UMN Extension - Isanti County Master Gardeners

05/31/2026

Thank you everyone who came out and supported our annual plant sale yesterday. It was a great success and we enjoyed chatting with everyone while they shopped. See you next year!

05/30/2026

05/24/2026

Add bursts of color to your yard or pots with Flowering Kale, Angelonia, Celosia and Vinca, as well as a variety of other annuals at our plant sale. Flowering Kale shows vibrant color in the fall. Angelonia blooms from late spring until October. Celosia blooms from mid-summer to October. Vinca’s primary bloom time is in the spring.

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05/23/2026

One more week until our annual sale!!!! Pro tip: Bring a wagon so you can get ALL the plants you want.

05/18/2026

Debunking some myths…

Three common soil health "remedies" may or may not be helpful in the garden.
Remedy #1: Used coffee grounds to lower soil pH
Coffee grounds can be beneficial to your soil. However, they do not consistently lower soil pH. Coffee grounds contain carbon, nitrogen and other compounds that feed soil organisms and also suppress some plant disease-causing microbes.
If you want to lower your soil's pH, elemental sulfur is a good option. Other options for lowering soil pH may include iron sulfate or aluminum sulfate. For best results, do a soil test prior to establishing any perennial plantings that need a lower pH. Coffee grounds make an excellent addition to compost.
Remedy #2: Crushed eggshells to prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes
It's true that blossom end rot is a sign of calcium deficiency in fruits (tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, etc). But most Minnesota soils already have plenty of calcium for garden plants. This kind of calcium deficiency is not a result of inadequate calcium in the soil, but rather a signal that there's a water transport issue in your plants.
To prevent blossom end rot, keep the soil evenly moist by providing adequate water and mulching around plants.
Eggshells do not decompose quickly so make pieces small. Still, add them to your garden or compost pile.
Remedy #3: Epsom salts to prevent blossom end rot and make peppers and tomatoes more productive
Sorry, not true.
Epsom salts contain magnesium sulfate and are touted as a common garden cure-all. However, after reading Remedy #2, you know that blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency and not a magnesium or sulfur deficiency. Adding too much magnesium to your soil can actually prevent adequate calcium from getting into your plants, making blossom end rot even worse.
As for increased productivity, there's no evidence to indicate that this is so unless your soil is deficient in magnesium. Magnesium deficiencies in the home garden in Minnesota are most likely to occur on sandy, low pH soils.

05/17/2026

A large variety of perennials will be available at the Isanti County Master Gardener Plant Sale
Beautify your landscape with perennials such as Purple Coneflower, Salvia Supurba, Monarda, Coreopsis Grandiflora- Sunfire, and Liatris Puncata-Dotted blazing star. These plants thrive in full sun. We also sell shade perennials.

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05/10/2026

Several varieties of herbs will be available at the ICMG plant sale. Grow a beautiful fragrant ground cover with creeping thyme, garnish your plate with parsley-moss curled, and brighten the flavor of your dishes with dill and lemon basil.

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05/09/2026

There are only a few plots left at the Cambridge Community Garden! Register for your plots today! Only $15 per plot for the growing season and you can get up to 3! Go to z.umn.edu/CCGregistration2026 to sign up!

If you are interested in holding a plot at the Cambridge Community Garden please fill out this registration form fully AND CLICK SUBMIT! There is a link to Sign Up Genius after you submit this form that will allow you to choose an available plot(s). Please allow those who are disabled/handicapped to...

05/06/2026

Interesting fact.

Did you know earthworms are not native to Minnesota? Remember to properly dispose of your bait to prevent the spread of invasive species! 🪱

🪴Earthworms were likely introduced to Minnesota during European settlement via soil, plants and ballast from boats.

🌎At one point, Minnesota was covered by glaciers. For the last 11,000 years since the glaciers receded, Minnesota ecosystems developed without earthworms.

🌳Earthworms can damage our ecosystems by eating the duff layer (the slowly decomposing fallen leaves on the ground of hardwood forests). The duff layer provides habitat for animals and wildflowers and prevents soil erosion.

🗑️Help prevent the spread of invasive species! Always dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

Curious about earthworms and invasive species prevention in Minnesota? v Learn more at www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/earthworms/index.html and www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/preventspread.html.