Raspberry fruits grow better on warm and acidic soil that ranges from 5.5-6.5 and is cultivated during early spring. Its growing season can span into fall depending on the region it’s cultivated. Raspberry is a lover of a sunny climate but will also do well under the shade.
Raspberry grows in the wildest of places you can ever imagine. That’s because their seeds are carried by birds and dropped in different regions, then spring up and start growing. Then you wonder why it’s struggling to grow in your garden. Unknown to you that some plants or weeds around are responsible for hindering its growth.
However, this perennial plant will grow best in acidic soil mixed with organic materials with a cover crop planted close to it.
Companion plants will also help solve the problems that come with cultivating raspberries. It’s important to understand the type of environment and surrounding plants that will speed up the growth of raspberries. Then, you will rest assured that it will produce juicy fruits during the harvest.
11 Best Raspberry Companion Plants
Here are the best plants to grow alongside your raspberry bushes for healthier crops and increased yields today.
1. Legumes
The first thing that should come to mind when thinking about the right companion plant is cover crops. Cover crops include beans, soybeans, peanuts, lentils. From your knowledge of cover crops, you can tell that they help to add lost nutrients to the soil.
2. Garlic
The pungent smell in garlic will be put to good use when you plant it close to your raspberries. Not only does the smell repel pests, garlic but also contains sulfur that prevents fungal diseases from coming close to your raspberries. It’s advisable to plant garlic in the fall season close to the harvest period of your raspberries.
It has another advantage which is repelling pests like aphids and beetles that can be harmful to your plant.
3. Onions
Onions are a source of pest control. It keeps away different kinds of pests that can cause harm to your raspberries. It also prevents your plant from getting infected by fungal diseases just like garlic.
4. Marigold
Marigold is an enemy of eelworms and some nematodes. And just like the role that every flower plays, marigolds attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. This will help your raspberry flowers blossom well and produce juicy fruits.
5. Tansy
This is also a good companion plant for raspberries as it attracts pollinators to your plant. It also helps to repel pests like moths, mosquitoes, bugs and keeps your plant healthy.
6. Chives
It releases an aroma that keeps pests away just like garlic and onions. Chives is therefore a good companion plant to cultivate close to your raspberry.
7. Chamomile
Chamomile contains antifungal and antibacterial properties that will protect your raspberry plant.
8. Rue
Rue has beautiful flowers and leaves which attract pollinators and keep away pests like aphids, snails, beetles, and slugs away from your raspberries. This makes it a great companion plant for raspberries.
9. Lavender
Lavender has a good fragrance that attracts pollinators and repels deers and rabbits. It’s, therefore, a perfect match for raspberries.
10. Nasturtium
Nasturtium also helps to repel pests like squash bugs away from your raspberry plant. It blossoms with beautiful colors which give the raspberry patch an amazing look.
11. Yarrow
Yarrow keeps harlequin bees and aphids away from your raspberry plant. It blossoms with flowers that attract pollinators to your plant.
12. Turnip
Turnips are good repellants of harlequin bees just like Yarrow. It releases a pungent scent that keeps them away from your plant.
13. Chervil
This plant helps to shield your raspberry plants from the sun. Although raspberries need the sun to grow, they will also do well under a shade. Plant chervil close to your raspberry to serve this purpose.
What Not to Grow Near Raspberry Plants
Having learned about the plants that will grow well with raspberries, it’s important to know those that should be avoided. Peradventure their seeds mistakenly gets sprinkled close to your raspberry plants and you want to know if it’s safe to retain it or cut it off, the plants below are not compatible to be grown near raspberries.
1. Potatoes
Potatoes attract fungal diseases like blight and if care is not taken, it will spread to your raspberry plant. You should stay away from soil that has harbored potato plants because it could contain some infections that can affect your raspberries.
2. Tomatoes
Potato isn’t the only plant that can infect your raspberry with fungal Diseases. Tomato plants are also not that great for raspberry plants when nearby as they can attract Blight to your raspberry plant so keep them far away.
3. Eggplant
Eggplant is also known as Aubergines is a no-no for your raspberry plant. They should never be cultivated together as they belong to the family of tomatoes and potatoes and can infect your raspberry.
4. Pepper
Peppers can also attract fungal diseases to your raspberries and can cause other diseases which can lead to the Death of your raspberry plant.
5. Chillies
This plant can cause instant death of your raspberries as it doesn’t only attract fungal but also viral diseases.
6. Strawberry
Strawberries can attract a virus called verticillium wilt to your raspberries. Even though raspberries and strawberries are a good combo in the dessert bowl, don’t be deceived into cultivating them together because they are not compatible.
Companion planting guide for raspberries
Here are some quick companion planting tips for your raspberry plants.
- Plant flowers close to raspberries to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- Avoid planting the raspberry plants too deep.
- Keep tomatoes, eggplants, and pepper plants away from your raspberries.
- Don’t plant green tissue culture plants close to your raspberries.
What can you plant next to raspberry bushes?
Plants like garlic, onions, Marigold, turnips will do well planted next to raspberry bushes. One factor to consider when choosing a companion plant is its ability to release scents that can keep pests far away and repel diseases too.
Can you plant raspberries with other plants?
Of course, you can but those plants have to be compatible with the raspberry plant to avoid the infestation of pests or anything that can be harmful to your raspberries.
Are strawberries and raspberries companion plants?
No, they are not. Strawberries can attract verticillium wilt that can spread across your raspberry plant and cause its death.
What happens if you don’t prune raspberries?
When you don’t prune raspberries, they produce small fruits and don’t come out healthy. Lack of pruning can also result in congestion of the plant.
Are coffee grounds good for raspberries?
When coffee decomposes, it adds nitrogen to the soil. Raspberries love nitrogen, thus, they will grow well on coffee grounds.
Where is the best place to grow raspberries?
Raspberries grow well under a sunny climate. They can also do well under a shade, unlike other plants. They will grow best in acidic soil mixed with organic materials to enhance their growth.
Do you cut raspberries down every year?
It’s important to cut your raspberry plant annually.
Final Thoughts
Growing raspberries isn’t complicated as it seems. When you take note of the companion plants that will enhance the growth of your raspberry, you can rest assured to not have a healthy plant but a juicy harvest as well.
More companion planting tips:
- Lettuce Companion Planting (What Not to Grow Near Lettuce)
- Cauliflower Companion Planting (What Not to Grow Near Cauliflower)
- Cabbage Companion Plants (What Not to Grow Near Cabbage)
- Corn Companion Plants (What Not To Grow Near Corn)
- Squash Companion Plants (What Not to Grow Near Squash)
- 15 Best Borage Companion Plants: Herbs, Vegetables, Flowers, More