More garden tasks have been accomplished. The trellis for the grapes was installed today, and most exciting, the Honeyberry plants were put in yesterday. I obtained Blue Moon, and Blue Velvet from Burnt Ridge Nursery and am excited to see how they perform. From the sparse literature I've found, they like alkaline soil which I have in abundance, and should be able to withstand very cold temperatures during blossoming which I also have on a regular basis.
The grape trellis is composed (yes, a symphony of wire, pipe, and concrete!) of 2-2 3/8" by 8' concrete reinforced galvanized fence posts with wire strainers at one end for the two wires. There are two supporting fence posts (green) near the center to support the weight. The end posts were driven about 3' into the ground and appear to be capable of withstanding the tension that will be placed on them.
The blueberry patch is doing nicely (thanks Peaceful Valley Farm Supply) although it appears there was some winter die back in some stems. The real challenge is to maintain the pH at optimum levels. The beds are filled with peat, sand, and wood chips along with annual application of sulfur on the surface to help with the ever present alkalinity in both soil and water. If the Honeyberries perform as anticipated, and the flavor is what I want, they will sure be a lot less maintenance than the blueberries.
I hate seeing blueberries offered at the big box home centers here in northern Utah. They're selling heartache and disappointment if the consumer is not fully aware of their cultural requirements. Even then, I'm still prepared for potential failure.
