4-H kicks off spring plant sale

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Rowan County 4-H is now taking orders for its annual Spring Plant Sale. Varieties available include: strawberries, Sweet Charlie; blueberries, Premier and Tifblue; blackberries, Apache and Arapaho; raspberries, Dormanred; and figs, Brown Turkey and Celeste.

The cost for blueberries, blackberries,and raspberries is $8 each or $7 if five or more of the same plant are ordered. Figs are $15 each.

Sweet Charlie strawberries are vigorous, disease-resistant plants that produce large, firm fruit. The plants are early seasoned, medium-sized and harvest easily. The cost for strawberry plants is 25 for $10, 50 for $15, and 100 for $20. Supplies are limited.

The Premier blueberries are an early to mid-season ripening plant that produces large, light-blue fruit. These plants are upright and produce good foliage. Tifblue blueberries ripen mid-season and bear a medium to large light-blue berry. Growth is vigorous and upright. The cost for the one-gallon blueberry plant is $8 or $7 if five or more blueberries are ordered. It is also recommended to plant at least two varieties to ensure cross-pollination.

Blackberry plants are thornless and in one-gallon containers. The Apache is a sweet berry and produces a high yield. The Arapaho is the earliest ripening blackberry with firm fruit. The cost for blackberry plants is $8 or $7 if five or more blackberries are ordered. It is also recommended to plant at least two varieties to ensure cross-pollination.

Dormanred raspberries are large and firm with a deep red color. Vines are of the trailing variety and the plant thrives in hot temperatures. The cost for one-gallon raspberry plants is $8 or $7 if five or more raspberries are ordered.

There are two varieties of figs for sale. The Brown Turkey fig bears fruit twice a year, with the flesh turning from various shades of amber to pink. The skin is copper-brown. Brown Turkey is self-pollinating, very hardy and ripens early and late summer. The Celeste fig is very large. The flesh is white and the skin is violet to purple. Celeste ripens early summer. Figs are in three-gallon containers and are $15.

If you would like to help support the Rowan County 4-H program, please call the Cooperative Extension office at 704-216-8970 to place your order today. Orders must be received by March 2.