Rainline Garden

When to plant blueberries in Coos Bay and North Bend, OR

Plant blueberry bushes in Coos Bay and North Bend Apr 1 – May 20.

Easy Plant potted or bare-root bushes

Why these dates

Coos Bay and North Bend's typical last spring frost is February 21. On the coast, the soil is usually ready for blueberries around April 1.

Coast. Mild winters but cool, foggy summers. Frost is rarely the problem; warmth is. Pick early, cool-tolerant varieties of tomatoes and squash.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
4 to 5 feet apart
Planting depth
Same depth as in the pot
Frost
Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest
Small crops in year two or three; full crops by year five

Step by step

  1. Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant blueberry bushes Apr 1 – May 20, 4 to 5 feet apart. Same depth as in the pot.
  3. Mix peat moss or acidic compost into the planting hole, mulch with sawdust or bark, and pinch off flowers the first year.
  4. Harvest: Pick berries a few days after they turn fully blue, when they roll off into your hand.

Varieties that do well here

  • Duke (early)
  • Chandler (huge berries)
  • Bluecrop
  • Top Hat (for containers)

Watch out for

Birds. Cover bushes with netting as berries color, or plant extra.

Need acidic soil (pH 4.5 to 5.5), which much of western Oregon and Washington already has. Plant two varieties for better crops. West of the Cascades, fall planting works well too.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Coos Bay and North Bend, OR?

Typically February 21. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by March 25. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for North Bend Regional Airport.

Is it too late to plant blueberries in Coos Bay and North Bend?

The spring planting window runs through May 20. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer. Fall planting also works well here.

How long until I can pick blueberries?

Small crops in year two or three; full crops by year five. Pick berries a few days after they turn fully blue, when they roll off into your hand.

Also plant in Coos Bay and North Bend around the same time

Planting dates for blueberries in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Coos Bay and North Bend · Blueberries in every city