, holding moisture in and smothering weeds until the main crop needs the room.
None of this replaces the basics. Spacing, watering, rotation and weekly inspection matter more than any pairing.
Plants to avoid near strawberries
The plants to keep away from strawberries are its own relatives. Strawberries belong to the Rosaceae family, and plants in the same family share the same pests and diseases — here, slugs, aphids, spider mites — so problems pass easily between them and build up in the soil.
| Plant to avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| Raspberries | Same Rosaceae family; shares pests such as slugs, aphids, spider mites. |
| Blackberries | Same Rosaceae family; shares pests such as slugs, aphids, spider mites. |
| Apples | Same Rosaceae family; shares pests such as slugs, aphids, spider mites. |
| Pears | Same Rosaceae family; shares pests such as slugs, aphids, spider mites. |
| Peaches | Same Rosaceae family; shares pests such as slugs, aphids, spider mites. |
Keep these relatives in a different bed and rotate the Rosaceae family to fresh ground each year. Others in the same family in our crop data include Plums, Cherries, Roses.
Planting layout and spacing
Space 12–18 inches apart in rows, keep the crowns at soil level, and mulch with straw to keep the fruit clean and the slugs down.
Give strawberries their full spacing of 12–18 inches between plants. Crowded strawberries mean poor airflow, more disease and smaller harvests, and no companion plant compensates for it. Work out how many plants fit your bed with the plant-spacing calculator or the square-foot garden planner.
Plant companions in the spaces the spacing leaves, not instead of it. Low companions go in the gaps and along the bed edges; taller ones go at the north side so they do not shade the strawberries; scented herbs go closest to the crop, dotted through the row.
Strawberries are started indoors or sown direct: sow under cover where needed, expect germination in 14–21 days, and set plants out once the weather is right. Work backwards from your last frost date with the seed-starting calculator. Strawberries need full sun and soil with a pH of 5.5–6.5. Water needs are moderate, so keep the soil consistently moist with deep, regular watering rather than a light daily sprinkle, and mulch thickly to hold moisture in. The watering calculator gives a starting point for your bed size. Expect 90–180 days from sowing to maturity.
Common problems and fixes
The pests most often reported on strawberries are slugs, aphids, spider mites. Companions may reduce pressure, but they do not prevent them — inspect leaf undersides and new growth weekly and act while numbers are low.
| Problem | What you see | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| Slugs | Chewed leaves and silvery trails, worst in damp weather. | Beer traps or copper tape; clear debris. |
| Aphids | Sap-sucking insects on new growth; leaves curl. | Wash off with water; encourage ladybirds. |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing and speckled, bronzed leaves in hot, dry weather. | Spray leaf undersides with water; raise humidity. |
Slugs
Slugs feed at night in damp weather. Clear boards, pots and debris where they hide by day, and set beer traps at soil level near the worst-hit plants.
Aphids
Wash them off with a strong jet of water and leave ladybirds and lacewings alone to eat them. Check the undersides of young leaves, where colonies start.
Spider Mites
Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions. Spray leaf undersides with water regularly and avoid dusty, drought-stressed plants, which are hit hardest.
Unsure what you are seeing? Try the pest-identifier helper or the plant-disease checker. Remove badly affected leaves and rotate the Rosaceae family next year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best companion plant for strawberries?
The most widely recommended companion is borage. Borage flowers draw bees that also visit strawberry flowers, and its leaves are traditionally said to encourage strawberry growth.
What should not be planted near strawberries?
Avoid other members of the Rosaceae family, including Raspberries, Blackberries, Apples, Pears. They share the same pests and diseases as strawberries, so problems move easily between them. Rotate the family to a fresh bed each season.
Can I plant strawberries with lettuce?
Yes. Lettuce is on the companion list for strawberries. A fast, shallow-rooted filler that uses the space between slower plants and shades the soil; harvest it before the main crop needs the room.
How far apart should strawberries and their companions be planted?
Space strawberries plants 12–18 inches apart, and put companions in the gaps, along the edges and at the ends of rows. The plant-spacing calculator works out how many plants fit your bed.
Does companion planting replace pest control?
No. It may reduce pest pressure, but it does not replace inspection, spacing, watering, rotation and good airflow. Check plants weekly and act early.