Blueberry Companion Plants | Plants That Thrive with Blueberries

Companion planting is a unique gardening technique that not only improves certain plant productivity but in fact your whole garden’s productivity. Choosing the right companion plant for blueberries is very important because it brings significant differences in its health, growth, and yield.

To choose the right type of blueberry companion plant, you basically need to understand which type of soil is best for it to thrive. For blueberries, it needs slightly acidic soil to thrive properly. So now you choose plants that do well in acidic soil and also have some other pros toward blueberries.

After spending years planting different plants along with blueberries, I now know what are worst, and best companion plants for blueberries. So, allow me to share my experience in planting the best companion blueberry plants to get a successful blueberry patch.

Companion Plants for Blueberry:

Companion planting is a beneficial gardening technique that improves the growth of your garden plant by increasing its yield with faster growth while keeping it healthy. But to perfect this technique, you will need the right companion plants to improve the harvest of your actual plant. Below, we listed what to grow with blueberries that is not only improve the harvest of the blueberry but also give you a nice garden ecosystem.

Cranberries:

USDA Zones : 4 to 7

One of the most common companion plants to blueberries is cranberries, which have requirements similar to blueberries with slightly acidic soil with average moisture levels. Planting cranberries next to blueberries encourages one another growth, especially blueberries.

Rhododendrons:

Zones : 5 to 8

These are some of the best-looking ornamental scrubs that share the need for same soil type. The rhododendrons not only help blueberries grow but also increase the look of your gardens. One of their benefits is that they both bloom at the same time, which increases the pollination activity in blueberries.

Thyme:

Zones : 5-9

Thyme is one of the best companion plants for every other plant. For blueberries they act as a cover of the ground that keeps the soil moisture and also acts as a repellent for pests but only allow beneficial insects to the blueberries.

Basil:

Zones : 4 to 10

Basil is also an excellent companion plant for blueberries because it acts as a repellant for pests like spider mites and aphides. It has a pungent fragrance that keeps away most of the dangerous pests but attracts some of the insects that are considered beneficial because they help the blueberries in pollination and also eat other harmful insects. It also has a shady bush that keeps the lower ground cover to prevent herbs from growing and also keeps the soil moist.

Also Read : Companion Plants for Peppers.

Mint:

Zones : 3-8

Mint is one of the top contenders for blueberry companion plants because of its smell which acts as a repellent for some insects that are considered dangerous but allows some helpful pollinators to increase the pollination process. It also has a very pleasant smell and very often used in kitchen. I usually plant mint in my garden along with blueberries, and I would suggest the same.

Strawberries:

USDA Zones : 5 through 8

Strawberries are a good companion plant for blueberries, although they don’t offer any direct benefits to blueberries as the previous plant did. But both of them can do pretty well when planted together since both share the same needs from soil. Both plants also don’t fight for nutrients because both of them have shallow root systems.

Elderberry:

USDA Hardiness Zones : 4 to 8

Elderberry can grow very well alongside blueberry because both need slightly acidic soil. They also look very good together and will enhance the aesthetic of your garden. The elderberry also attracts beneficial pollinators.

Ferns:

Zone : 5

There are different types of fern plants, and most of them are good companion plants because their soil requirements are the same as blueberries. One of the main advantages of fern plants to blueberries is they provide shade to the soil below to keep it moist.

Sage:

Zones : 5 to 8

Sage is a flowering plant and has some colourful plants. The sage plant is also considered a good companion plant for blueberries because its colorful flowers attracts different pollinators. Other than that, they will give an attractive look to your garden and looks very nice, along with blueberries.

Parsley:

Zones : 3-9

Parsley is on the list because it acts as an insect repellent. Other than that, they didn’t need too much space and recourse to grow, which makes them excellent companion plants, especially for blueberries.

Marigold:

Zones : 2 – 11

Marigolds are a flower that has vibrant colours, which have become the main reason for attracting different pollinators. At the same time, they also repel different pests, especially those who feed on blueberries.

Lemon Balm:

Zones : 4 to 9

The lemon balm is also a good companion plant for blueberries. It offers the same benefit as mint does, which is its pungent smell. Its smell acts as a replant for dangerous insects, but at the same time, it attracts other pollinators for the process of pollination.

Spinach:

USDA Zones : 3-9

Spinach is a healthy food as well as a good companion plant when planted alongside different fruits and vegetables, including blueberries. One of its main pros for blueberries is they cover the ground below, which minimizes water evaporation and keeps the soil moisture.

Chives:

USDA Zones : 3-9

Chives are also listed in the list of blueberry companions. It is one of those companion plants that attract pollinators and repels dangerous pests from blueberries, just like marigolds and other similar plants.

Beans:

Zone : 7-8

Beans are an amazing companion plant; in fact, you will find them in the list of every other companion plant. Bean roots convert the nitrogen gas from the air into organic compounds, which include nitrates and ammonia, which are considered very good for blueberry growth.

Onions:

Zone : 5-7

Onion is one of the best companion plants, especially blueberries. Most people plant onions in their gardens only as companion plants to protect certain important plants. It has a very pungent Odor that keeps different types of Bettles and insects and keeps your blueberry plant safe and healthy. Its odor is so pungent that it even keeps big animals like deer.

Here is a video about blueberry companion planting.

Bad Companion Plants for Blueberries:

Just like companion plants, there are some plants that you should avoid planting near blueberries. Below, we listed some of those plants.

Cucumber:

Planting cucumbers along with blueberries is also not advisable because they both need different types of soil. Cucumber vines also grow very tall and can spread very wide, which can also cover other plants, including your blueberries. So, you should avoid planting cucumbers next to blueberries.

Lavender:

Lavender and blueberries need different soil to thrive, which is why you don’t need to plant them close to one another. Blueberries need soil that is slightly acidic, while lavenders need slightly alkaline soil, and plants next to each other will disturb their growth by disturbing their needs for nutrients.

Walnut Tree:

The walnut tree is not a good companion plant, even for blueberries. If you planning to plant one with your other plants (like blueberries), then you should plant it somewhere else because the walnut tree releases a chemical called juglone that prevents other nearby plants from growing. So you should stop planting walnut trees with your other garden plants or stop planting your garden crops along with already planted walnut trees.

Eggplant:

Eggplant and blueberries are not considered good companions because they need different soil types to thrive. As you know already, blueberries need slightly acidic soil, while eggplant needs alkaline soil, which can change the type of soil according to their needs. The eggplant also needs extra water and nutrients, which then stress out blueberries, and that stress affects its growth.

Peppers:

Pepper and blueberries are different from one another in terms of soil, water, and fertilizer then need. Planting them along with one another can mix up both of their growth, and neither one of them will grow properly. So, It’s advisable not to plant pepper with your blueberries.

Conclusion:

Planting the right types of companion plants will increase your main crop growth intensively. Planting companion plants in your garden also improves the look of your garden.

I hope you understand the above article, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section or contact us. For more info, please visit gardencrafting.com.