🍎 Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
fruits perennial groundcover
☀️ Sun
full sun
💧 Water
consistently moist, not waterlogged
🗺️ Zones
3–10
🪴 Soil Type
well-drained sandy loam, rich in organic matter
🧪 Soil pH
5.5–6.5 (slightly acidic)
📏 Spacing
12-18 in. apart, 36-48 in. between rows (matted row); 12 in. for hill system
📅 Days to Maturity
4-6 weeks after flowering (from established plants); June-bearing: 60-90 days from bloom to harvest
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Fruit"]
🤝 Companions (9)
Repels tomato hornworm and cabbage worms; attracts pollinators; said to improve strawberry flavor and vigor
🤝 Bush beans
Fix nitrogen into soil; repel beetles; provide light dappled shade in hot climates
Deters worms and caterpillars; acts as a living mulch; attracts hoverflies
🤝 Onions / Garlic / Chives
Repel aphids, mites, and slugs; antifungal properties protect against gray mold (Botrytis)
🤝 Lettuce / Spinach
Low-growing companions share space well; strawberries provide cooling shade in summer
🤝 Lupine
Fixes nitrogen; attracts pollinators; tall flower spikes don't shade out strawberries
Roots exude alpha-terthienyl, suppressing nematodes; repels aphids and whiteflies
Repels slugs and cabbage moths; aromatic oils may deter fungal pathogens
Attracts parasitic wasps that prey on strawberry pests like leafrollers
⚠️ Keep Apart (18)
⚠️ Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower)
Compete heavily for nutrients; stunted growth in both; brassicas prefer alkaline soil vs strawberry's acidic needs
⚠️ Tomatoes / Potatoes / Eggplant
All nightshades share verticillium wilt susceptibility; can transmit fungal diseases to strawberries
⚠️ Peppers
Verticillium wilt host; competes for calcium and magnesium
Allelopathic — secretes growth-inhibiting compounds that stunt strawberries
⚠️ Mint (in-ground)
Invasive runner spreads aggressively, choking strawberry crowns; use only in containers nearby
Strawberries and arugula compete for root space and nutrients; strawberries may inhibit arugula growth through root competition.
Bok Choy (a brassica) and strawberries mutually inhibit each other's growth via allelopathic root exudates; strawberries are also susceptible to verticillium wilt hosted by brassicas.
Strawberries and broccoli compete for root space and nutrients; strawberries may inhibit broccoli growth through root competition.
Strawberries and brussels sprouts compete for root space and nutrients; strawberries may inhibit brussels sprouts growth through root competition.
Strawberries and cabbage compete for root space and nutrients; strawberries may inhibit cabbage growth through root competition.
Strawberries and cauliflower compete for root space and nutrients; strawberries may inhibit cauliflower growth through root competition.
Collard Greens (a brassica) and strawberries mutually inhibit each other's growth via allelopathic root exudates; strawberries are also susceptible to verticillium wilt hosted by brassicas.
Strawberries and endive compete for root space and nutrients; strawberries may inhibit endive growth through root competition.
Strawberries and kale compete for root space and nutrients; strawberries may inhibit kale growth through root competition.
Kohlrabi (a brassica) and strawberries mutually inhibit each other's growth via allelopathic root exudates; strawberries are also susceptible to verticillium wilt hosted by brassicas.
Mustard Greens (a brassica) and strawberries mutually inhibit each other's growth via allelopathic root exudates; strawberries are also susceptible to verticillium wilt hosted by brassicas.
Raspberry (a brassica) and strawberries mutually inhibit each other's growth via allelopathic root exudates; strawberries are also susceptible to verticillium wilt hosted by brassicas.
Rutabaga (a brassica) and strawberries mutually inhibit each other's growth via allelopathic root exudates; strawberries are also susceptible to verticillium wilt hosted by brassicas.
💊 Medicinal Uses
Contains fisetin (flavonoid with neuroprotective and senolytic — anti-aging — properties), ellagic acid, and pelargonidin (anthocyanin). Rich in vitamin C (more than oranges per weight). Clinically studied for cardiovascular health, blood sugar management, and cognitive function. Traditional European remedy for digestive health, skin conditions, and as a blood purifier. Fisetin is being researched for longevity.