Strawberry and Onion bed love!

[vfem]

I have been going by companion plants now for awhile. So far I have found relationships in my garden to be invaluable! I intertwined my onions and garlic into my strawberry bed, and had to STOP the hubby from ripping them out!

We have a weed infestation in the lawn of onion grass that gets into everything. Sweet hubby saw what he thought were the MONSTER of all onion grass in the strawberry bed coming through the straw mulch. Went to rip them out before I stopped him. I tried to explain to him WHY I planted like that. Then I realized I don't know WHY it was suggested as a pairing... but it was, so I did it because my other pairings worked so well already. Like Basil and Tomatoes, Corn and beans, cucumber and radish and marigolds with everything!

So does anyone know WHY onions and strawberries?

Better yet, any companion planting that you swear by?! And why is that the choice for you?

 

[Greenthumb18]

Hey vfem ,

I think onions go well with strawberries because the onions are like a natural bug repellant protecting the strawberries from being eaten.
I don't think the onions would taste likew strawberries, but it would be interesting if the onions tasted like strawberries .

I think the most common companion planting is marigolds with tomatoes. I like putting pole beans with corn together.

 

[journey11]

Greenthumb, when you plant your corn and pole beans together, do you plant them at the same time or does the corn need a headstart (to be strong enough to give support)? I was thinking I would plant mine together this year and was just wondering....

 

[bid]

Maybe not as much companion planting but a combination of companion/succession planting, I always plant radishes in my summer squash hills and I leave some to go to seed. Supposed to help with squash bugs I think.

I have been planting marigolds with tomatos for years too. I don't know if it helps but it looks pretty. I think marigolds are supposed to be a trap crop for white flies. I also read somewhere that turning the spent marigolds in can help with nematodes.

 

[Greenthumb18]

Greenthumb, when you plant your corn and pole beans together, do you plant them at the same time or does the corn need a headstart (to be strong enough to give support)? I was thinking I would plant mine together this year and was just wondering....

Well last summer i grew my pole beans on a trellis and right near there i had corn growing.
I think you thought i had my pole beans growing on the corn, which you could do that too if you like.
But yes if your trying to get the pole beans growing on the corn, plant the corn first to get a head start.

Hope this helps!

 

[old fashioned]

I've been interested and learning about companion planting for years. Also I have a book "Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening" by Louise Riotte.
There are certain naturally occuring chemicals in some plants that are beneficial (or not) to others. Like onions/garlic planted in strawberries, tomatoes, cabbage family, etc but NOT near beans or peas. Garlic planted by roses is said to help black spot. Marigolds are great anywhere in the garden for bug control so plant LOTS.

Other companion choices would include differences in soil/fertilizer/light requirements and growth habits. tall-short, heavy-light feeder, full-partial sun, warm-cold soil temps.

Another reason for companion planting is to harvest more stuff in same amount of space-intensive plantings.

 

[wifezilla]

Marigolds are great anywhere in the garden for bug control so plant LOTS.

The rotten bugs here EAT MY MARIGOLDS!!!!

 

[vfem]

Marigolds are great anywhere in the garden for bug control so plant LOTS.

The rotten bugs here EAT MY MARIGOLDS!!!!

Then I also suggest you plant radish to bolt... mine got TORN up by bugs bad last year, but I got lots of seed and it kept the bugs off of anything they were near. Including my marigolds. And radish have pretty flowers!!!!!

 

[Greenthumb18]

Marigolds are great anywhere in the garden for bug control so plant LOTS.

The rotten bugs here EAT MY MARIGOLDS!!!!

wifezilla,
Thats odd how the bugs ate your marigolds, what kind of bugs do you have there in your garden .

 

[vfem]

I bet they are feathered with 2 webbed feet each!!!