To save space in a small garden, summer residents resort to combined plantings.
By planting different crops next to each other, you can get a double harvest from one area, which is very convenient.
But other factors should also be taken into account. For example, the influence of plants on each other.
Planting strawberries with onions and garlic: pros and cons
Planting onions and garlic after strawberries is not only possible, but also necessary. This combination has many advantages.
Plus 1. Space saving.
Bulbs and strawberries grow well together, which allows you to get a good harvest from both crops. Their root system is located in different layers of soil, which allows you to avoid tough competition for nutrition and moisture. The high leaves of bulbs do not interfere with low berry bushes and vice versa.
Onions, garlic and strawberries love mulching with sawdust, hay or straw, which makes the growing process easier.
But it should be taken into account that strong thickening will not benefit any of the crops.
When laying out a bed, you need to decide in advance whether it will be used for combined plantings. If so, then you should arrange the berry bushes in such a way that both they and the bulbous plants have enough feeding area. It should be no less than a square of 20x20 cm for each plant.
Plus 2. Protection from pests.
Phytoncides released by onions and garlic have a suppressive effect on some pests. For example, nematodes and cockchafer larvae do not like them. The smell of garlic can also confuse spider mites, slugs and other pests that fly or crawl towards the smell of strawberries.
If the garden bed smells like onions or garlic, it will mislead them. Of course, this method will not save you from pests 100%, but it will reduce their number.
Plus 3. Protection from diseases.
Garlic and onion secretions have a suppressive effect on the pathogens of gray and white rot, anthracnose, and fusarium.
Disadvantages of combining bulbs and strawberries
In addition to the advantages, one should also take into account the disadvantages of such planting in order to understand in advance what this agricultural technique is fraught with.
Minus 1. Possible reduction in yield.
If there is not enough space, the yield of garlic and onions may be less than when planted in a separate bed. This often happens when a gardener simply plants bulbous plants in rows of strawberries. Both crops have little space, so their yield decreases.
Minus 2. Developmental inconsistency.
In midsummer, strawberries need abundant fertilizing and watering. Meanwhile, bulbous plants ripen, and these procedures are contraindicated for them. This leads to inconveniences in care.
Despite its shortcomings, the combination of strawberries and garlic (onions) is successful, so it is often used.
