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Can I plant a rose amidst strawberries?

Posted by zaphod42 SE WI 5b (My Page) on
Fri, Oct 19, 12 at 16:58

I have an arbor of which half is parked in my strawberry bed. I've been using for my climbing beans, but will not be using it for that in the future. Can I plant a rose up on the arbor if the base will be in the middle of the strawberry patch or will the strawberries strangle out the rose?


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Can I plant a rose amidst strawberries?

I have roses growing in several places in my garden where there are "wild strawberries" growing under them, and have not had any problems with that, so I would say go for it.

Jackie


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RE: Can I plant a rose amidst strawberries?

Strawberries have a nortoriously shallow root system. If you apply your water and fertilizer about 5 or 6 inches deep, I would be more concerned for the strawberries than for the rose.


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RE: Can I plant a rose amidst strawberries?

Are you going to spray?
Are you going to use a fertilizer that includes a pesticide?
If so, I wouldn't even consider it -- unless you plan to serve the fruit so someone you don't like.

Don't laugh -- I encountered a woman years ago, at an ARS National Convention who was doing just that, and feeding the strawberries to her husband. (She didn't say whether he was feeling well, or not).

Jeri


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RE: Can I plant a rose amidst strawberries?

I've encountered similar, Jeri. People often just don't think that something systemic against an aphid, works similarly on them, too. As long as you're keeping everything completely organic, and you don't mind having to stomp the strawberries to molest the rose (and get scratched and stuck picking berries), go for it. Personally, I don't like planting anything around my roses. I permit the native weeds to grow as they act as shade against the intense sun and help protect the new rose growth from the rabbits and squirrels. "Ground covers" and "companion plants" are fine in others' gardens. In mine, I don't want to deal with them. Kim


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RE: Can I plant a rose amidst strawberries?

Increasingly, our "companion plants" are things like Salvias -- lavenders -- stuff that doesn't demand much water. Of course, weeds happen . . .

But I've never forgotten the look on that speaker's face, when that nice lady mentioned that she was growing strawberries among the roses, for the beauty of it, and for the fruit -- and using a systemic, at the same time. It was worth the price of admission. :-)

Jeri


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RE: Can I plant a rose amidst strawberries?

No spraying or treating. I'm going to try cornmeal next year against blackspot, but that's the extent of my preventatives.


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