Crop Application · Soft Fruits & Berries
High-drain precision for the most margin-sensitive fruit crops.
Soft fruits demand tighter EC control and higher drain percentages than almost any other crop. Coir's consistent structure and fast drainage response gives you the levers you need across the full season.
1.8–2.5
In-slab EC target
25–35%
Target drain
2 seasons
Typical bag life
The Challenge
What peat-based mixes can't deliver for high-value berry growers.
<15%
Inconsistent drain
Peat mixes don't drain consistently between batches or within a season as they break down. Targeting 25–35% drain for berries requires a substrate that behaves the same bag-to-bag — peat doesn't.
±1.0
EC drift from decomposing substrate
Peat releases organic EC as it breaks down under daily irrigation. Soft fruits are EC-sensitive at both extremes — substrate EC drift during the season disrupts your feed programme at exactly the wrong moment.
1 season
Annual replacement
Peat compresses under high irrigation frequency. At 6–12 shots per day through a berry season, you're replacing substrate every year — a cost that compounds with volume.
The Coir Fix
What consistent, high-drain coir changes.
25–35%
Fast, consistent drainage every time
Coir's particle structure drains at the same rate batch-to-batch and doesn't change as the season progresses. Hit your 25–35% drain target reliably — the substrate is not the variable.
0.5–1.0
Stable buffered baseline all season
Pre-buffered to EC 0.5–1.0 and pH 5.8–6.2. No native EC drift as the substrate ages. Your feed programme runs against the same known baseline in week 1 and week 26.
2 seasons
Second season at full berry intensity
Post-season flush to EC < 2.0 and the bag runs a full second season. Halves annual substrate cost without compromising crop performance — the economics of reuse matter at berry volumes.
Variety Guide
Key numbers per fruit type.
Strawberry
EC Target
1.2 – 2.0 mS/cm in-slab
Drain %
30 – 40%
Wide-opening slabs for runner access. Push to 30–35% drain at first flower. Restrict shot size — not frequency — to steer generative.
Raspberry
EC Target
1.5 – 2.5 mS/cm in-slab
Drain %
25 – 35%
Taller bag, 2 drippers per cane. Moderate generative steering. Run a flush shot on hot days after month 6 to prevent salt accumulation.
Blueberry
EC Target
1.0 – 1.8 mS/cm in-slab
Drain %
20 – 30%
Acidify feed to pH 4.5–5.2. Pre-acidify substrate 48h before planting. Keep in-slab EC below 2.5 — blueberries salt-stress rapidly above this.
Season Protocol
pH prep. First fruit set. End-of-season flush.
Three transitions define soft fruit quality on coir. The pH preparation step is the one most growers skip — and the one that causes the most avoidable problems.
01
pH preparation (before planting)
Blueberries: run acidified feed at pH 4.5–5.0 through the substrate for 48h before planting. Strawberries and raspberries: standard pH 5.8–6.2 at transplant. Test leachate pH before any plant goes in.
02
First fruit set (push generative)
At first flower, increase drain to 30–35%. Restrict shot size — do not increase frequency yet. Monitor Brix weekly from this point. Brix rising before EC rises is the signal your steering is working.
03
End-of-season flush
Flush with pH 6.0, EC 0.5 water for 48h. Bags that pass EC < 2.0 post-flush with no visible root disease pressure run a second full season. Test every bag — don't assume.
Agronomic Support
Substrate specification for your operation.
Share your crop, target EC, system format, and season length — we'll specify the right substrate and provide technical support for your first grow.
Talk to our agronomy team
Substrate guidance matched to your crop, system format, and target EC window.
Recommended Substrates
Ready to trial coir?
Substrate specification for your berry system.
Tell us your fruit variety, bag format, and target drain percentage — we'll match the right substrate and confirm any pH preparation steps needed before planting.