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Blackberries are one of the most rewarding fruits to grow at home. Once established, a healthy patch can produce baskets of sweet berries year after year with very little fuss.
Still, where you plant them matters more than many gardeners realize. Some crops compete for the same nutrients, spread diseases that affect blackberry bushes, or attract pests that can cause problems throughout the growing season. A poor planting choice today can mean fewer berries and weaker plants later on.
If you’re hoping for strong growth and plenty of juicy blackberries, keep these crops well away from your berry patch.
Potatoes
Potatoes are susceptible to the same pests and diseases as blackberries, particularly aphids, blight, and rust. Planting them together means these issues can easily spread between the two plants.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes and blackberries share many common pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms. Additionally, both can suffer from similar fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew.
Raspberries
Raspberries and blackberries are closely related and share susceptibility to the same pests and diseases, such as raspberry beetles and verticillium wilt.
Eggplants
Growing eggplants can be tricky, as they need plenty of nutrients, sunshine, and water to thrive. Blackberries will outcompete eggplants for these growth-boosting essentials and increase the risk of soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium wilt.
How to Make the Best Eggplant Caponata
Cabbages
Cabbages and other brassica crops are incredibly greedy feeders, quickly depleting nutrient levels in the soil. They can also attract pests like aphids and caterpillars, which may also target blackberry plants and reduce fruit production.
Fennel
Fennel has very few friends in the garden, as it produces a chemical that can inhibit the growth of nearby plants. This makes it a poor companion for blackberries, leading to stunted plants and poor fruit production.
Strawberries
Strawberries are often recommended as a good companion for blackberries, but there are drawbacks to this pairing. While strawberries are great for creating ground cover, they may compete for nutrients and space with blackberry plants.
In addition, strawberries and blackberries attract similar pests, which could increase the likelihood of pest issues.
Peppers
Peppers can be susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and other pests that also target blackberries.
Carrots
Root crops like
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