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This past week has been one of the most successful weeks for the Chisago County Master Gardeners in years. Jim Birkholz had 91 attend his class on pruning apple trees and he again will give a class on controlling fruit pests March 17. As I write this article I have just returned from the Lindstrom Home, Garden and Business Show. We had so many inquire about our upcoming classes that we ran out of material and many picked up order forms for bare root plants.

Each year our most popular plants that we offer are blueberries. We are already sold out of Chippewa and Northland, but still have some Patriot and Polaris. We still have a good supply of grapes, raspberries, lingonberries, asparagus, strawberries, and onion plants.

Many gardeners who inquire about raising blueberries state that they planted them in the past and they did nothing for a couple of years and then died. Most likely the reason for their demise was that the soil was too rich. Blueberries like a pH of between 4.5-5.5. I had my soil tested before I planted my blueberries and my soil has a pH of 7.5, much too sweet for them.

Blueberries are in the Heath family, which includes azaleas, rhododendrons, and cranberries. They are tolerant of acid soil and have low fertility requirements. Sandy soils tend to have a lower pH than the heavy soil I have, so the planting directions may be different for you.

I had to dig holes about 18 inches deep and two feet across. Since the plants turn into bushes, I spaced them six feet apart. I mixed the soil with acid peat (moss) in a one to one ratio. I also mixed in one-fourth cup elemental sulfur in the soil before planting. Elemental sulfur helps lower the pH, but be sure not to use aluminum sulfur as this compound can be toxic to the root and even kill the plant.

Gardeners who know very little about blueberries remember stories about how their grandparents used to pick them in the wild. They think that they grow in the woods in the shade. If you have ever picked wild berries of any kind, you know that they are always in a clearing where there is good sunlight. In fact, all the plants we sell need good sunlight.

We are not offering classes on blueberries this year, but we will give you information when you pick up your berries. The information on the back-side of the order form will help you make your selection. All of the plants we sell are zone three winter hardy. Many of the varieties are recommended by Chisago County Master Gardeners as favorites in their own gardens.

Remember our Spring Gardening Bonanza and Town and Country Expo. It will be Saturday, March 14, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Abundant Life Church outside of North Branch. Our next Spring Class will be held March 17, at 6 p.m. at the Maple Commons Senior Center. Jim Birkholz will do a class controlling apple tree insects. The cost is $5 per person. I know some that missed the pruning class will be attending this one.

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