I fertilize with amonium sulfate,fish emulsion,and irone sulfate,depending on the plant needs and time of year. The native soil ph is around 7. When I amended the planting holes back in February and used pine bark chips,sta green tree and shrub planting mix and probably one cup of granular sulfur per plant. I do irrigate with well water when no rainwater is captured in my rain barrel system. I do treat the water with vinegar,not every time but every second or third watering. I have also used iron chelate at one teaspoon per gallon to try and accomodate iron needs. In struggling trying to find the right mix with these first year plants. Like I said earlier the potted ones are thriving. Its so much easier to meet their needs than the ones planted on raised berms. Im hoping to have success with my softwood cuttings so I will have something to try and replant after this year. Thanks for all the great advice

Fricanod: Since you are new to gardening, the problems may lie in your basic soil preparation or watering. What kind of soil do you have, and did you add any amendments when planting? Blueberries require an acidic soil rich in organic material, but well drained. Are you mulching your plants, and how much and how often do you water? Excessive watering is a common mistake of new gardeners. Mulching helps to conserve moisture and hold down weeds. So tell us about these things. There is no reason to believe that eggplant would affect your other perennial plants. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

I'm not sure the Carmen Jewel or Romance cherries would take the heat of the Southwest. Then also is the matter of royalties. If you want to save money, watch in the spring for a sale on these items. For instance, I got Carmen Jewels for about two-thirds off on a sale by Gardens Alive. Jungs had Patriot blueberries for $5.48 each last fall. Henry Fields had a couple varieties for about $5 each in a clearance a year or so ago. Sometimes other GardenWeb members alert us of the sales. Have the companies put you on their email sale alert lists. The big box stores also have clearances. I seldom ever pay full price. These will also give faster, more reliable and healthier results than trying to root cuttings that came in the mail, especially this time of year, from someone. Northwoodswis

I'm not a fan of pots because roots can dry from lack of carefully planned watering and will become rootbound. Although I have not used fabric for blueberries it has lasted years for other crops when pinned down well and lightly covered with bark mulch. I still favor mulching heavily every year which is why I bought a row mulcher. Prune the most prostate branches for many reasons you gave plus your own picking comfort.