The best berries to grow together are the ones that are low maintenance and keep popping up every year!
From fresh strawberries on pancakes in the morning to preserving jam. When I started my homestead garden, a backyard berry patch was at the top of my wish list. The kids would eat them by the handfuls and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done for our family. One plant was never enough and the best part is berries come back year after year, they’re low-maintenance once established, and they make jam, pies, and snacks all season long. Whether you have a big yard or a small corner to spare, here’s how to build your very own backyard berry patch.
Table of Contents
Why Every Garden Needs a Berry Patch
Here’s why berries are the ultimate homestead crop:
- They come back every year with very little effort.
- They fit into small spaces and even containers.
- They spread and multiply, giving you more plants for free.
- They taste better homegrown (store-bought berries just can’t compete).
I started with just 10 strawberry plants, and now my berry patch gives us fresh berries all summer long — with enough left for jam!
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Best Spot for Your Berry Patch
Sunlight
Berries love full sun — at least 6-8 hours a day. Morning sun is ideal, since it dries dew and helps prevent disease.
Drainage
Avoid low spots where water pools. Berries need well-drained soil — raised beds work great if your soil is heavy clay.
Accessibility
Make sure your berry patch is easy to reach — you’ll want to check for ripe fruit and pests daily during peak season.
I put my berry patch along a fence — easy to trellis raspberries and keeps runners from strawberries from taking over the yard.
Best Berries to Grow Together
Some berries play well together, and others prefer their own space. Here’s a quick guide:
| Berry | Best Grown With | Needs Its Own Space? |
| Strawberries | Blueberries, herbs, onions | No |
| Raspberries | Blackberries, nasturtiums | No |
| Blueberries | Strawberries, herbs | Yes (loves acidic soil) |
| Blackberries | Raspberries, garlic | No |
I grow strawberries at ground level, raspberries on a fence, and blueberries in their own raised bed with acidic soil mix. Everyone’s happy.
Step-by-Step: How to Plant & Care for Berries
Step 1: Prepare the Soil
- For strawberries: Well-drained, fertile soil with lots of compost.
- For raspberries & blackberries: Loamy, rich soil with good drainage.
- For blueberries: Acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5) — mix in peat moss or pine needles.
If you have poor soil, raised beds filled with the right mix are the way to go. We have very acidic soil naturally and berries grow easily.
Step 2: Planting Time
| Berry | Best Planting Time |
| Strawberries | Early spring or fall |
| Raspberries | Early spring |
| Blueberries | Early spring |
| Blackberries | Early spring |
• Space strawberries 12-18 inches apart.
- Space raspberries & blackberries 2-3 feet apart, with 6-8 feet between rows.
- Space blueberries 3-5 feet apart.
Step 3: Mulch & Water
- Add straw or wood chip mulch to keep moisture in and weeds down.
- Water deeply once or twice a week — berries like consistent moisture.
I use straw mulch for strawberries and pine needles for blueberries — keeps weeds out and soil just right.
Step 4: Support & Prune
- Raspberries & blackberries need a trellis or fence to keep canes off the ground.
- Prune raspberries in late winter to remove dead canes.
- Thin strawberries every 2-3 years to keep runners from overcrowding.
I built a simple T-post and wire trellis for my raspberries — cheap, easy, and it works!
Here are the best tools for the job shop here!
Step 5: Protect & Harvest
- Use bird netting when berries start ripening.
- Pick berries when they’re fully ripe for best flavor.
- Don’t wash until ready to eat to prevent mold.
Teach kids to gently twist strawberries off the stem instead of yanking — saves the plants!
Companion Plants to Boost Your Berry Patch
Good Companions
| Companion | Benefits |
| Borage | Attracts pollinators & improves flavor |
| Chives & Onions | Repel aphids & slugs |
| Marigolds | Deter nematodes & pests |
| Nasturtiums | Trap crop for aphids |
| Thyme | Ground cover & pest deterrent |
Avoid
- Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers near strawberries (disease risk)
- Cabbage family crops near strawberries (heavy feeders)
My strawberries & onions make great neighbors — and I get fewer aphids on both!
FAQs About Growing Berries
A backyard berry patch is one of the best investments you can make in your garden. Berries are delicious, nutritious, and they come back year after year, giving you fresh snacks, homemade jam, and plenty to share with family (or the occasional bird!). Whether you start with a few strawberries or build a full berry hedge, you’ll never regret making space for these sweet little treasures.
Grow Your Happy
Linnea
