When it comes to cultivating a fruitful and diverse garden or greenhouse, growing blueberries and strawberries can be an exciting endeavor. These fruits have different preferences but can thrive together. However, birds pose a threat as they love snacking on these delicious treats. Growing them in a greenhouse offers protection, ensuring a bountiful harvest without bird damage. Now, let’s explore tips and techniques for cultivating these delightful fruits side by side.
Can I Plant Blueberries and Strawberries Together? The Complete Growing Guide
Blueberries and strawberries are two of the most delicious and nutrient-rich fruits you can grow in your garden. Both pack a nutritious punch, bursting with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. And their sweet, juicy flavors make them perfect for snacking, desserts, jams, smoothies, and more.
But can you plant blueberries and strawberries together? The short answer is yes you absolutely can. With some planning and care blueberries and strawberries can thrive side-by-side in the same garden bed or container.
In this complete growing guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about planting and caring for blueberries and strawberries together including
- Benefits of Growing Blueberries and Strawberries Together
- Challenges to Consider
- Soil, Sunlight, and Water Requirements
- Pollination Needs
- Pest Prevention
- Planting and Caring Tips
- Companion Planting Options
Let’s dive in!
Benefits of Growing Blueberries and Strawberries Together
While blueberries and strawberries have slightly different needs, there are some clear benefits to planting them side-by-side:
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Make efficient use of garden space. By interplanting blueberries and strawberries, you can maximize productive space.
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Enjoy an extended harvest season. Blueberries and strawberries ripen at different times, giving you months of fresh fruit.
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Improve pollination. The flowers will help attract pollinators to both crops.
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Complementary flavors. Blueberries and strawberries are a classic pairing, perfect for desserts.
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Shared pest resistance. Certain companion plants can deter pests from both berries.
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Efficient watering and care. Grouped in the same bed, the plants can be cared for together.
By understanding each plant’s needs, you can find the right balance to successfully grow blueberries and strawberries as garden companions.
Challenges to Consider
While blueberries and strawberries can thrive next to each other, there are some challenges to consider:
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Soil acidity. Blueberries require more acidic soil than strawberries. You’ll need to strike the right balance.
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Watering needs. Strawberries tend to need more frequent watering than blueberries.
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Nutrient needs. Strawberries are heavier feeders than blueberries. Plan fertilizer accordingly.
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Harvesting. Pick strawberries every few days. Blueberries hold longer on the bush.
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Growing habits. Strawberries spread via runners. Blueberry bushes grow upright. Allow adequate space.
With good planning and care, these challenges are certainly manageable. But it’s important to understand the different needs of each plant.
Soil, Sunlight and Water Requirements
To grow blueberries and strawberries successfully as companion plants, start with the basics:
Soil:
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Acidity level. Blueberries need a pH between 4.5-5.0. Strawberries prefer 5.5-6.5. Aim for a compromise around 5.0-5.5.
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Drainage. Excellent drainage is crucial. Choose a raised bed or slope if possible.
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Amendments. Mix in peat moss and compost to enrich the soil.
Sunlight:
- Full sun. Both blueberries and strawberries need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
Water:
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Strawberries need consistent moisture, about 1-2 inches per week. Water when the soil dries out.
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Blueberries can handle drier soil but still need about 1 inch per week. Irrigate slowly and deeply.
Providing the right soil and sunlight along with attentive watering will give both berries what they need to thrive.
Pollination Needs
Like most fruiting plants, blueberries and strawberries rely on pollinators for a good harvest. Their flowers offer pollen and nectar rewards to attract the pollinators they depend on, which include:
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Bees – Honeybees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, and mining bees are key pollinators.
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Butterflies and moths – Many species contribute to pollination.
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Hummingbirds – Attracted to strawberry blooms.
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Beneficial insects – Ladybugs, lacewings, syrphid flies.
To increase pollinator visits:
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Plant pollinator-friendly companion plants like bee balm, lavender, and cosmos nearby.
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Avoid applying pesticides during bloom season.
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Provide a water source like a bird bath or fountain.
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For blueberries, consider renting honeybee hives during bloom season.
Adequate pollination is vital for top berry harvests! A pollinator-friendly garden is the best way to achieve it.
Pest Prevention
Like all fruit crops, blueberries and strawberries can be susceptible to pests like birds, deer, rodents, beetles, and more. Prevent pest damage with these organic, non-toxic solutions:
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Use row covers and bird netting to protect ripening fruit.
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Apply kaolin clay spray, a natural insect deterrent.
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Hand pick pests like slugs and snails. Drop in soapy water.
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Set out traps for rodents. Use humane traps and relocate pests.
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Keep the garden free of debris and overripe or fallen fruit.
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Grow pest-deterring plants like chives, garlic, and marigolds nearby.
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For deer, erect physical barriers like fences around the garden.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to protecting your berry harvest from pests. Consistent monitoring and action can keep damage minimal.
Planting and Caring Tips
Ready to get planting? Follow these tips for success:
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Select disease-resistant blueberry and strawberry varieties recommended for your region.
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Space blueberry plants 3-5 feet apart and strawberries 12-18 inches apart. Interplant them in an alternating pattern.
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Water new plants daily until established. Then follow seasonal watering guidelines.
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Use pine straw or wood chip mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
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Fertilize according to soil test results. Strawberries need more fertilizer than blueberries.
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For strawberries, remove runner plants to control spread.
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Prune blueberries lightly each year to shape bushes and remove old branches.
With attentive planting and care, your blueberries and strawberries will quickly feel at home as companion plants!
Companion Planting Options
Certain companion plants can be strategically added nearby to benefit your blueberries and strawberries:
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Ground covers like White Dutch Clover to help suppress weeds.
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Bee balm, cosmos, lavender to attract pollinators.
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Borage and calendula to deter pests like tomato hornworms.
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Garlic and chives to deter aphids, slugs, and snails.
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Dill to improve growth and deter beetles.
Take advantage of handy companion plants that serve multiple purposes, from pest control to pollinator recruitment. Find the right synergistic combinations for your garden.
The Complete Package
Blueberries and strawberries are the perfect fruits to grow as garden companions. With complementary flavors and growing seasons, the plant pairing just makes sense.
By understanding the nuances of caring for each plant and making adjustments accordingly, you can expect a bountiful berry harvest each summer. Careful planning and attentive care will foster healthy, thriving plants.
So go ahead, get planting, and enjoy the fruits of your companion planting labor! From spring blossoms to juicy summer snacks, blueberries and strawberries are sure to bring years of joy to your garden and table.
How Strawberries and Blueberries Grow
Cultivation Tips for Growing Blueberries and Strawberries
Blueberries: Growing blueberry bushes is relatively easy, but they require a maturation period before fruit production begins. During the first two years, it’s important to remove blossoms to establish the bush. By year three, you can expect a bountiful harvest. Blueberries thrive in full sun and benefit from pine or sawdust mulch, regular watering (1-2″ per week), and well-drained, moisture-retaining soil. Achieve an optimal soil pH of around 4.5 and consider planting multiple varieties together for improved yield. Keep your berries safe from birds by growing them in your Growing Dome greenhouse.
Strawberries: Strawberry plants are also beginner-friendly, but they have their preferences. These plants require 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily and thrive in well-drained, loamy soil. Aim for a soil pH between 5.5 and 7, and avoid planting them where tomatoes, eggplants, or peppers were recently grown. Provide ample space for runners, spacing the plants 18″ apart. Avoid bending the roots during planting, and water the plants immediately to aid their settlement.
Strawberry cultivars classify strawberries into three types: June-bearing, everbearing, or day-neutral. In the shorter days of spring, June-bearing strawberry plants bloom and set fruit, yielding their entire crop within a two to three-week period. On the other hand, ever-bearing strawberry plants produce two crops annually: a larger crop in spring and a smaller crop in the fall. Day-neutral plants follow a different pattern, as they rely on temperatures ranging between 35 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to flower and set fruit. Notably, day-neutral plants have the advantage of producing fruit in their first year of planting.
Update on Strawberries and Blueberries with the Stupid Gardener!
FAQ
Can I plant strawberries around blueberries?
When it comes to cultivating a fruitful and diverse garden or greenhouse, growing blueberries and strawberries can be an exciting endeavor. These fruits have different preferences but can thrive together. However, birds pose a threat as they love snacking on these delicious treats.
What not to plant next to blueberries?
What should not be planted by strawberries?
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Melons & Cucumbers:These plants can also spread Verticillium wilt and compete for nutrients, especially if grown in the ground.
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Mint:While mint can be a companion plant for other things, it can be aggressive and take over a garden bed, potentially crowding out strawberries.
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Rose Family:Roses and other plants in the rose family can share diseases with strawberries, so it’s best to keep them apart.
Can you grow strawberries and blueberries in the same soil?
These two fruits have slightly different soil needs but can still grow well together. Strawberries and blueberries have slightly different soil pH preferences.Oct 1, 2023
Can you grow strawberries and blueberries together?
It is possible to grow strawberries and blueberries together, but there are some things to keep in mind. Planting: Strawberries and blueberries should be planted in separate rows. This will help to prevent the spread of pests and diseases between the two plants. Spacing: Strawberries and blueberries should be spaced at least 18 inches apart.
Can you plant a blueberry with a strawberry plant?
Some smart companion planting choices can benefit both blueberry and strawberry plants. Consider adding: Borage – Deters pests, enhances growth and flavor of strawberries. Marigolds – Repels nematodes and other pests for both fruits. Clovers – Fixes nitrogen; strawberries thrive with extra nitrogen.
Can blueberries be planted with other plants?
Unlike strawberries, blueberries are considered more tolerant of other plants as companions. However, blueberries are not heavy feeders hence they should not be planted with plants that are heavy feeders and require a large amount of compost and organic matter. You can harm your blueberry bushes by planting them near the plants listed below.
Can blueberries grow without companion plants?
As mentioned earlier, companion plants like strawberries, rhubarb, and azaleas can enhance soil conditions and support blueberry growth. However, blueberries can still flourish without specific companion plants if grown in suitable conditions. Do Blueberries Like Marigolds? Yes, blueberries can benefit from planting marigolds nearby.
Can strawberries and blueberries ripen at the same time?
But while strawberries and blueberries don’t typically ripen at the same time, they can be grown together and make agreeable companion plants. Companion planting has been practiced in gardening for centuries. The idea is that there are certain plants that, when grown together, can benefit each other.
How far apart should strawberries and blueberries be planted?
Strawberries and blueberries also have different spacing requirements. Strawberries should be planted 12-18 inches apart, while blueberries should be planted 3-4 feet apart. If you plant strawberries and blueberries too close together, the plants will compete for resources, which can lead to reduced yields. Watering