This is a small area that is dedicated to productive ericaceous, acid loving, plants. These plants have a different optimum pH range in order for them to effectively pull nutrients from the soil, namely iron (to see a chart on nutrient availability based on soil pH, Click Here). To do this we followed a few easy steps:
The acid soil system in the foreground with the fruit tree guild directly behind.
- Identified the space we wanted to grow these plants
- Scraped the grass from the ground
- Dug a shovel deep and placed that soil to the side
- Loosened the ground in the hole
- Added three cubic feet of moistened peat moss and a sprinkling of Espoma Bio-Tone Starter Plus
- Shoveled in the pile of soil from step 3
- Rototilled the area until it was thoroughly mixed
At this point the area was ready for planting. The peat moss serves to improve drainage, hold moisture during dry spells and push the pH into the desired range. In addition to bed preparation we mulched this area with a layer of pine bark.
When preparing a site you will be digging down to incorporated soil amendments you want to make sure the soil drains enough that you are not creating a bathtub scenario in which your dug out area will hold water, another way to avoid this is to plant on a slope.
The Plants
- Blueberries – Vaccinium corymbosum – A native of North America, they are extremely productive and hardy bushes with little need for maintenance other than the occasional pruning; birds may beat you to the fruit so keep your eye out for ripe fruit or keep covered after flowering has passed; these delicious fruits are well known for the powerful antioxidants they produce and their leaves may be used medicinally as well (nutrition facts)
- ‘Chippewa‘ – “Chippewa is a 1996 Half-High release from the University of Minnesota. Parentage incorporates some of the most cold-hardy selections known. Production and fruit size has been similar to Northblue. Fruit of Chippewa is larger than Polaris, lighter blue, with milder flavor. Recommended in all areas where a super cold hardy variety is desired.” (www.fallcreeknursery.com)
- ‘Reka‘ – “A release from New Zealand, Reka is one of the fastest growing, most adaptable varieties we have evaluated. Reka grows well in a number of different soil types and is more tolerant of wet, heavier ground than many other varieties. Growers are especially enthusiastic about Reka’s extreme production. The yield curve is quite steep, out-producing most others in the early years and surpassing most at maturity. Although it’s found reasonable success in the fresh market, Reka is a preferred variety of process growers for its superior machine harvest characteristics and high yields.” (www.fallcreeknursery.com)
- Hardy Kiwi – Actinidia arguta – Strongly aggressive vining plants, the vines are dioecious which means they need a male and female for fruit production, one male can pollinate many females, needs plenty of space and strong support to stretch out, yields can be up around 100 pounds per year per female vine, fruit is smaller than fuzzy kiwis but of similar taste (nutrition facts)