I'm in Zone 5, Central NY, and I have a 10' x 4' strawberry bed that I planted this year. Initially, I companion-planted some bush beans, but they ended up overshadowing my strawberries, which didn't grow as much as I had hoped. On the bright side, I did get a few runners! Now that I've cleared out the bush beans, there's quite a bit of space left between the strawberry plants. I want to plant a cover crop to keep the soil loose over the winter and hopefully improve my strawberry yield next year. I've been amending the soil with compost for the past four years, but it's still primarily clay. What cover crop should I plant?
4 Answers
Daikon radish could be a good option! They help break up compacted soil, which might benefit your strawberries come spring.
You might find that strawberries actually do well as ground cover themselves, so it could be tricky to find something that thrives alongside them in winter. Rather than a cover crop, mulching them could be your best bet to protect the soil and keep it loose. Just a thought!
I planted runner beans alongside mine, and they should be ready by late October. Plus, they add nitrogen back into the soil which could help your strawberries next year.
A nice thick layer of straw could do wonders for your strawberry bed! It’ll keep the soil cozy and protected throughout the winter. Just make sure it’s clean straw.