Additionally, blackberries tolerate the acidity blueberry shrubs need. Blueberries also require consistent moisture, so make sure to water them regularly and mulch the soil to help retain moisture. You should not water blueberry bushes every day. Additionally, synthetic mulches like black plastic or landscape fabric should be avoided as they can prevent water from reaching the roots and can cause the soil to become too hot. Growing blueberries requires some planning and care, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Companion gardening stretches beyond the confines of conventional gardening to bushes (blueberry bushes), orchards, trees and shrubs, grains, grasses, and other field crops. Azalea are ideal companion plants for blueberries because they enjoy similar conditions to thrive. Sphagnum Moss Vs. Peat Moss: Whats The Difference? Nightshades, brassicas, melons, and salad greens are all bad companion plants for blueberries. The small purple star shaped flowers attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps helping blueberry bushes to set fruit. Spacing and Planting. This dill companion planting guide will encourage the culinary herbs growth and will help to deter unwanted pests from moving in and snacking. These nightshade vegetables are heavy nutrient users and will impact your blueberry bushes ability to produce berries. In this blog post, well discuss the bad companion plants for blueberries and why you should avoid planting them near your blueberry bushes. Keeping thyme around your blueberry bushes helps prevent insect infestations, and may even discourage hungry foraging mammals from stealing the berries. They grow up to three feet tall and do not take up as much space as the pole variety, which makes them ideal companions when compared to them. In this case, the plant wont be able to access the magnesium, and youll need to address the pH issue separately. It grows no more than 2 o 5 inches depending on the type you have planted and its flower color also depends on the variety. Certain plants can hinder the growth of your blueberry bushes, which can have devastating effects on berry production. You should avoid planting blueberries in the soil where youve previously grown eggplants either at least wait for a couple of years before this crop rotation decision! To address this, you can broadcast 1/4 cup of Epsom salt in a 10-inch diameter around the plant and water it thoroughly. A new plant combination that I experimented with in my backyard garden was the pairing of Blueberries and Wintergreen (Teaberry), both of which are native plants that grow wild in Pennsylvania and other parts of the Northeast. Blueberries are very easy to grow but it does require lots of patience for them to produce fruits. Therefore, bog plants such as carnivorous plants, are also known to be excellent companions for cranberries. How do I make my soil more acidic for blueberries? They can both be used as beautiful landscape plants and can provide a delicious harvest for years to come. Lilacs also provide shade. Beans, celery, corn, lettuce, dill, peas, and radishes are also good companion plants. It is equally important to take note of which plants you should NOT plant by your blueberry bushes. and borage ( Borago officinalis) are honeybee magnets. They are acid-loving plants much like blueberry plants. Nutrient Provision: An appeal of using a polyculture type of approach and planting different plants next to each other is that the plants wont be competing for the exact same nutrients. Intercropping blueberries with some species of grasses can improve your fruit yield and plant growth. Blueberries are a great addition to any garden, but its important to consider which plants should not be grown near them. Look to basil it may just prove to be the perfect companion plant. So not only will your blueberry plants suffer if you grow tomatoes too close to them, but your tomato plants wont grow very well, either. Most ferns share the blueberry plants growing conditions, as they do very well in partial sun and acidic soil. They also both require full sun to produce the best fruit. These plants will perform best in organically rich soils that need to be constantly moist, and in full sun. Planting these next to heavy or light feeders that use up nitrogen will create the perfect growing conditions for your crops to thrive. Pine needles, wood chips, or bark mulch work well as mulches for blueberries. Companion planting could be as simple as growing flowers near your crops to attract pollinating insects or growing two vegetables alongside each other to confuse or repel pests. Be careful not to shade your blueberry bushes. Blueberries have the potential to inhibit the growth of all bean plants because they are heavy feeders and will drink up all the nutrients the bean plants will crave for. Join our dynamic garden community. Another attractive flower that will provide shade for your blueberries is azaleas. Kohlrabi is a particularly harmful companion plant because it can stunt growth. Give melons a large birth in your garden and keep them away from your blueberry plants. Also, they will wilt and die and leave your soil well clogged up. Companion Planting Table * Dill is a beneficial companion plant to tomatoes when it is young, mature dill plants can suppress growth of tomatoes though. In fact, raised beds are a great option for growing blueberries, especially if the soil in your area is not ideal for their growth. The beautiful blooms of Rhodes will not only make your garden look attractive but they can thrive in similar conditions as blueberries. The wild plants are often found in well draining soil around evergreen trees. To make blueberry soil more acidic, you need to amen each soil with compost each season. Grow a Pop of Color: Plant Glass Gem Popcorn for an Eye-Catching Harvest! Evergreen Seeds is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. They make excellent blueberry companion plants because they help hold moisture in the ground. Along with whats being said, eggplants invite some pests and diseases to the board too! Grow them at least 5 feet away from each other. Evergreenseeds.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.it or amazon.com. Comfrey tends to become invasive. , reduce yields, and even lead to crop failure. Salad greens, such as lettuce and spinach, are not good companion plants for blueberries. Harvesting strawberry runners from a mother plant is one of the easiest ways to grow your strawberry crop. There's no need to wash it off as it's harmless to humans. Strawberries and blueberries thrive in similar soil requirements and both happen to be easy to grow garden fruit. Cabbage comes from a strong family of vegetables that include kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflowers, and other green, leafy sprouts. Some varieties are better suited to colder climates, while others are more tolerant of heat and humidity. Sage is another great herb that will that can be of mutual benefit to blueberries. Fertilizing Rhododendrons for Greener Leaves, Discovering the Best Rhododendron Varieties for Your Garden, Troubleshooting Rhododendron Problems for Gardeners. Additionally, its important to make sure that your soil is in optimal condition for growing blueberries by testing for pH levels and adding organic matter such as compost or manure. These can grow up to 15 feet tall and take up a lot of space. Thyme and blueberries will do great planted near each other. One type of plant to avoid planting near blueberries is nightshades. Planting the trap crop ahead of your target crop will ensure the pests stay away from delicate seedlings. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Peppers, such as bell peppers or hot peppers, can also be grown alongside blueberries and add some variety to your garden. Blueberries. Whichever type you choose, these plants all require full to partial sunlight, and they perform best in moist but well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly acidic. Beware of the Poinsettia: Is it Toxic to Our Feathered Friends? Whether you keep your blueberries in containers or right in the ground, planting them in acidic soil with enough room to grow, and giving them plenty of water to drink will help get them started off right. More from our companion planting archive: No votes so far! Please log in again. Do not plant any crop that has different nutrient requirements than your blackberry. It is not a good idea to plant blueberries near plants such as tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, and beets. Growing the right companion plant for Raspberry means a better yield of fruits with a lower pest invasion. Brassicas: Brassicas such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale are heavy feeders and have the potential to take much needed nutrients from your blueberry plants. Plant These Heat-Tolerant Tomatoes for Maximum Yield! Blueberry bushes will require a trellis in the full sun to part shade. Make sure that they arent crowded by tall, broad leafed plants. Depending on the variety, blueberry bushes should typically be spaced 3-4 feet apart to allow for proper growth and air circulation. By following these guidelines, you can maximize blueberry yield and enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious, nutritious fruit. For one, they attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are essential for blueberry production. This includes tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. Read more. A healthy blueberry bush can produce over 1000 berries per growing season. You should buy more than one variety of blueberries to mate and they need to be near each other to produce larger fruits. Brassicas do well in slightly alkaline soil whereas blueberries prefer acidic soil- making them unlikely neighbors. The best buddy for a blueberry plant is a rhododendron since these plants also thrive in sunshine and acidic soil. This plant is often used for border edge and landscaping accents but it can help attract butterflies to your garden which are great pollinators. Endive, a type of leafy green, is another great companion vegetable for blueberries. Blueberries, on the other hand, prefer acidic soil with lower nitrogen levels. Beets will grow up to three feet tall and six feet wide when they are in bloom. As the leaves die and fall off, they surround neighboring plants with the organic matter needed to lock in moisture and restore nutrient levels. Read this guide to find out exactly what blueberry companion plants will work best for you in your vegetable garden or flower bed! They also require a lot of water, which can lead to soil erosion and nutrient depletion. Hydrangea. When companion planting, you should consider the characteristics and needs of each plant in order to ensure that they complement each other and do not compete for resources. Beets 4. Eggplants, too, make poor blueberry companion plants. Strawberries have bright green leaves and red fruit, while blueberries have dark green leaves and blue fruit. Blueberries are partially self-fertile, meaning they can produce fruit on ther own, but they will produce more and larger berries if they have another variety nearby to cross-pollinate with. Thyme acts as ground cover, improving moisture retention, weed suppression, and root protection from temperature swings. A thoughtful companion planting with blueberry can help it thrive and it is also important to be aware of plants not growing near it. The cabbage comes in various shapes and sizes for around-the-year harvesting regimes. Its also worth noting that, although many people like growing blueberries together with blackberries and raspberries, these plants do not share the same growing requirements, and therefore, do not perform as well when sharing the same garden space. With the help of these blueberry companion plants, you can increase your crops yield and improve performance season after season. This is because melons require a lot of space and can take over the garden, shading out other plants. This vegetable has a wide range of culinary uses and healing properties. Blueberry bushes can take 2-3 years to start producing fruit, reaching their full growth potential at about 10 years and living up to 20 years. Brassicas are like decoys to blueberry plants, and growing these together can only cause harm to both! We love gardening and we want to share this love with you. Gardening Fans: Plant Red Flowering Trees in Florida! The trees thrive in acidic soil and their needles help to further acidify the soil (lowering the PH level)- creating the perfect growing conditions for blueberry bushes. Basil features violet blossoms that can compliment a blueberry bush. However, its important to avoid using dyed mulches (black or red) as they may contain harmful chemicals. Caroline is a Miami-based landscaper who specializes in drought-tolerant landscapes. Asparagus is a widely known plant, appreciated for its juicy and delicious young shoots known as spears. Below are some main problems you might want to avoid when choosing companion plants for blueberries. One of the most effective ways to do this is by incorporating peat moss into the planting medium. Another benefit of growing strawberries and blueberries together is that they can add a pop of color to your garden. Lewisias are a low-grower plant that can be grown alongside blueberries. This includes kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. All About Blueberries + Blueberry Growing Conditions. 10 Best Parsnip Companion Plants: Herbs, Flowers, Vegetables, 7 Turnip Companion Plants (What Not to Grow With Turnips). Parsley Companion Planting Guide What and What NOT to Plant, Cucumber Companion Planting Guide What and What NOT to Plant, Dill Companion Plants | What & What NOT to Plant With Dill, Vegetable Seeds to Start In April For Zone 3-5 Gardening (Simple Guide), How To Grow New Strawberry Plants From Runners- Easy Propagation Guide, Vegetable Seeds to Plant In May For Zone 3-5 Gardening (Indoors and Outside). Plants such as tomatoes, eggplants invite some pests and diseases to the too... One, they attract pollinators such as lettuce and spinach, are also known be. Vs. Peat Moss into the planting medium happen to be aware of plants not growing it! Or red ) as they do very well in slightly alkaline soil whereas blueberries prefer acidic soil- making unlikely. Flowers, vegetables, 7 Turnip companion plants for blueberries because they enjoy similar conditions to thrive for its and! Of patience for them to produce berries each other thyme and blueberries thrive sunshine. 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