How to Grow Blueberries With Coir

Plant blueberry bushes in late winter to early spring when the ground becomes workable. Blueberries do best with early, moist plantings during their dormancy. Choose sites that get full sunshine, quick year-round drainage and good air movement, and give each blueberry bush 4 to 6 feet in the row or bed.

Prepare an 18- to 24-inch-quare site for each blueberry bush. Till the top 8 inches of soil and incorporate 1 inch of sand or organic compost, 1 inch of coir and 2 inches of peat moss. Mix the soil well to build a loose, crumbly and dark foundation with good moisture retention and nutrition.

Plant 2-year-old nursery seedlings for best results. Dig holes deep enough to encompass the root balls and pack amended soil firmly around the base of each plant. Water each bush with 1/2 gallon of water to settle the soil down, then put them on a schedule of 1 to 2 inches of water every week.

Prune the seedlings down to one-half to two-thirds of their original size to establish the planting and encourage new growth. Make each cut just above a growing node for good lateral growth.

Fertilize the seedlings with 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 fertilizer one week after planting. Give each bush 1 tablespoon of fertilizer, in a circle around the trunks. Mix the fertilizer into the soil and water the bushes immediately.

Spread hydrated coir matter over the soil and add sawdust or wood chips to give each blueberry bush 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch. The mulch keeps soil moist and warm and adds nutrition to the soil as it breaks down.