Companion planting is a great way to make raspberry plants grow better and more robust and produce tastier berries.
With a bit of time, knowledge, and care, you will have home-grown raspberries from early summer to late fall.
This article will discuss the benefits of companion planting for raspberries and how you can implement companion planting in your home garden.
What exactly is companion planting?
Companion planting is the idea that certain plant types work together to promote growth or deter pests from entering their space.
For example, sage can help ward off aphids while it provides culinary herbs for your kitchen. Or it would help if you planted potatoes and marigolds to keep the pests away.
What are the benefits of companion planting for raspberries?
Several benefits from companion planting can help your raspberry plants. These include :
More berries
You want the highest possible yield from your raspberry plants to make it worth the cost and time. Companion planting helps result in fuller and bigger plants with fewer pests, meaning a higher yield of berries per plant.
Better soil quality
Companion planting can help improve your soil by adding nitrogen and nutrients. This results in more robust raspberry plants that can better resist diseases, and better quality, juicier berries
Pest protection
Companion planting will also protect the raspberry plants by adding a scent to attract predators of pest insects, which keep away harmful bugs. In the same way, planting companion plants with a pungent smell, such as mint, will repel pests.
Ground cover
The right companion plants for raspberries can offer valuable ground cover helping to protect from extreme heat and improve water retention. An excellent example of a cover plant that helps raspberries is marigolds. Growing marigolds in your raspberry patch will attract bees which pollinate flowers and vegetables and help repel pests.
How Can I Best Use Companion Planting for My Raspberries in My Home Garden?
It’s important to know which companion plants work best and which also need the same amount of sunlight or water.
But before you even plant your raspberry bushes, especially if you have had a previously unsuccessful crop, try preparing the soil before the raspberry growing season starts to increase your chances of success.
Prepare your soil easily by mixing well-aged manure or compost into the ground in the winter before planting.
Raspberry plants like a sunny spot in the garden and prefer slightly acidic soil. Once planted, keep them well watered during dry spells.
The plants will also benefit from good pruning each year when the growing season is over to ensure your next crop is equally as good the following year.
What easy companion plants can I use with my Raspberry plants in my home garden?
Try these companion plants if you want more sweet, tasty berries on your raspberry bush. At the same time as these companion plants benefit your raspberry bushes, they are an excellent addition to your kitchen garden!
Companion planting chives to deter pests
Chives are a good companion plant for raspberries. The chive plants resemble the raspberry in a growth pattern and are a natural pest deterrent. Chives are easy to grow and maintain, and being a perennial, they will return yearly.
Used fresh or dried in recipes such as pesto, quiche, and salsa verde, chives have a mild, slightly onion-like flavor that is an excellent addition to any dish. You can even dry them at home to always have them on hand.
Chives, often used for flavoring salads such as the iconic French onion salad, have a light taste, making them perfect for these dishes!
Whether fresh or dried, chives offer nutrients, so add them to your dishes for a little boost of vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium!
Companion planting strawberries for shade
Strawberries work as a good companion plant for raspberries. The strawberry plants offer plenty of shade and are tall enough to act as windbreakers.
The strawberries also are high in potassium and magnesium, which is suitable for raspberry plants during the fruit-bearing stage. They contain natural fungicides that can help protect raspberries from mildew and other plant diseases, so don’t be afraid to mix.
Many would argue that there is no better way to enjoy strawberries than fresh ones with nothing added. But by far, the most popular way to eat strawberries is with cream and sugar. There are, of course, endless other ways to enjoy this delicate sweet fruit, such as a strawberry shortcake, a fruit pavlova, or even a chocolate tart. And if you are looking for something different, you will find that few things are as refreshing as a strawberry and basil salad.
Mint offers protection against pests.
Mint is a good companion plant for raspberries because it helps to repel pests, such as raspberry aphids and Japanese beetles.
And besides being a great companion plant, mint smells tremendous and grows fast. Mint is extensively used in teas, crushed in juices, or as decoration on salads and desserts.
Thyme – repels pests and more.
Thyme is a good companion plant for raspberry bushes as it repels many pests while adding a pleasant scent to the berries and leaves.
This aromatic herb helps with the growth of your plants, and it does this simply by releasing aromatic oils, which can activate other helpful chemicals in raspberries (such as anthocyanin).
Due to a fast growth rate, you will have lots of thyme in your garden. It is ideal to use in everyday cooking, such as tomato sauces, seasoning beef dishes and putting on the barbeque while cooking burgers, peppers, and steaks.
Onions repel and protect against pests.
Onions and other alliums provide a natural insecticide for growing raspberry plants.
The alliums act as a repellent for the raspberry plant’s pests, such as aphids.
Companion planting lavender for help with pollinators
Lavender is a favorite herb with many good qualities and uses.
The lavender plants grow fast and can help with fruit production by giving off their scent in the air around your raspberry bush.
Lavender works wonders for pollinators who come looking for food. Lavender is also good at repelling moths and mosquitos.
Do companion plants work for raspberries?
When you do it right, companion planting is a great way to get the most out of your raspberries.
And who doesn’t like raspberries in the summer season? Kids and adults love to eat them fresh or in a delicious pie.
So if you want to make your raspberry plant stronger and produce more berries, try companion planting!
It’s not just about the raspberries – it’s also what makes for a beautiful garden. A healthy garden with diverse plants will provide better pollination, fewer pests, and an excellent outdoor environment on your doorstep. And with these simple steps, you’ll have more berries and be able to enjoy them all summer long!
