What can you plant with blueberries? Blueberries are definitely one of those plants that are compatible with many of the garden crops and this is because it’s a natural resistance to many garden pests.
Growing blueberries require patience but it happens to always pay off if the right care is taken and study also shows that it thrives more with the right companion planting.
Your blueberry bush is not just for providing you with delicious fruits but it can extremely useful in getting rid of some harmful pests in the garden.
Companion planting is a farming method that has been embraced for years to help specific crops grow and deter pests from feeding on them. So, they can provide your blueberries with all the necessary support it needs to grow while they benefit from it as well.
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11 Best Plants to Grow With Blueberry
Growing blueberries is just as simple as growing vegetables. This fruit is best planted in acidic soil of pH around 4.5 and full sun. They happen to tolerate lots of sun and are acid-loving plants. Gardeners plant them because they are useful garden plants so if you are in search of companion plants for them, here are some of the best plants to grow near them.
1. Thyme
Thyme and blueberry grow well together because thyme tolerates moderately acidic soil and won’t compete with blueberries for nutrients. Thyme is a low-growing ground cover plant hence it will act as ground cover or living mulch, control weeds, regulating soil moisture and temperature.
Blueberries are natural pest repellents and the same can be said about thyme due to its aromatic scent. The herb can act as a bit of pest deterrent and there are different varieties of thyme you can choose from.
2. Lilacs
Lilacs work pretty well with blueberries. Lilac is an easy plant to grow and the shrub blooms around the same time as blueberries. Planting this flower near blueberries attract pollinators and provides shades for your blueberries with their fragrant blossoms. The flowering shrubs are great to have in your garden.
3. Fern
Another popular plant gardeners keep near their blueberry bush is a fern. These plants love moist soil and thrive in shading conditions but they will provide your blueberries a lovely bright green accent compared to their lanky shrubs. Plant your farm in the shady spot and have the sunny area reserved for blueberries.
4. Strawberry
Strawberries and blueberries both make beautiful landscape plants. They are ideal companion plants and just like blueberries, they love well adequate sunlight, moist but well-drained soil. Both can be really beneficial to the rest of the crops planted near them.
5. Holly
Finding companion plants for holly is regarded as a challenge but they do grow well with blueberries. It can be successfully planted beside blueberries as they also prefer well moist soil, warm sunny soil, and acidic soil.
6. Rhododendrons And Azalea
Azalea and rhododendrons are plants that are related to blueberries and they thrive in similar growing conditions but unlike blueberries, they require a bit of shade. These two plants provide shades and attractive blossoms in summer.
7. Basil
Basil is another herb that can be grown near blueberries. It can acidic conditions just like blueberries but nothing too aggressive and its herbal scent can act as pest deterrent.
8. Cranberry Bushes
Cranberries and blueberries are two plants you should definitely try planting together. Both have similar growing requirements which makes them good companions.
9. Mountain Laurel
Mountain laurel is another common and beneficial companion plant to blueberry. The gorgeous leave of the plant complements the small leaves of lanky blueberries.
10. Hydrangea
Hydrangea is a lovely plant to pair with your blueberry. Both plants add rich bight foliage and cheery blooms to the garden. Some varieties tend to grow taller than blueberries and they tend to flower even after the blueberry blossom has faded.
11. Evergreen Trees
Almost all types of evergreen trees make a great companion with your blueberries. You should have it planted near evergreen trees such as pine, spruce, fir, yew, and juniper. These trees grow well in similar soil requirements as blueberries and they can provide it with shade from the strong afternoon sun.
What Not To Plant With Blueberries
You definitely need to know what plants should not be in close proximity to blueberries. This plant grows happily in a group of plants that benefits it and it can help shrubs grow in return. Some of the best companion plants for blueberries are cover crops while the worst plants for it are not much. But, here are the plants to keep away from it.
1. Tomatoes
One of the reasons tomatoes and blueberries do not make a great pair together is the growing requirements. Tomatoes require a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.5 but blueberries thrive best in soil pH of 4.5 and 5.5. Blueberries require more acidic soil so it’s best to keep your tomatoes away.
2. Potatoes
Potatoes do not require the growing requirements as blueberries so they are best not planted together.
3. Eggplants
Growing blueberries require patience but you will need extra of that if eggplants are planted near it. Eggplant is considered to be a high maintenance plant and planting near blueberries might require extra effort.
Blueberry Companion Planting FAQs
Are used coffee grounds good for blueberry bushes?
Yes, coffee grounds are highly acidic and blueberries are acid-loving plants so they can be reserved for them. However, if your soil is already high in nitrogen then using coffee grounds is likely to stunt its growth.
Do blueberries transplant well?
Absolutely! Blueberries transplant really well however for you to ensure successful transplanting, you need to know the correct timing.
Do blueberries grow in shade?
Blueberries are sun-loving plants but they going to tolerate partial shades. It will be quite satisfied with 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.
Do blueberry plants die in winter?
Blueberries are likely to become dormant during the cold winter months and its’ growth tends to slow during winter.
How long will blueberry plants produce fruit?
To get a big harvest from blueberries, it might take 5 years but it’s likely to have fruits in the first 2 and 3 years. This plant grows slowly and reaches full size in 8 to 10 years.
Are blueberries easy to grow?
Yes, blueberries are easy to grow but require patience to yield abundant fruits. It tends to grow slowly but worth it eventually.
What are blueberry leaves good for?
Studies show that blueberry leaves contain antioxidants that the fruit. The leaves are believed to help in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
Do blueberries need a pollinator?
Yes! Pollination is essential for blueberries to thrive. To get large and healthy fruits, it requires bees to deposit enough pollen on stigmas during bloom.
Final Thoughts
Blueberries actually make a good partner with many plants but they are best planted with crops that require similar growing needs.
Blueberries are not just tasty fruits to enjoy but they are also useful landscape plants and they are often the first thought of garden plants basically after strawberries. Thoughtful companion planting is essential if you want to speed up the growth of your blueberries.
