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Strawberries are a garden favorite, loved for their bright red, juicy fruits that are a hallmark of summer. These robust plants do well in properly prepared beds or rows and can be easy to grow with the right conditions. However, the success of your strawberries can depend heavily on their neighbors in the garden.
Not all plants make good companions for strawberries. While some can improve their growth and increase your yield, others can be detrimental, competing for nutrients or bringing diseases and pests that harm strawberry plants. It’s crucial to know which plants to avoid placing next to your strawberries.
Choosing the wrong companions can drastically affect your gardening outcomes. To help your strawberry plants thrive and avoid issues like poor yields, tasteless fruit, or even plant death, here’s a list of 15 plants to steer clear of when planning your strawberry garden.
Potatoes
Potatoes can be harmful neighbors for strawberries due to several issues. The physical growth of potato tubers can disrupt the delicate roots of strawberry plants. Moreover, potatoes are susceptible to Verticillium wilt, a fungus that can also infect and damage strawberries. This disease can significantly reduce the health and yield of your strawberry patch.
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Tomatoes
Tomatoes can become larger than expected and may overwhelm strawberry plants if they grow too close together. Like potatoes, tomatoes are prone to Verticillium wilt, which can easily spread to nearby strawberries. Additionally, tomatoes may harbor nematodes that can attack and destroy strawberry roots, further compromising their health.
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Peppers
As members of the nightshade family, peppers share common diseases with strawberries, notably Verticillium wilt, which can spread from infected peppers to strawberries. Furthermore, the broad leaves of pepper plants can cast excessive shade over strawberries, limiting their sunlight exposure and reducing their fruit production.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are not suitable companions for strawberries primarily because they are also affected by Verticillium wilt. The presence of cucumbers near strawberry plants increases the risk of disease transmission. Additionally, cucumbers can inhibit the growth of strawberries, leading to poorer yields.
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Winter Squash
Growing winter squash, including pumpkins, near strawberries can create significant competition for space. The sprawling vines of these plants tend to overtake the area, potentially smothering strawberry plants and impeding their growth. The dense foliage can also hinder sunlight access, vital for strawberry health and productivity.
Melons
Melons are particularly challenging neighbors for strawberries due to their vigorous vine growth. These vines can encroach on strawberry plants, overwhelming them and hogging space. Melons also attract certain insect pests that could transfer to and harm strawberry plants, and they are capable of spreading diseases that adversely affect strawberries.
Okra
Okra suffers heavily from Verticillium wilt, making it a poor companion for strawberries. The large size of okra plants can also create too much shade over strawberry plants, reducing the sunlight they need to thrive and ultimately decreasing their fruit yield. It’s best to plant okra away from your strawberry beds.
Mint
Mint should be avoided near strawberries because its aggressive root system can introduce and spread Verticillium wilt in the soil, a disease that can devastate strawberry plants. Additionally, mint competes vigorously for resources, often outcompeting strawberries for essential nutrients and water, which can stunt strawberry growth.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a heavy feeder and competes aggressively for nutrients in the soil. Planting near strawberries can deprive them of essential nutrients needed for their growth and fruit production. Additionally, broccoli attracts pests like aphids and caterpillars, which can easily spread to strawberries and cause significant damage.
Kale
Kale, like broccoli, is a nutrient-intensive plant that can outcompete strawberries for water and essential soil nutrients. Its large leaves also tend to overshadow smaller strawberry plants, limiting the sunlight they receive. Furthermore, kale can attract pests that are harmful to strawberries, such as flea beetles and aphids.
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Cabbage
Cabbage has broad and dense foliage that can shade out strawberry plants, depriving them of necessary sunlight. It also competes for soil nutrients, which can stunt the growth of strawberries. Additionally, cabbage can attract a variety of pests, including cabbage loopers and aphids, which may then infest nearby strawberry plants.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts grow on tall stalks with large leaves that can overshadow strawberry plants. They are also heavy feeders and can compete with strawberries for nutrients, especially in the crucial growing months. Like other cruciferous vegetables, brussels sprouts can attract pests such as aphids and worms, posing a threat to strawberry health.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower’s large leaves can create excessive shade over strawberry plants, significantly reducing their exposure to sunlight. This lack of sunlight can hinder photosynthesis in strawberries and reduce their yield. Cauliflower also competes with strawberries for nutrients and attracts pests like the cabbage looper, which can damage strawberry plants.
Collard Greens
Collard greens are vigorous growers with large leaves that can easily overshadow strawberry plants, limiting their light and reducing their growth. They also compete with strawberries for soil nutrients and water. Additionally, collards can attract pests such as cabbage worms, which might then migrate to and harm strawberry plants.
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi grows with a bulbous stem that demands substantial nutrients from the soil, which can lead to competition with strawberries for these resources. Its large leaves can also shade strawberry plants from essential sunlight. Moreover, kohlrabi can attract pests like the cabbage maggot, which poses a risk to strawberries.
Bok Choy
Bok choy can grow quite leafy and dense, potentially overshadowing strawberry plants and limiting their sunlight access. It also competes for nutrients and attracts pests such as flea beetles and aphids, which are detrimental to strawberries.
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