June-Bearing Strawberry + Borage

Borage planted at the perimeter of a strawberry bed, rather than interplanted within rows, avoids competing for the same root space while still delivering its pollinator benefits. The plant reaches 18 to 24 inches in height and can shade smaller strawberry plants; a planting on the north or east border of the bed minimizes that impact.

For June-bearing strawberries, which concentrate bloom over a 2 to 3 week window in spring, timing matters. Borage needs to be blooming when the strawberries flower. Sowing borage 6 to 8 weeks before the expected last frost date allows enough lead time; germination to first bloom typically takes 4 to 6 weeks.

Both plants tolerate similar soil conditions, with strawberries preferring a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and borage performing well in the same range. One caution: borage self-seeds aggressively. Without deadheading, volunteer plants will appear in the strawberry bed the following season, and removal from an established planting can disturb shallow strawberry roots.