4-H selling fruit plants now

Blueberry bushes. Photo from Cooperative Extension.

Rowan County 4-H is now taking orders for their annual Spring Plant Sale.

Varieties available include: raspberries — Nova; blueberries — Brightwell, Climax and Powderblue; blackberries — Apache and Arapaho; muscadines — Welder and Bountiful and figs — Celeste.

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, muscadines and figs are in one-gallon containers and are well adapted to the Piedmont growing conditions. The cost for each plant is $9 each or $8 if five or more of the same variety are ordered.

Nova raspberries are early ripening red berries that are medium to large in size. The berries have good flavor, are slightly tart and are perfect for jams and preserves. Nova raspberries are noted for winter hardiness, is heat tolerant and has good disease resistance.

When planting blueberries, it is recommended to plant at least two varieties to ensure cross-pollination. Varieties available include Brightwell, Climax and Powderblue. Brightwell blueberries ripen mid-season over a long period. It is very productive with large fruit and excellent quality. Growth is vigorous and upright. Climax blueberries ripen early over a short period and produce a medium size berry with a sweet flavor. The growth is upright with an open spreading crown. Ripening mid-season, Powderblue blueberries are medium in size with good flavor. They are excellent for ornamental settings.

Both blackberry plants are a thornless variety and are erect growing plants. The Apache produces large fruit with good flavor and typically ripens over a five-week period. The Arapaho is an early ripening blackberry with a firm, medium fruit. It typically ripens over a four week period.

The Celeste fig produces fruit that is small to medium in size with a light brown to violet skin and a whitish-pink color flesh. It contains very few seeds and ripens early summer.If you would like to help support the Rowan County 4-H program, please call the Extension Office at 704-216-8970 to place your order today. Orders must be received by Feb. 24.

Sara Drake is the Extension Agent with Cooperative Extension in Rowan County responsible for 4-H Youth Development. Contact her at 704-216-8970.